Focused Passage

Proverbs 16:21

The LORD Weighs the Heart: Sovereignty, Humility, Justice, and the Wise Path

The chapter moves from the LORD's sovereignty over plans and motives, to justice in royal rule, to the superiority of wisdom and humility, to gracious speech and the warning against self-deceived paths, to destructive speech and violent companionship, and finally to patience, self-control, and the LORD's final governance.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

21The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 21

Original words

The wiseלַחֲכַם־H2450Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - masculine singular constructin heartלֵ֭בH3820Noun - masculine singularare calledיִקָּרֵ֣אH7121Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singulardiscerningנָב֑וֹןH995Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularand pleasantוּמֶ֥תֶקH4986Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructspeechשְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִםH8193Noun - fdpromotesיֹסִ֥יףH3254Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularinstructionלֶֽקַח׃H3948Noun - masculine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.