Proverbs 3:17
in Proverbs 3All her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace.
KJV
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
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This verse in Proverbs 3
Commentary
7 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
“Ways” and “paths” describe the two kinds of roads, the “highway” and the “byway.” In both these he who was guided by Wisdom would walk securely.
This site's exposition
Long life is in her right hand
on Proverbs 3:16-18
“Long life is in her right hand” and riches and honor in the left picture wisdom as a giver. “All her ways are pleasant” names the road itself pleasant. “She is a tree of life” reaches back to Eden, the one place in Proverbs where wisdom is that tree.
This site's exposition
all her paths are peaceful
Albert Barnes reads ways and paths as the two kinds of road, the highway and the byway. All her ways and all her paths are safe. Peaceful carries the peace promised in verse 2.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
Her ways are beautiful ways, etc. His actions and teachings contained in the Gospels are beautiful because they are divine and pure, far surpassing the manner of man, and all his commands lead to eternal peace. All that he did in the flesh pertains to …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Her ways are ways of pleasantness,....
Wisdom is here represented as a bright and bountiful queen, reaching forth gifts to her faithful and loving subjects, and offering them to all that will submit to her government. (1.) Is length of days a blessing?
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Her ways are ways of pleasantness - These blessings of true religion require little comment. They are well expressed by the poet in the following elegant verses: - “Wisdom Divine! Who tells the price Of Wisdom’s costly merchandise? Wisdom to silver we prefer, And gold is dross compared to her. Her hands are fill’d with length of days, True riches, and immortal praise; Riches of Christ, on all bestow’d, And honor that descends from God. To purest joys she all invites, Chaste, holy, spiritual delights; Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her flowery paths are peace. Happy the man that finds the grace, The blessing of God’s chosen race; The wisdom coming from above, The faith that sweetly works by love!” Wesley.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
in its right hand Those who make the right use of it and engage in it for its own sake will have length of days and surely riches and honor, but those who make the wrong [lit.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| דְּרָכֶ֥יהָ | derakheiha | ways her | H1870 → | 707 times |
| דַרְכֵי־ | darkhei- | [are] ways of | H1870 → | 707 times |
| נֹ֑עַם | noam | kindness | H5278 → | 7 times |
| וְֽכָל־ | vekhol | and all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| נְתִ֖יבוֹתֶ֣יהָ | netivoteiha | pathways her | H5410 → | 26 times |
| שָׁלֽוֹם׃ | shalom | [are] well-being | H7965 → | 236 times |
דְּרָכֶ֥יהָways her
derakheihaH1870 →707 times
דַרְכֵי־[are] ways of
darkhei-H1870 →707 times
נֹ֑עַםkindness
noamH5278 →7 times
וְֽכָל־and all
vekholH3605 →5413 times
נְתִ֖יבוֹתֶ֣יהָpathways her
netivoteihaH5410 →26 times
שָׁלֽוֹם׃[are] well-being
shalomH7965 →236 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
Isaiah 26:3You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.
it leads to
- Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
- Jeremiah 17:7–8
But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.
- Psalms 9:10
Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
- Philippians 4:7
Through
Luke 1:79to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
it leads to
- Isaiah 9:2
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.
- Isaiah 9:2
Through
Psalms 119:165Abundant peace belongs to those who love Your law; nothing can make them stumble.
it leads to
- Proverbs 3:1–2
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
- Isaiah 32:17
The work of righteousness will be peace; the service of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever.
- Proverbs 3:1–2
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); Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.