Proverbs 21:2
in Proverbs 21All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the hearts.
KJV
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.
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This verse in Proverbs 21
Commentary
5 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
The king’s heart is a waterway
on Proverbs 21:1-4
"The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD," so the most absolute human will is still turned where He pleases. Doing righteousness and justice is "more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice," the priority Samuel presses on Saul in 1 Samuel 15:22.
This site's exposition
the LORD weighs the heart
Every man's ways seem right to himself, and only the LORD weighs the heart. The verse answers verse 1 from below, the heart of the king in His hand and every other heart on His scale. Proverbs 16:2 makes the same point.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,....
He that has a high look and a proud heart, that carries himself insolently and scornfully towards both God and man, and that is always ploughing and plotting, designing and devising some mischief or other, is indeed a wicked man. The light of the wicked is sin. Sin is the pride, the ambition, the glory and joy, and the business of wicked men.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
The Lord pondereth the hearts - Every man feels strongly attached to his own opinions, modes of acting, etc.; and though he will not easily give up any thing to the judgment of a neighbor, whom he will naturally consider at least as fallible as himself, yet he should consider that the unerring eye of God is upon him; and he should endeavor to see that what he does is acceptable in the eye of his Maker and Judge.
The words behind it
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כָּֽל־ | kal- | every | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| דֶּרֶךְ־ | derekh- | way of | H1870 → | 707 times |
| אִ֭ישׁ | ʾish | a person | H376 → | 1663 times |
| יָשָׁ֣ר | yashar | [is] upright | H3477 → | 119 times |
| בְּעֵינָ֑יו | beeinav | in own eyes his | H5869 → | 887 times |
| וְתֹכֵ֖ן | vetokhen | and [is] weighing | H8505 → | 18 times |
| לִבּ֣וֹת | libot | hearts | H3826 → | 7 times |
| יְהוָֽה׃ | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
כָּֽל־every
kal-H3605 →5413 times
דֶּרֶךְ־way of
derekh-H1870 →707 times
אִ֭ישׁa person
ʾishH376 →1663 times
יָשָׁ֣ר[is] upright
yasharH3477 →119 times
בְּעֵינָ֑יוin own eyes his
beeinavH5869 →887 times
וְתֹכֵ֖ןand [is] weighing
vetokhenH8505 →18 times
לִבּ֣וֹתhearts
libotH3826 →7 times
יְהוָֽה׃Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 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
Jeremiah 17:10I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.
it leads to
- 1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the…
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Romans 8:27
And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
- Jeremiah 11:20
O LORD of Hosts, who judges righteously, who examines the heart and mind, let me see Your vengeance upon them, for to You I have committed my cause.
- Hebrews 4:12–13
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Revelation 2:23
Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
- 1 Samuel 16:7
Through
Luke 16:15So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 17:10
I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each…
- Jeremiah 17:10
Through
Proverbs 16:2All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.
it leads to
- Luke 16:15
So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.
- Luke 16:15
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Proverbs of Solomon; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.