Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Trust {H982} in the LORD {H3068} with all thine heart {H3820}; and lean {H8172} not unto thine own understanding {H998}.

Trust in ADONAI with all your heart; do not rely on your own understanding.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;

Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding:

Commentary

Proverbs 3:5 (KJV)

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Commentary

This verse comes from the book of Proverbs, which is part of the Old Testament wisdom literature. It contains practical advice for living a righteous and successful life, often presented as instruction from a father to a son. The underlying principle throughout the book is that true wisdom begins with the fear (reverence) of the LORD.

The central message here is a command to place complete and unwavering reliance on God.

  • "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart": The Hebrew word for "trust" is batach (Χ‘Χ˜Χ—), which signifies a feeling of security or confidence, a reliance upon something or someone. To trust "with all thine heart" means this reliance should be total, involving one's deepest being, affections, will, and intellect. It's not a partial or conditional trust, but a wholehearted dependence on God's character, promises, and power.
  • "and lean not unto thine own understanding": The word "lean" translates the Hebrew sha'an (שגן), meaning to rest upon, support oneself by, or depend on. This phrase contrasts human understanding with divine wisdom. While God gives us the capacity to reason and understand, our own understanding is limited, fallible, and can be skewed by pride, ignorance, or sin. This is not a rejection of using our minds, but a warning against making our own limited wisdom the ultimate basis for decision-making, independent of God's guidance.

The verse calls for humility and faith. It acknowledges that human knowledge and plans are insufficient on their own and must be submitted to God's superior wisdom and will. True security and guidance come from placing our full confidence in the LORD.

See also Jeremiah 17:5, Isaiah 55:8-9.

Practically, this verse challenges us to surrender our plans and worries to God, seeking His will through prayer, Scripture, and seeking godly counsel, rather than relying solely on our own limited perspective or perceived capabilities.

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Cross-References

  • Psalms 37:5 (714 votes)

    Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring [it] to pass.

  • Jeremiah 17:7 (587 votes)

    Blessed [is] the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

  • Jeremiah 17:8 (587 votes)

    For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and [that] spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

  • Proverbs 28:26 (470 votes)

    ΒΆ He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

  • Psalms 37:3 (372 votes)

    Trust in the LORD, and do good; [so] shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

  • Psalms 62:8 (351 votes)

    ΒΆ Trust in him at all times; [ye] people, pour out your heart before him: God [is] a refuge for us. Selah.

  • Isaiah 26:3 (339 votes)

    Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee]: because he trusteth in thee.