Proverbs 3

 

Proverbs 3:5-6

Hebrew-English lexicon

• Trust (בָּטַח, bataach): to rely on, have confidence in
• Lord (יְהוָה, YHWH): the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible
• Heart (לֵב, lev): the center of a person's being, including their thoughts, emotions, and will
• Lean (שָׁעַן, sha'an): to rely on, trust in
• Understanding (שֵׂכֶל, sekel): intelligence, wisdom
• Submit (דָּע, daa): to know, acknowledge, recognize
• Ways (דֶּרֶךְ, derekh): path, road, way of life
• Straight (יָשַׂר, yashar): smooth, right, straight

Theological explanation

This verse teaches that we should trust in God completely, not relying on our own understanding. We should submit to his will in all areas of our lives, and he will guide us and help us to succeed.

The Hebrew word for "trust" (בָּטַח, bataach) means to rely on someone or something with complete confidence. It is a deep and abiding trust that comes from knowing and experiencing God's goodness and faithfulness.

The Hebrew word for "Lord" (יְהוָה, YHWH) is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible. It is a name that speaks to his sovereignty, power, and love.

The Hebrew word for "heart" (לֵב, lev) is the center of a person's being, including their thoughts, emotions, and will. It is the place where we make decisions and choose our direction in life.

The Hebrew word for "lean" (שָׁעַן, sha'an) means to rely on someone or something for support. It is a contrast to trusting in our own strength or wisdom.

The Hebrew word for "understanding" (שֵׂכֶל, sekel) is intelligence or wisdom. It is the ability to think clearly and make good decisions.

The Hebrew word for "submit" (דָּע, daa) means to know, acknowledge, or recognize. It is the opposite of rebellion or disobedience.

The Hebrew word for "ways" (דֶּרֶךְ, derekh) can refer to a physical path or road, but it can also refer to a way of life or a course of action.

The Hebrew word for "straight" (יָשַׂר, yashar) can mean smooth, right, or straight. It refers to a path that is free of obstacles and leads to the desired destination.

When we put all of these words together, we get a powerful statement about the importance of trusting in God and submitting to his will. When we trust in God with all our heart, we are relying on him completely, even when we don't understand what he is doing. When we submit to God in all our ways, we are making his will our priority and obeying his commands.

Proverbs 3 is a chapter in the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. It is a collection of wise sayings and advice, attributed to King Solomon. The chapter covers a variety of topics, including wisdom, knowledge, understanding, trust in God, and living a moral life.

Here are some of the key lessons from Proverbs 3:

• Trust in God. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." This verse teaches us that we should put our trust in God and rely on his wisdom and guidance, rather than on our own understanding.
• Seek wisdom and knowledge. Proverbs 3:13-18 says, "Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and yielding better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace." These verses teach us that wisdom and knowledge are more valuable than any material possession. We should seek to gain wisdom and understanding, for they will lead us to a good life.
• Live a moral life. Proverbs 3:27-28 says, "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, "Go and come again tomorrow; I will give it to you"—when you have it with you now." These verses teach us that we should be kind and generous to others, and that we should always keep our promises.

Proverbs 3 is a valuable chapter of the Bible that contains a wealth of wisdom and advice for living a good life. I encourage you to read and reflect on this chapter often.

Proverbs 3:5-6 is a well-known verse that teaches us to trust in God and to submit to His will. It says:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

This verse has three main parts:

1. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. This means that we should rely on God completely, not just in some areas of our lives. We should trust Him with our finances, our relationships, our health, and our future.
2. Lean not on your own understanding. This means that we should not rely on our own knowledge or wisdom to make decisions. We should seek God's guidance in all things.
3. In all your ways submit to him. This means that we should obey God's commands and follow His leading. We should surrender our own will to His will.

When we trust in God with all our heart, lean not on our own understanding, and submit to Him in all our ways, He promises to make our paths straight. This means that He will lead us on the right path and help us to make good decisions. He will also work out everything for our good, even when things are difficult.

Here are some examples of how we can apply Proverbs 3:5-6 to our lives:

• When we are facing a difficult decision, we can pray to God and ask Him for guidance. We can also read the Bible and seek wisdom from wise people.
• When we are going through a tough time, we can trust God that He is with us and that He is working everything out for our good.
• When we are tempted to sin, we can choose to obey God's commands and to follow His will.

Proverbs 3:5-6 is a powerful verse that can help us to live a life of peace and joy. When we trust in God and submit to His will, He will lead us on the right path and help us to make good decisions. He will also work out everything for our good.

 

The theological explanation for Proverbs 3:5-6 is that it is a call to trust in God and submit to His will. This is based on the belief that God is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), and omnibenevolent (all-good). As such, He is the best one to guide our lives.

When we trust in God with all our heart, we are acknowledging that He is in control and that He has a good plan for our lives. We are also expressing our willingness to follow His leading, even when it is difficult or does not make sense to us.

To lean not on our own understanding is to recognize that our own wisdom is limited and that we often make mistakes. It is also to humble ourselves and to admit that we need God's help.

To submit to God in all our ways is to obey His commands and to follow His will. It is to surrender our own will to His will and to trust that He knows what is best for us.

The promise of Proverbs 3:5-6 is that when we do these things, God will make our paths straight. This does not mean that we will never experience difficulties or challenges. However, it does mean that God will guide us through those challenges and help us to overcome them.

