Proverbs 2:8
in Proverbs 2to guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His saints.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
That he may guard the paths of justice, And preserve the way of his saints.
KJV
He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
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This verse in Proverbs 2
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
saints - The devout and God-fearing. Compare Psa 85:8 etc. The occurrence of the word here, in a book that became more and more prominent as prophetic utterances ceased, probably helped to determine its application in the period of the Maccabean struggles to those who especially claimed for themselves the title of “devout” (Chasidim, the ̓Ασιδαῖοι Asidaioi of 1 Macc. 7:13).
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.
This site's exposition
protect the way of His saints
The word for saints is chasidim, the faithful who keep covenant love with God. Albert Barnes notes that the same title was later claimed by the devout party of the Maccabean years, called Asideans at 1 Maccabees 7:13. The LORD guards their way.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
Keeping the paths of justice, etc. The ways of the saints, the general precepts of God; the paths of righteousness, the stricter rules of the heavenly life, which are accessible only to the perfect, it says; wisdom keeps both as to help the upright and …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
Path of judgment - Righteous paths, judgment being here put for righteousness.
More particularly, wisdom will preserve us, (1.) From men of corrupt principles, atheistical profane men, who make it their business to debauch young men's judgments, and instil into their minds prejudices against religion and arguments for vice: "It will deliver thee from the way of the evil man (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens+odd-straight-quotes
He keepeth the paths of judgment,.... That is, the Lord keeps them; he does that which is just and right himself, in the course of his providence, and in the methods of his grace; and as he guides the feet of his people in the ways of righteousness and holiness, he keeps them there from turning out of them.
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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לִ֭נְצֹר | lintzor | to guard | H5341 → | 63 times |
| אָרְח֣וֹת | ʾarechot | [the] paths of | H734 → | 58 times |
| מִשְׁפָּ֑ט | mishpat | justice | H4941 → | 422 times |
| וְדֶ֖רֶךְ | vederekh | and [the] way of | H1870 → | 707 times |
| חֲסִידָ֣יו | chasidov | faithful [people] his | H2623 → | |
| יִשְׁמֹֽר׃ | yishmor | he will preserve | H8104 → | 468 times |
לִ֭נְצֹרto guard
lintzorH5341 →63 times
אָרְח֣וֹת[the] paths of
ʾarechotH734 →58 times
מִשְׁפָּ֑טjustice
mishpatH4941 →422 times
וְדֶ֖רֶךְand [the] way of
vederekhH1870 →707 times
חֲסִידָ֣יוfaithful [people] his
chasidovH2623 →
יִשְׁמֹֽר׃he will preserve
yishmorH8104 →468 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 23:3He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.
it leads to
- Isaiah 42:16
I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light before them and rough places into level ground. These…
- Psalms 31:3
For You are my rock and my fortress; lead me and guide me for the sake of Your name.
- Psalms 19:7
The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple.
- Psalms 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
- Psalms 143:8–10
Let me hear Your loving devotion in the morning, for I have put my trust in You. Teach me the way I should walk, for to You I lift up my soul.
- Isaiah 42:16
Through
Psalms 145:20The LORD preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.
it leads to
- Exodus 20:6
but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
- Psalms 97:10
Hate evil, O you who love the LORD! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Exodus 20:6
Through
1 Samuel 2:9He guards the steps of His faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness; for by his own strength shall no man prevail.
it leads to
- Psalms 121:3
He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 121:3
About Proverbs
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; 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.