King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.
Complete Jewish Bible:
A person's own folly is what ruins his way, but he rages in his heart against ADONAI.
Berean Standard Bible:
A man’s own folly subverts his way, yet his heart rages against the LORD.
American Standard Version:
The foolishness of man subverteth his way; And his heart fretteth against Jehovah.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
The foolishness{H200} of man{H120} perverteth{H5557} his way{H1870}: and his heart{H3820} fretteth{H2196} against the LORD{H3068}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Revelation 16:9
- And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
Revelation 16:11
- And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.
Numbers 16:19
- And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.
Numbers 16:41
- ¶ But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD.
Psalms 37:7
- ¶ Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
2 Chronicles 16:9
- For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of [them] whose heart [is] perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
2 Chronicles 16:10
- Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for [he was] in a rage with him because of this [thing]. And Asa oppressed [some] of the people the same time.
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Commentary for Proverbs 19:3
Proverbs 19:3 is a verse from the wisdom literature of the Hebrew Bible, which reflects the teachings and insights of ancient Israelite sages. The book of Proverbs is a collection of pithy sayings and instructions intended to impart moral insight and practical guidance for living a virtuous and successful life. This particular verse addresses the theme of human folly and its consequences.
The verse suggests that when a person acts foolishly, their actions have the potential to lead them astray, effectively perverting or ruining their path in life. The latter part of the verse introduces a psychological and spiritual dimension, indicating that such a person may become agitated or resentful towards God. This reflects a common theme in Proverbs, which often contrasts the wise, who trust in God and prosper, with the foolish, who ignore divine wisdom and suffer for it.
In the historical context of ancient Israel, the idea that one's heart might "fret against the LORD" would resonate with a society that understood human actions and divine will as deeply interconnected. The verse serves as a caution against self-deception and the rejection of God's wisdom, which the Israelites believed was essential for a well-ordered life and society. It also reflects the broader ancient Near Eastern belief in the moral order of the universe, where actions have inevitable consequences, and where God (or the gods, in polytheistic cultures) was seen as the guarantor of this order.
In summary, Proverbs 19:3 encapsulates the idea that human foolishness leads to a distortion of one's life path and can result in a strained relationship with God, characterized by frustration or anger. This verse, like many in Proverbs, encourages adherents to seek wisdom and to live in harmony with divine principles to avoid the pitfalls of folly.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H200
There are 171 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִוֶּלֶת
Transliteration: ʼivveleth
Pronunciation: iv-veh'-leth
Description: from the same as אֱוִיל; silliness; folly, foolishly(-ness). - Strong's Number: H120
There are 581 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָדָם
Transliteration: ʼâdâm
Pronunciation: aw-dawm'
Description: from אָדַם; ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.); [idiom] another, [phrase] hypocrite, [phrase] common sort, [idiom] low, man (mean, of low degree), person. - Strong's Number: H5557
There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סָלַף
Transliteration: çâlaph
Pronunciation: saw-laf'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to wrench, i.e. (figuratively) to subvert; overthrow, pervert. - Strong's Number: H1870
There are 627 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דֶּרֶךְ
Transliteration: derek
Pronunciation: deh'-rek
Description: from דָּרַךְ; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb; along, away, because of, [phrase] by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever). - Strong's Number: H3820
There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לֵב
Transliteration: lêb
Pronunciation: labe
Description: a form of לֵבָב; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything; [phrase] care for, comfortably, consent, [idiom] considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), [idiom] heed, [idiom] I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), [idiom] regard(-ed), [idiom] themselves, [idiom] unawares, understanding, [idiom] well, willingly, wisdom. - Strong's Number: H2196
There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זָעַף
Transliteration: zâʻaph
Pronunciation: zaw-af'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to boil up, i.e. (figuratively) to be peevish or angry; fret, sad, worse liking, be wroth. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.