Proverbs 24:10

¶ [If] thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength [is] small.

If thou faint {H7503} in the day {H3117} of adversity {H6869}, thy strength {H3581} is small {H6862}.

If you slack off on a day of distress, your strength is small indeed.

If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength!

If thou faint in the day of adversity, Thy strength is small.

Proverbs 24:10 delivers a profound insight into character and resilience, characteristic of wisdom literature found in the book of Proverbs. It serves as a direct challenge and a stark warning about the revealing nature of adversity.

Context

The book of Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings, moral instructions, and observations on life, primarily attributed to King Solomon. It aims to impart wisdom, discipline, and understanding to its readers, guiding them in practical living and righteous conduct. This particular verse falls within a section that emphasizes the value of wisdom and strength over brute force, and the importance of discerning counsel (see Proverbs 24:5-6). In ancient Israel, as in any society, life was fraught with challenges, making the cultivation of inner strength and perseverance vital for survival and flourishing.

Key Themes

  • The Revealing Nature of Adversity: The verse posits that trials and difficulties are not merely obstacles but are also tests that expose one's true inner condition. When faced with hardship, a person's underlying strength—or lack thereof—becomes evident.
  • The Importance of Resilience: To "faint" (Hebrew: rāp̄â, meaning to sink down, relax, or grow slack) in the face of trouble indicates a failure of perseverance. The verse implicitly advocates for steadfastness and fortitude.
  • Consequence of Weakness: The direct consequence of fainting is the revelation that "thy strength is small." This isn't just a physical weakness but speaks to a deficiency in moral, spiritual, or emotional resolve necessary to navigate life's inevitable storms. This highlights the need for perseverance in suffering and developing endurance through trials.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "faint" is rāp̄â (רָפָה), which carries the sense of becoming slack, letting go, or abandoning oneself. It’s a strong verb suggesting a loss of grip or effort. "Adversity" comes from ṣārâ (צָרָה), meaning trouble, distress, or anguish. The term for "strength" is kōaḥ (כֹּחַ), denoting power, might, or ability, often referring to inner fortitude rather than just physical might. The verse presents a clear conditional statement: If you behave this way in adversity, then it reveals this about your strength.

Practical Application

Proverbs 24:10 serves as a timeless reminder that building inner strength is a proactive endeavor, not a reactive one. We should not wait for the "day of adversity" to realize our weakness. Instead, we are encouraged to cultivate spiritual and emotional resilience through consistent discipline, faith, and reliance on God. This strength allows us to face challenges with courage and maintain hope, knowing that true power comes from the Lord (as seen in Isaiah 40:31). Recognizing our weaknesses in times of trial can be an opportunity for growth and a call to seek greater spiritual fortitude, rather than a cause for despair.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 40:28

    Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, [that] the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? [there is] no searching of his understanding.

  • Isaiah 40:31

    But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.

  • Ephesians 3:13

    Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

  • Jeremiah 51:46

    And lest your heart faint, and ye fear for the rumour that shall be heard in the land; a rumour shall both come [one] year, and after that in [another] year [shall come] a rumour, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler.

  • 1 Samuel 27:1

    ¶ And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: [there is] nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.

  • Hebrews 12:3

    For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

  • Hebrews 12:5

    And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

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