What Does Proverbs 3:4 Mean in the King James?
So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The “understanding” here is practical discernment, held alongside favor in the sight of both God and people.
THE MEANING
Favor and sound discernment belong together in the way your life is seen. This verse holds regard before God and among people in one shared line.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the idea that regard before God and regard among people must pull in opposite directions.
THE ROOT
שֵׂכֶל
sekel
GROWS FROM
שׂכל
To be prudent, act wisely, or have insight.
The root behind “understanding” points to discernment expressed in action, not simply information held in the mind. The verse places this practical wisdom alongside favor, in the sight of both God and people.
ALSO GROWS
maskil: One who has insight; also an instructive composition.
מַשְׂכִּיל
This branch shows that sekel carries a sense of skillful understanding that can take shape in what a person expresses.
hiskil: Act wisely, understand, or prosper.
הִשְׂכִּיל
This verb form makes the root active: understanding is discernment put into practice.
חֵן
chen
GROWS FROM
חנן
To show favor or be gracious.
“favour” in this verse is chen. Chen is favor received; its root, chanan, describes the showing of favor. The verse places that regard beside practical discernment, joining how you are regarded with the wisdom visible in your life.
ALSO GROWS
chanan: Show favor; be gracious.
חָנַן
This verb reveals the active giving of the favor named by chen.
channun: Gracious; characterized by favor.
חַנּוּן
This related form describes one who shows favor, extending the root’s sense from an act to a quality.
THE PATTERN
Scripture repeatedly holds favor and sound understanding together in a life seen by God and people.
Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.THE THREAD
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.Luke echoes the paired horizon of favor with God and people, and places it alongside growth in wisdom and stature. Read beside Proverbs, the parallel joins sound discernment with a life regarded in both relationships.
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