Here is a more in-depth theological explanation of each part of Proverbs 3:5-6:

• Trust in the Lord with all your heart. This means that we should trust God completely, not just in some areas of our lives. We should trust Him with our finances, our relationships, our health, and our future. This kind of trust is based on our understanding of God's character and His promises. We know that God is loving, faithful, and just. He has promised to always be with us and to never leave us or forsake us.
• Lean not on your own understanding. This means that we should not rely on our own knowledge or wisdom to make decisions. We should seek God's guidance in all things. This is because our own understanding is limited and biased. We often make decisions based on our own selfish desires or on what we think is best for us in the moment. However, God's wisdom is perfect and He knows what is best for us in the long run.
• In all your ways submit to him. This means that we should obey God's commands and follow His leading. We should surrender our own will to His will. This is because God is our creator and our sustainer. He has authority over our lives and He knows what is best for us. When we submit to God's will, we are aligning ourselves with His purpose for our lives.

Proverbs 3:5-6 is a powerful verse that can help us to live a life of peace and joy. When we trust in God and submit to His will, He will lead us on the right path and help us to make good decisions. He will also work out everything for our good.

Here is an example of how we can apply Proverbs 3:5-6 to our lives:

Imagine that you are facing a difficult decision about your career. You are not sure which job offer to accept or whether you should start your own business. You could pray to God and ask Him for guidance. You could also read the Bible and seek wisdom from wise people. Once you have sought God's guidance, you should submit to His will, even if it is not what you initially wanted. If God is leading you to accept a job offer, then you should do so, even if it is not the highest paying job or the most prestigious job. If God is leading you to start your own business, then you should do so, even if it is risky.

When we trust in God and submit to His will, we can be confident that He is leading us on the best possible path for our lives.

 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

This verse from Proverbs 3:5-6 is one of the most well-known and beloved verses in the Bible. It is a simple but profound statement about the importance of trusting in God and submitting to his will.

Trusting in God with all your heart means putting your complete faith and confidence in him. It means believing that he is good, that he loves you, and that he has a good plan for your life. It also means believing that he is able to do anything, even the impossible.

Leaning not on your own understanding means not relying on your own wisdom or knowledge to make decisions. It means recognizing that you are limited and that God knows infinitely more than you do. It also means being humble and willing to admit that you need God's help.

Submitting to God in all your ways means seeking his guidance in every area of your life. It means making his will your priority and obeying his commands. It also means trusting him even when you don't understand what he is doing.

When you trust in God, submit to his will, and lean not on your own understanding, he will make your paths straight. This does not mean that he will remove all of the challenges and obstacles from your life. But it does mean that he will guide you and help you to overcome them. It also means that he will use everything that happens in your life for your good and for his glory.

Theological explanation

Theologically, this verse is based on the following principles:

• God is sovereign and all-powerful. He is in control of everything, even the smallest details of our lives.
• God is good and loving. He has a good plan for our lives and he wants what is best for us.
• God is wise and omniscient. He knows everything and he sees the future.
• We are limited and imperfect. We cannot always see the big picture and we often make mistakes.

When we trust in God and submit to his will, we are aligning ourselves with his sovereignty, goodness, wisdom, and power. This is the only way to live a truly fulfilling and successful life.

Examples from the Bible

There are many examples of people in the Bible who trusted in God and submitted to his will, even when it was difficult. For example:

• Abraham trusted God to give him a son, even though he and his wife were old and childless.
• Moses trusted God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, even though they were outnumbered and outgunned.
• David trusted God to defeat Goliath, even though he was just a young shepherd boy.
• Daniel trusted God to protect him from the lions, even though he had been thrown into the den for refusing to worship the king.
• Jesus trusted God to lead him to the cross, even though he knew that he would be crucified.

All of these people experienced the blessing of God's guidance and protection because they trusted in him and submitted to his will.

Application for today

How can we apply this verse to our lives today? Here are a few practical tips:

• Pray regularly and ask God for guidance in all areas of your life.
• Read the Bible and learn about God's character and his promises.
• Obey God's commands, even when they are difficult.
• Trust God even when you don't understand what he is doing.
• Be patient and wait for God's timing.

When you trust in God, submit to his will, and lean not on your own understanding, he will make your paths straight. He will guide you and help you to overcome every challenge. He will use everything that happens in your life for your good and for his glory.

 Strongs

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Strong's Concordance is a reference work that lists every word in the Hebrew and Greek Bibles, along with its definition and other relevant information. This can be helpful for understanding the meaning of a verse in more depth.

Here is a breakdown of Proverbs 3:5-6 using Strong's Concordance:

• Trust (Hebrew: בטח, batach) - to confide in, rely on
• Lord (Hebrew: יהוה, Yahweh) - the personal name of God
• Heart (Hebrew: לב, leb) - the inner self, including the mind, emotions, and will
• Lean (Hebrew: שען, shaan) - to rely on, trust in
• Understanding (Hebrew: לב, leb) - the ability to understand, knowledge
• Submit (Hebrew: הכיר, hinkir) - to acknowledge, recognize
• Ways (Hebrew: דרך, derek) - a path, course of action
• Make straight (Hebrew: יישר, yashar) - to make straight, level, or smooth

Using Strong's Concordance to deepen our understanding

Looking at the individual words in Proverbs 3:5-6 using Strong's Concordance can help us to deepen our understanding of the verse. For example, the Hebrew word for "trust" (בטח, batach) also means "to confide in" or "to rely on." This suggests that trusting in God is not just a matter of believing in him intellectually, but also of trusting him with our hearts and our lives.

The Hebrew word for "heart" (לב, leb) refers to the inner self, including the mind, emotions, and will. This suggests that we should trust God with all of ourselves, not just part of ourselves.

The Hebrew word for "submit" (הכיר, hinkir) means to "acknowledge" or "to recognize." This suggests that submitting to God is not just a matter of obeying his commands, but also of acknowledging his sovereignty and his authority over our lives.