What does Proverbs chapter 3 mean?

Answer 1

Proverbs 23:17,18 KJV

Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long, for surely there is an end (a hereafter) and thine expectation (hope) shall not be cut off.

A son is being warned to not mistakenly envy what might appear appealing in what those who disobey God are doing, but instead he is to fear the consequences that necessarily will come from Yahweh for evil behavior. Such fear of consequences should guide your behavior all day long. Then that which you should attain by right behavior will not be taken away from you. You will not lose the good things that you hoped for.

Answer 2

=== === 23The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

This verse says that the more we respect God and accept that he is bigger and more powerful than we are the more blessings we will have in our life, as we accept and admit that he is God. We will have peace and happiness and when trouble arises we will not be hurt or harmed by it.

Answer 3

This Proverb opens up with Solomon speaking to his son. No where in the Hebrews Scriptures is there a mix of pagan mythology with the Word of God.

Solomon continues drawing attention to God with the phrase 'my law...my commands,' connectiong wisdom and the Law of Moses - the Proverbs being an application of the Law. Then Solomon continues to describe God's character with the words 'mercy and truth' and the demands He makes of His people.

This Proverb is about God, 'trust in the Lord,' 'acknowledge Him' and explains how the person who has wisdom has found the priceless treasure. (v 13-18). Solomon tells his son to keep sound wisdom and discretion (virtues not a false god) in verse 21 and speaks of their effects upon his son's life with the 'Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught' (Proverbs 3:26).

As is done throughout Proverbs, wisdom is personified and acts as God's dynamic Word. In the New Testament, Jesus becomes the Wisdom of the Word of God and not some pagan god.

Answer 4

Lady Wisdom (Greek: Sophia) opens the chapter, "My son, forget not my law, but let thine heart keep my commandments."

She then recounts various of her commandments up to verse 12. Then we learn a little about Wisdom herself (most English translations tend to use a lower case for wisdom, which makes the text a little harder to follow) - (Proverbs 3:13-19): "Happy is the man that findeth [W]wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. The LORD by [W]wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens." The remainder of the chapter consists of further Wisdom commandments.

So, who is this Wisdom? Chapter 8 is a good resource that can be followed by modern readers accustomed to a narrower definition of religion. Verse 1-5: "Doth not [W]wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. O ye simple, understand [W]wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart." She was a spirit/goddess revered by Jews during the post-Exilic era and up to the end of the first century CE, and is suggested she might have been the pre-Exilic goddess of Wisdom. Proverbs 8:23 tells us that she was with God at creation: "I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was," confirming the statement read in Proverbs 3:19.