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Proverbs 19:21

in Proverbs 19

Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

There are many devices in a man’s heart; But the counsel of Jehovah, that shall stand.

KJV

There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.

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This verse in Proverbs 19

Commentary

6 notes on this verse

This site's exposition

Listen to counsel and accept discipline

on Proverbs 19:20-22

"Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail," setting human planning against divine purpose. "The desire of a man is loving devotion," and it is "better to be poor than a liar," character again outweighing condition.

This site's exposition

the purpose of the LORD will prevail

The verse sets the many plans in a man's heart against the one purpose of the LORD. It allows that a man plans. His purpose alone will stand.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

Augustine of Hippo

LETTER 104 · Written before 430.

proposed

What lies hidden in the designs of God I confess I do not know—I am only a man—but this I know with full certainty, that, whatever it is, it is more just, more wise, and more solidly based on incomparable perfection than all the judgments of people.

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

There are many devices in a man's heart,....

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

There are many devices, etc. - The same sentiment as in Pro 16:1 (note), where see the note.
Contrast the many purposes of man, shifting, changing, from good to better, from bad to worse, and the one unchanging righteous “counsel” of Yahweh.

The words behind it

8 Hebrew words

Every 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.

  • רַבּ֣וֹתmany

    rabotH7227 →454 times

  • מַחֲשָׁב֣וֹתplans

    machashavotH4284 →56 times

  • בְּלֶב־[are] in [the] heart of

    belev-H3820 →595 times

  • אִ֑ישׁa person

    ʾishH376 →1663 times

  • וַעֲצַ֥תand [the] purpose of

    vaatzatH6098 →89 times

  • יְ֝הוָ֗הYahweh

    yahwehH3068 →6520 times

  • הִ֣יאit

    hi'H1931 →1879 times

  • תָקֽוּם׃it will stand

    takumH6965 →628 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Proverbs 16:9A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.148 worksIsaiah 14:24The LORD of Hosts has sworn: “Surely, as I have planned, so will it be; as I have purposed, so will it stand.96 worksProverbs 16:1The plans of the heart belong to man, but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.78 worksIsaiah 46:10I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’64 worksPsalms 33:10–11The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples.63 worksProverbs 21:30There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.53 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Ephesians 1:11In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,48 worksJob 23:13But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.44 worksIsaiah 14:26–27This is the plan devised for the whole earth, and this is the hand stretched out over all the nations.38 worksProverbs 21:1The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.35 worksActs 5:38–39So in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone. Let them go! For if their purpose or endeavor is of human origin, it will fail.34 worksPsalms 33:11The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations.32 worksDaniel 4:35All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”28 worksActs 4:27–28In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed.25 worksJames 4:15Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”25 worksPsalms 21:11Though they intend You harm, the schemes they devise will not prevail.24 worksEcclesiastes 7:29Only this have I found: I have discovered that God made men upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”23 worksLamentations 3:37Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has ordained it?22 works

Where this verse connects

1 approved connection.

  • Written to them

    topics/purpose

    Many devices in a man's heart; counsel of LORD stands

    Source: MannaFest topical index

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    Proverbs 16:9

    A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

    it leads to

    • Proverbs 20:24

      A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Psalms 37:23

      The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey.

    • Proverbs 21:30

      There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Proverbs 16:1

      The plans of the heart belong to man, but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.

    • Jeremiah 10:23

      I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not his own; no one who walks directs his own steps.

  • Through

    Isaiah 46:10

    I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’

    it leads to

    • Psalms 33:11

      The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations.

    • Ephesians 1:9–11

      And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ

  • Through

    Proverbs 16:1

    The plans of the heart belong to man, but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.

    it leads to

    • Proverbs 16:9

      A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Where this verse is studied

About Proverbs

The Judgment of Solomon, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Judgment of Solomon, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Proverbs: the study guide →Read Proverbs 19 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, LETTER 104; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Proverbs of Solomon and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).

Read on in Proverbs 19 →