Proverbs 22:21
in Proverbs 22to show you true and reliable words, that you may soundly answer those who sent you?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
To make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, That thou mayest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?
KJV
That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?
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This verse in Proverbs 22
Commentary
6 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
To them that send unto thee - Better as in the margin; compare Pro 10:26. The man who has learned the certainty of the words of truth will learn to observe it in all that men commit to him.
This site's exposition
Incline your ear and hear the words
on Proverbs 22:17-21
"Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise" opens the book's third named section, after 1:1 and 10:1. Part of the section runs close to an Egyptian text, the Instruction of Amenemope. The traditional position holds these sayings as inspired wisdom in their own right.
This site's exposition
to show you true and reliable words
The learner is pictured as a messenger who must carry a sound answer back to those who sent him. Albert Barnes sets the verse beside 10:26. A man who has learned the certainty of true words keeps that truth in whatever others commit to him.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
BonaventureCollationes de Septem Donis, Collation 4 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
Philosophical knowledge is a certain knowledge of truth as investigable. Concerning this knowledge it is said in Proverbs: "Behold, I have described it for you in a threefold manner, in thoughts and knowledge, that I might show you the firmness and the words of truth." …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth - 1. These are words or doctrines of truth: 1. They are true in themselves. 2. Come from the God of truth. 3. Are truly fulfilled to all that believe. 2. These words of truth are certain, קשט koshet, they are not of dubious or difficult interpretation; they point directly to the great end for which God gave them; they promise, and they are fulfilled. He who pleads them by faith, receives their accomplishment in the spirit and power of Divine love. The Scriptures, as far as they concern the salvation of the soul, are to be experimentally understood; and, by this experimental knowledge, every believer has the witness in himself, and knows the certainty of the words of truth. VI. What we know ourselves to be true, and of infinite importance to the welfare of men in general, we should carefully proclaim and witness, that they also may believe. That thou mightest answer the words of truth - 1. When the doctrine of salvation is preached, there will be many inquirers. What is this doctrine? Have any persons received these blessings - the remission of sins, witness of the Holy Spirit, purification of the heart, etc., etc.? Who are they? What are the collateral arguments that prove these things, and show us that you have not misapprehended the meaning of these Scriptures? 2. Inquiries of this kind should meet with the speediest and most distinct answers; and the doctrines of truth should be supported and illustrated with the words of truth. “That thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee.”
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לְהוֹדִֽיעֲךָ֗ | lehodiakha | to make known to you | H3045 → | 945 times |
| קֹ֭שְׁטְ | koshet | [the] truth of | H7189 → | |
| אִמְרֵ֣י | ʾimrei | words of | H561 → | 49 times |
| אֱמֶ֑ת | ʾemet | faithfulness | H571 → | 127 times |
| לְהָשִׁ֥יב | lehashiv | to bring back | H7725 → | 1056 times |
| אֲמָרִ֥ים | ʾamarim | words | H561 → | 49 times |
| אֱ֝מֶ֗ת | ʾemet | faithfulness | H571 → | 127 times |
| לְשֹׁלְחֶֽיךָ׃ פ | lesholecheikha | to [those who] sent you | H7971 → | 845 times |
לְהוֹדִֽיעֲךָ֗to make known to you
lehodiakhaH3045 →945 times
קֹ֭שְׁטְ[the] truth of
koshetH7189 →
אִמְרֵ֣יwords of
ʾimreiH561 →49 times
אֱמֶ֑תfaithfulness
ʾemetH571 →127 times
לְהָשִׁ֥יבto bring back
lehashivH7725 →1056 times
אֲמָרִ֥יםwords
ʾamarimH561 →49 times
אֱ֝מֶ֗תfaithfulness
ʾemetH571 →127 times
לְשֹׁלְחֶֽיךָ׃ פto [those who] sent you
lesholecheikhaH7971 →845 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
1 Peter 3:15But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and…
it leads to
- Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
- 2 Timothy 2:25–26
He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
- Luke 21:14–15
So make up your mind not to worry beforehand how to defend yourselves.
- 1 Peter 3:2
when they see your pure and reverent demeanor.
- Colossians 4:6
Through
1 John 5:13I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
it leads to
- John 20:31
But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.
- John 1:12
But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—
- John 20:31
Through
John 20:31But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.
it leads to
- Acts 10:43
All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”
- John 3:15–16
that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.
- Acts 10:43
Where this verse is studied
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); Bonaventure, Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 4; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Proverbs of Solomon and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).