Proverbs 1:33
in Proverbs 1But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely, And shall be quiet without fear of evil.
KJV
But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
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This verse in Proverbs 1
Commentary
10 notes on this verseBut whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely - The man who hears the voice of wisdom in preference to the enticements of the wicked. He shall dwell in safety, ישכן בטח yishcan betach, he shall inhabit safety itself; he shall be completely safe and secure; and shall be quiet from the fear of evil, having a full consciousness of his own innocence and God’s protection. Coverdale translates, “And have ynough without eney feare of evell.” What the just man has he got honestly; and he has the blessing of God upon it.
This site's exposition
Then they will call on me, but I will not answer
on Proverbs 1:28-33
“Then they will call on me, but I will not answer” describes a door that does not stay open forever. The line “they will eat the fruit of their own way” states the chapter's logic, consequence as a harvest of their own devices.
This site's exposition
will dwell in safety
Adam Clarke renders the Hebrew as inhabiting safety itself, as if safety were the house. The promise closes Wisdom's speech with the listener at rest while the storm of verse 27 falls on others. Psalm 112:7 says the righteous fear no bad news.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church2 voices
And he will enjoy abundance, etc. Now the abundance of good works, with the fear taken away even of those who kill the body, then the abundance of joys in reward. For how great indeed will the abundance of all good things be there, where …
But he who will listen to me, etc. It can be understood both in this life and in the future, because he who serves the Lord perfectly, is not frightened by any adversities, indeed rejoices in adversities, and in the very death rejoices as if …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; 2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
In vain - The fowler who spreads, his net in the sight of the bird looseth his labour. But these, are more foolish than the silly birds, and though they are not ignorant of the mischief which these evil courses will bring upon themselves, yet they will not take warning. Their own blood - The destruction which they design to others, fall upon themselves.
But whoso hearkeneth unto me,....
2 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Would we be safe from evil, and quiet from the fear of it? Let religion always rule us and the word of God be our counsellor. That is the way to dwell safely in this world, and to be quiet from the fear of evil in the other world.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Others think that wisdom, as the divine attribute specially employed in acts of counsel and admonition, is here personified, and represents God. In either case the address is a most solemn and divine admonition, whose matter and spirit are eminently evangelical and impressive (see on Pr 8:1).
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְשֹׁמֵ֣עַֽ | veshomea' | and [one who] listens | H8085 → | 1159 times |
| לִ֭י | li | to me | ||
| יִשְׁכָּן־ | yishkon- | he will dwell | H7931 → | 129 times |
| בֶּ֑טַח | betach | security | H983 → | 42 times |
| וְ֝שַׁאֲנַ֗ן | veshaanan | and he will be at ease | H7599 → | |
| מִפַּ֥חַד | mipachad | from dread of | H6343 → | 49 times |
| רָעָֽה׃ פ | raah | trouble | H7451 → | 662 times |
וְשֹׁמֵ֣עַֽand [one who] listens
veshomea'H8085 →1159 times
לִ֭יto me
li
יִשְׁכָּן־he will dwell
yishkon-H7931 →129 times
בֶּ֑טַחsecurity
betachH983 →42 times
וְ֝שַׁאֲנַ֗ןand he will be at ease
veshaananH7599 →
מִפַּ֥חַדfrom dread of
mipachadH6343 →49 times
רָעָֽה׃ פtrouble
raahH7451 →662 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 26:3You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.
it leads to
- Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
- John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
- John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.
- Jeremiah 17:7–8
But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.
- Psalms 9:10
Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
- Philippians 4:7
Through
Proverbs 14:26He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.
it leads to
- Proverbs 19:23
The fear of the LORD leads to life, that one may rest content, without visitation from harm.
- Jeremiah 32:39–40
I will give them one heart and one way, so that they will always fear Me for their own good and for the good of their children after them.
- Psalms 115:13–14
He will bless those who fear the LORD— small and great alike.
- Proverbs 19:23
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
On this verse
On this chapter
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.