The big picture
Proverbs 3 opens in verse 1 with “My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:”, reaches its middle movement near verse 18 with “She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that…”, and closes in verse 35 with “The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, understanding, ways, hand, heart. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Proverbs · King James Version · 35Proverbs 3:1-7
1–7: My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
Proverbs 3:1–7 opens with “My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:” and reaches “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD , and depart from evil.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A traveler trusting God at a forked road, a household honoring God with first produce, and a neighbor receiving needed help, with particular weight carried by heart, LORD, understanding.
Context that brings the passage to life
“My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:” The line’s distinctive content terms include commandments, forget, heart. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
Proverbs 3:1-7
King James Version1My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD , and depart from evil.
Proverbs 3:8-14
8–14: It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Proverbs 3:8–14 opens with “It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.” and reaches “For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A traveler trusting God at a forked road, a household honoring God with first produce, and a neighbor receiving needed help, with particular weight carried by LORD, merchandise, barns.
Context that brings the passage to life
“It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Proverbs 3:8-14
King James Version8It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
11My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD ; neither be weary of his correction:
12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
Proverbs 3:15-21
15–21: She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire…
Proverbs 3:15–21 opens with “She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared…” and reaches “My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A traveler trusting God at a forked road, a household honoring God with first produce, and a neighbor receiving needed help, with particular weight carried by hand, ways, wisdom.
Context that brings the passage to life
“She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.” Naming She keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Proverbs 3:15-21
King James Version15She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
16Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
19The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
20By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
Proverbs 3:22-28
22–28: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
Proverbs 3:22–28 opens with “So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.” and reaches “Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A traveler trusting God at a forked road, a household honoring God with first produce, and a neighbor receiving needed help, with particular weight carried by afraid, foot, cometh.
Context that brings the passage to life
“So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Proverbs 3:22-28
King James Version22So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
24When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
26For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
27Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
28Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
Proverbs 3:29-35
29–35: Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by…
Proverbs 3:29–35 opens with “Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.” and reaches “The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A traveler trusting God at a forked road, a household honoring God with first produce, and a neighbor receiving needed help, with particular weight carried by LORD, abomination, blesseth.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.” Naming Devise keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Proverbs 3:29-35
King James Version29Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
31Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
32For the froward is abomination to the LORD : but his secret is with the righteous.
33The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
34Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
35The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Proverbs 3:1 begins with “My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:”
Where the chapter turns
Proverbs 3:23 forms a natural hinge: “Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.”
The final note
Proverbs 3:35 leaves the reader with “The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, understanding, ways, hand, heart, keep help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How does blame move through the conversation?
The man points to the woman and indirectly to God; the woman points to the serpent. Neither response repairs trust.
Where does mercy appear?
Continued life, the promise involving offspring, and clothing accompany the expulsion.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.