Proverbs 2:7
in Proverbs 2He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk with integrity,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to them that walk in integrity;
KJV
He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
⋯
This verse in Proverbs 2
Commentary
7 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Sound wisdom - “Soundness,” an idea which passes on into that of health and safety. Compare “sound doctrine” in 1Ti 1:10; 2Ti 4:3.
This site's exposition
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright
on Proverbs 2:7-9
“He stores up sound wisdom for the upright” pictures wisdom as treasure kept for its owners. “He is a shield to those who walk with integrity” makes protection wisdom's first office. The guarding of “the paths of justice” rests on God's action as well as the vigilance of the wise.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
He will guard the salvation of the upright, etc. Virtues are related to each other, righteousness and simplicity, nor can they be separated from each other. Hence, wisdom does not seek one of them without the other; but in whomsoever both are found, these it …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous,.... In order to give it to them that seek for it; which is another encouragement to search after it.
Some read it, He lays up substance for the righteous, not only substantial knowledge, but substantial happiness and comfort, Prov. viii. Riches are things that are not, and those that have them only fancy themselves happy; but what is laid up in the promises and in heaven for the righteous will make them truly, thoroughly, and eternally happy. [3.] Protection.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
sound wisdom--literally, "substance," opposed to what is fictitious. According to the context, this may be assistance, as here corresponding with buckler--or safety, or wisdom, which procures it (compare Pr 3:21;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+unbalanced-parens
He layeth up sound wisdom - תושיה tushiyah. We have met with this word in Job; see Job 5:12; Job 6:13; Job 11:6; Job 12:16. See especially the note on Job 11:6 (note), where the different acceptations of the word are given. Coverdale translates, “He preserveth the welfare of the righteous.” It is difficult to find, in any language, a term proper to express the original meaning of the word; its seems to mean generally the essence or substance of a thing, The thing itself - that which is chief of its kind. He layeth up What Is Essential for the righteous.
The words behind it
6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| יִצְפֹּ֣ן | vetzafan | he stores up | H6845 → | 32 times |
| לַ֭יְשָׁרִים | laysharim | for <the> upright [people] | H3477 → | 119 times |
| תּוּשִׁיָּ֑ה | tushiyah | success | H8454 → | 12 times |
| מָ֝גֵ֗ן | magen | a shield | H4043 → | 63 times |
| לְהֹ֣לְכֵי | leholekhei | to [those who] walk of | H1980 → | 1546 times |
| תֹֽם׃ | tom | integrity | H8537 → | 23 times |
יִצְפֹּ֣ןhe stores up
vetzafanH6845 →32 times
לַ֭יְשָׁרִיםfor <the> upright [people]
laysharimH3477 →119 times
תּוּשִׁיָּ֑הsuccess
tushiyahH8454 →12 times
מָ֝גֵ֗ןa shield
magenH4043 →63 times
לְהֹ֣לְכֵיto [those who] walk of
leholekheiH1980 →1546 times
תֹֽם׃integrity
tomH8537 →23 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
Psalms 84:11For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.
it leads to
- Psalms 34:9–10
Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing.
- Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
- Philippians 4:19
And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
- Psalms 85:12
The LORD will indeed provide what is good, and our land will yield its increase.
- Proverbs 10:9
He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.
- Psalms 34:9–10
Through
1 Corinthians 1:19For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
it leads to
- Isaiah 29:14
Therefore I will again confound these people with wonder upon wonder. The wisdom of the wise will vanish, and the intelligence of the intelligent will be hidden.”
- Jeremiah 8:9
The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what wisdom do they really have?
- Isaiah 29:14
Through
Proverbs 30:5Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
it leads to
- Psalms 18:30
As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
- Psalms 18:30
About Proverbs

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; 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.
