Proverbs 10:3 kjv
The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.
Proverbs 10:3 nkjv
The LORD will not allow the righteous soul to famish, But He casts away the desire of the wicked.
Proverbs 10:3 niv
The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
Proverbs 10:3 esv
The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
Proverbs 10:3 nlt
The LORD will not let the godly go hungry,
but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked.
Proverbs 10 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 34:10 | The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. | God supplies all needs of those who seek Him |
| Ps 37:25 | I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. | God's consistent provision for the righteous |
| Ps 23:1 | The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. | Divine sufficiency and lack of need |
| Matt 6:33 | But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. | Righteousness leads to divine provision |
| Phil 4:19 | And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. | God's boundless supply for His people |
| Lk 12:22-31 | "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat... For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things." | Trust in God's provision for life's needs |
| Deut 8:3 | So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna... that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD. | True sustenance beyond physical food |
| Heb 13:5 | Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." | God's faithfulness ensures provision |
| 1 Cor 10:13 | No temptation has overtaken you... God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape... | God's enabling and protective faithfulness |
| Ps 1:4-6 | The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away... The way of the ungodly shall perish. | Contrast: Wicked have no lasting stability |
| Ps 37:10 | For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; indeed, you will look carefully for his place, and it shall be no more. | Ultimate disappearance of the wicked |
| Ps 37:12-13 | The wicked plots against the just... The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming. | God mocks wicked plans as futile |
| Ps 37:20 | But the wicked shall perish; and the enemies of the LORD, like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away. | Final demise of the wicked |
| Isa 57:20-21 | But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. "There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked." | Lack of peace for the wicked |
| Prov 11:23 | The desire of the righteous is only good, but the expectation of the wicked is wrath. | Contrasting outcomes of righteous vs wicked |
| Prov 24:19-20 | Do not fret because of evildoers... For there will be no prospect for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be put out. | No lasting future for the wicked |
| Mal 4:1 | "For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble... | Divine judgment consuming the wicked |
| Rom 2:6-9 | who "will render to each one according to his deeds":... but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth... indignation and wrath... for everyone who does evil. | God's righteous retribution for works |
| Jas 1:14-15 | But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. | Destructive nature of unrestrained desire |
| 1 Jn 2:16 | For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. | Worldly cravings opposed to God's nature |
| Hab 2:5-8 | Indeed, wine betrays him; He is a proud man, and he does not stay at home. Because he enlarges his desire as hell, And he is like Death... Will not all these take up a proverb against him... saying, ‘Woe to him who increases what is not his!’ | Ruin from insatiable greed and perverse gain |
| Jer 17:9-10 | "The heart is deceitful above all things... I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings." | God discerns desires and judges accordingly |
Proverbs 10 verses
Proverbs 10 3 Meaning
Proverbs 10:3 conveys a profound truth about the moral order established and maintained by God. It states that the LORD will not permit the righteous to suffer ultimate or spiritual destitution (famine), but He will actively thwart, frustrate, and bring to nothing the perverse, destructive desires and cravings of the wicked. This highlights God's active involvement in the lives of His people, providing sustenance and well-being, while simultaneously opposing and rendering futile the evil ambitions of those who oppose Him. It is a declaration of divine justice and providence.
Proverbs 10 3 Context
Proverbs chapter 10 marks a significant shift in the book, moving from the longer, more expansive poems and parental discourses of chapters 1-9 to a collection of individual, pithy sayings (maxims), mostly in antithetical parallelism. Each verse, or occasionally two, presents a standalone truth, often contrasting the wise/righteous with the foolish/wicked, or their respective outcomes. Proverbs 10:3 sets an immediate tone for this section by establishing the overarching principle of divine retribution and providence. It roots the wisdom found in subsequent proverbs directly in God's character and active governance of the world. Historically, this chapter reflects a societal setting where ethical conduct was directly linked to one's well-being and favor in the sight of God and man, reflecting a covenant worldview.
Proverbs 10 3 Word Analysis
- The LORD (יהוה - YHWH): This specific, personal name for God emphasizes His covenantal faithfulness, sovereignty, and active involvement. It is not a general deity but the living, covenant-keeping God of Israel. His action in the world is deliberate and purposeful, distinguishing Him from any transient or capricious gods of surrounding cultures.
- will not allow (לא־ירעיב - lo-yar'eiv): Literally, "He will not hunger." Ra'ev means to be hungry or to famish. The negative form, combined with the causative stem, means God actively prevents famine or severe hunger. This is not passive allowance but active prevention and provision. It signifies God's deliberate intervention to preserve and sustain.
