King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Blessed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Complete Jewish Bible:
How happy the person who listens to me, who watches daily at my gates and waits outside my doors.
Berean Standard Bible:
Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.
American Standard Version:
Blessed is the man that heareth me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Blessed{H835} is the man{H120} that heareth{H8085} me, watching{H8245} daily{H3117}{H3117} at my gates{H1817}, waiting{H8104} at the posts{H4201} of my doors{H6607}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Luke 11:28
- But he said, Yea rather, blessed [are] they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
Matthew 7:24
- Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Proverbs 3:13
- ¶ Happy [is] the man [that] findeth wisdom, and the man [that] getteth understanding.
Acts 2:42
- ¶ And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Luke 10:39
- And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
Acts 17:11
- These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Acts 17:12
- Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Proverbs 8:34
Proverbs 8:34 is part of a larger passage in the Book of Proverbs, which is a collection of wisdom literature in the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. This particular verse falls within a section often attributed to Lady Wisdom, a personification of wisdom that is depicted as a woman calling out to those who would listen. The historical context of Proverbs is generally associated with the period of Solomon's reign (c. 970–931 BCE) and subsequent wisdom traditions in ancient Israel.
In Proverbs 8:34, the theme revolves around the benefits of seeking wisdom. The verse reads, "Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors." Here, "me" refers to Lady Wisdom, who invites individuals to attentively seek her guidance. The verse suggests that the pursuit of wisdom is an active and ongoing endeavor, requiring a person to be vigilant and persistent, as symbolized by watching at the gates and waiting at the doors.
The imagery of gates and doors is evocative of the idea that wisdom is accessible to those who earnestly seek it. In the ancient world, city gates were places of gathering where important discussions and judgments took place, and doorposts were locations where important notices were posted. By using this imagery, the verse conveys that wisdom is publicly available, yet it requires a deliberate effort to access it.
In summary, Proverbs 8:34 emphasizes the virtue of listening to and seeking wisdom. It promises blessings to those who make the pursuit of wisdom a regular part of their lives, suggesting that such individuals will be rewarded for their diligence in seeking out wise instruction. The historical context is rooted in the didactic literature of ancient Israel, where wisdom was highly valued and seen as a key to a prosperous and righteous life.
*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: H835
There are 266 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶשֶׁר
Transliteration: ʼesher
Pronunciation: eh'-sher
Description: from אָשַׁר; happiness; only in masculine plural construction as interjection, how happy!; blessed, happy. - 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: H8085
There are 1072 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁמַע
Transliteration: shâmaʻ
Pronunciation: shaw-mah'
Description: a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.); [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness. - Strong's Number: H8245
There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁקַד
Transliteration: shâqad
Pronunciation: shaw-kad'
Description: a primitive root; to be alert, i.e. sleepless; hence to be on the lookout (whether for good or ill); hasten, remain, wake, watch (for). - Strong's Number: H3117
There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. - Strong's Number: H1817
There are 78 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דֶּלֶת
Transliteration: deleth
Pronunciation: deh'-leth
Description: from דָּלָה; something swinging, i.e. the valve of adoor; door (two-leaved), gate, leaf, lid. (Psalm 141:3). - Strong's Number: H8104
There are 440 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁמַר
Transliteration: shâmar
Pronunciation: shaw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.; beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man). - Strong's Number: H4201
There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מְזוּזָה
Transliteration: mᵉzûwzâh
Pronunciation: mez-oo-zaw'
Description: or מְזֻזָה; from the same as זִיז; a door-post (as prominent); (door, side) post. - Strong's Number: H6607
There are 154 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פֶּתַח
Transliteration: pethach
Pronunciation: peh'-thakh
Description: from פָּתַח; an opening (literally), i.e. door (gate) or entrance way; door, entering (in), entrance (-ry), gate, opening, place.