Does Proverbs 16:4 mean God made the wicked for destruction?

Whosoever Will, God Chose Judas: Someone will reach past Judas for Proverbs 16:4: “The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.” It does not say He made men wicked. It says the wicked have a day appointed. Read the next verse and the cause is named: “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished” (16:5). Punishment, not production. Then four verses down, both halves at once: “A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps” (16:9). The man devises. God directs. The devising is still his. Scripture, King James Version: Proverbs 16:4, "The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil."; Proverbs 16:5, "Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished."; Proverbs 16:9, "A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.".

Verified. Every scripture quotation on this page has been checked word-for-word against the King James text. Last reviewed 2026-10-18.

Share this answer

Does Proverbs 16:4 mean God made the wicked for destruction? → wsb.bible/answers/does-proverbs-16-4-mean-god-made-the-wicked-for-destruction

This answer is the short form. The argument is made at length in God Chose Judas: And some will say God chose him for destruction.

• What does Isaiah 64:8, "we are the clay, and thou our potter," mean?
• What does Jude 4 mean by "before of old ordained to this condemnation"?
• Where does Paul get the potter and the clay quotation in Romans 9:20?
• What does 1 Peter 2:8 mean, "whereunto also they were appointed"?