- the righteous soul (נפש צדיק - nefesh tzaddiq):
- soul (nefesh): In Hebrew, nefesh often refers to the entire being, the self, the life principle, and desires, not just an immaterial spirit. Here it implies the entire person of the righteous, including their innermost cravings and outward existence.
- righteous (tzaddiq): One who is just, ethically upright, in proper relationship with God through obedience and fear of Him. It denotes a moral character pleasing to God. The protection promised is for the person whose life is ordered according to divine wisdom.
- but He thwarts (ויהדף - w'yehdof): The Hebrew verb yehdof means to thrust down, push away, frustrate, or defeat. It conveys a strong sense of divine opposition and suppression. God is actively preventing the wicked from achieving their aims.
- the craving (הות - hawwat / הַוָּה - havvah): This word is rich in meaning, encompassing ruin, destruction, perversity, mischief, wickedness, or the destructive cravings/lusts that lead to such. In this context, it likely refers to the self-serving, evil, and destructive desires, ambitions, or schemes that characterize the wicked. These cravings are inherently destructive, even to the wicked themselves.
- of the wicked (רשעים - r'sha'im): Those who are ungodly, guilty, lawless, or who actively rebel against God's moral order. They are characterized by their unjust, deceitful, and violent intentions.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "The LORD will not allow the righteous soul to famish": This phrase emphasizes divine providence for those aligned with God. "Famish" extends beyond physical hunger to include spiritual, existential, and relational deprivation. God ensures ultimate satisfaction, purpose, and blessing for the righteous, protecting them from true inner or outward emptiness that would threaten their core well-being. This implies a security and lasting sustenance derived from God Himself.
- "but He thwarts the craving of the wicked": This powerfully contrasts God's favor for the righteous with His active opposition to the wicked. The "craving" is more than a simple desire; it signifies a self-centered, often destructive ambition or appetite. God actively frustrates their schemes, preventing their ultimate success or ensuring their own downfall by means of their wicked desires. It suggests that the very things the wicked pursue for their gain will ultimately be rendered fruitless or turn against them, exposing their folly and lack of God's blessing.
Proverbs 10 3 Bonus Section
The "famine" (or hunger) of the "soul" can encompass not just literal lack of food but a profound spiritual emptiness, lack of purpose, absence of contentment, or ultimate despair. God provides for the righteous the true bread of life (John 6:35), enduring water (John 4:14), and satisfaction of righteous desires, ensuring their nefesh is genuinely fed. This aligns with Christ's teaching about seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
The concept of God "thwarting" or "thrusting away" the craving of the wicked demonstrates His justice not only as punitive but also as preventative. He stops the spread of profound evil or prevents its ultimate success in corrupting His established order, showing His active involvement in limiting the destructive power of wickedness on earth. This points to the sovereign control of YHWH over human events, whether good or evil, always working towards His ultimate plan and righteous judgment.
Proverbs 10 3 Commentary
Proverbs 10:3 establishes a fundamental principle of divine justice: God actively governs the world in a way that blesses the righteous and thwarts the wicked. It’s not merely a passive observation but a declaration of the LORD’s intervention. For the righteous, God assures ultimate provision, preventing not only physical destitution but also ensuring the flourishing of their spirit and purpose. This isn't a guarantee against all hardship (as many biblical narratives of suffering righteous individuals attest, e.g., Job), but an assurance of divine sustenance that keeps their "soul" from experiencing a devastating famine of meaning, hope, or God’s favor.
Conversely, the desires and plans of the wicked—which often involve covetousness, malice, or unjust gain—are directly opposed by God. Their very "craving," steeped in perversity, becomes the instrument of their own frustration. God ensures that their destructive ambitions either fail to materialize, or their supposed gains lead to an emptiness or ruin, effectively blocking their pathway to true success or lasting peace. The verse powerfully reminds us that the trajectory of life, when aligned with God, leads to sustained well-being, while defiance of His ways ultimately results in frustration and ruin of one’s desires. This divine reality underpins the call to wisdom throughout Proverbs.
For practical usage, this verse encourages trust in God's providence even in difficult circumstances and discourages the pursuit of dishonest or self-serving ambitions, reminding us that such pursuits are ultimately futile under God's watchful eye. For example:
- A believer struggling financially can find solace that God will ensure their core needs are met and their soul sustained.
- One observing the apparent success of corrupt individuals is reminded that their "craving" will ultimately be thwarted by divine decree.
- It reinforces choosing righteous living over short-term gains from wicked practices.