King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
Berean Standard Bible:
Tie them to your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
American Standard Version:
Bind them upon thy fingers; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Bind{H7194} them upon thy fingers{H676}, write{H3789} them upon the table{H3871} of thine heart{H3820}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Deuteronomy 11:18
- ¶ Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.
Deuteronomy 11:20
- And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:
Proverbs 3:3
- Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
Deuteronomy 6:8
- And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
Deuteronomy 6:9
- And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
Jeremiah 31:33
- But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Isaiah 30:8
- ¶ Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:
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Commentary for Proverbs 7:3
Proverbs 7:3, which reads, "Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart," is part of a larger instruction from a father to his son in the book of Proverbs, traditionally attributed to Solomon, the wise king of Israel. This verse continues the theme of wisdom and instruction that runs throughout the book. The metaphorical language suggests a deep internalization of wisdom and guidance.
In the historical context, the verse reflects the ancient Near Eastern tradition of using concrete, physical imagery to convey abstract concepts. "Binding" wisdom on one's fingers and "writing" it on the tablet of the heart implies a constant and visible presence of wisdom in one's life. The fingers represent one's actions, indicating that wisdom should guide all deeds, while the heart symbolizes the core of one's being, suggesting that wisdom should be integral to one's thoughts and desires.
The themes of Proverbs 7:3 include the importance of wisdom in daily life, the need for its constant application, and the idea that wisdom should be so deeply ingrained in a person that it influences every decision and action. The verse encourages a profound commitment to living a wise life, where wisdom is not merely an intellectual pursuit but a guiding principle that shapes one's character and conduct. It underscores the value of memorization and meditation on wisdom as a means to ensure that it is always at hand, ready to inform one's choices and behaviors.
*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: H7194
There are 44 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָשַׁר
Transliteration: qâshar
Pronunciation: kaw-shar'
Description: a primitive root; to tie, physically (gird, confine, compact) or mentally (in love, league); bind (up), (make a) conspire(-acy, -ator), join together, knit, stronger, work (treason). - Strong's Number: H676
There are 89 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶצְבַּע
Transliteration: ʼetsbaʻ
Pronunciation: ets-bah'
Description: from the same as צֶבַע (in the sense of grasping); something to sieze with, i.e. a finger; by analogy, a toe; finger, toe. - Strong's Number: H3789
There are 212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כָּתַב
Transliteration: kâthab
Pronunciation: kaw-thab'
Description: a primitive root; to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe); describe, record, prescribe, subscribe, write(-ing, -ten). - Strong's Number: H3871
There are 33 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לוּחַ
Transliteration: lûwach
Pronunciation: loo'-akh
Description: or לֻחַ; from a primitive root; probably meaning to glisten; a tablet (as polished), of stone, wood or metal; board, plate, table. - 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.