Proverbs 15:3 kjv
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
Proverbs 15:3 nkjv
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.
Proverbs 15:3 niv
The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
Proverbs 15:3 esv
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
Proverbs 15:3 nlt
The LORD is watching everywhere,
keeping his eye on both the evil and the good.
Proverbs 15 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 139:7-12 | Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven... | God's omnipresence; inescapable presence. |
| Jer 23:23-24 | Am I a God near at hand...and not a God afar off? Can anyone hide himself...? | God fills heaven and earth, nothing is hidden. |
| Heb 4:13 | No creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed... | All things open to God's eyes; divine omniscience. |
| 1 Chr 28:9 | The LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. | God sees intentions and thoughts, not just actions. |
| Prov 5:21 | For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and He ponders all his paths. | God observes and evaluates all life paths. |
| Job 28:24 | For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. | God's vision spans all creation. |
| Ps 33:13-15 | The LORD looks down from heaven; He sees all the children of man... | God's sovereign gaze upon humanity. |
| Rev 20:12-13 | And the dead were judged according to their works, as recorded in the books. | Future judgment based on actions seen by God. |
| 2 Cor 5:10 | For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due... | Accountability for all actions. |
| Ecc 12:14 | For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether good or evil. | Ultimate judgment for all, even hidden deeds. |
| Ps 7:9 | For you, O righteous God, who tries the hearts and minds... | God scrutinizes inner motives. |
| Jer 17:10 | I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways... | God knows hearts to render justice. |
| Zech 4:10 | For these seven eyes of the LORD run to and fro through the whole earth... | God's active, pervasive vigilance (symbolic seven eyes). |
| 2 Chr 16:9 | For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless... | God actively seeks to support the faithful. |
| Prov 16:2 | All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit. | God assesses true motives, not just outward appearance. |
| Gen 16:13 | You are a God of seeing [El Roi]...Have I really seen Him who sees me? | God's identity as "The God Who Sees." |
| Ps 94:9-10 | He who planted the ear, does He not hear? He who formed the eye, does He not see? | God's faculties surpass human understanding. |
| Prov 11:21 | Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered. | Divine consequence for evil. |
| Prov 24:11-12 | If you are faint in the day of adversity...If you say, "Behold, we did not know this!" Does not He who weighs the heart perceive...? | God knows if we neglect to do good; no excuses. |
| Ps 11:4-5 | The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the children of man. | God reigns and actively scrutinizes humanity. |
| Rom 2:6 | He will render to each one according to his works. | God's just recompense for deeds. |
| Prov 15:11 | Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD; how much more the hearts of the children of man! | Even death and destruction are visible to God. |
| Isa 66:18 | "For I know their works and their thoughts..." | God's intimate knowledge of human actions and minds. |
Proverbs 15 verses
Proverbs 15 3 Meaning
Proverbs 15:3 proclaims God's universal knowledge and ceaseless vigilance over all humanity. It signifies that the Divine, in His sovereign omnipresence, discerns every action, thought, and intention, encompassing both the wicked and the righteous, regardless of location or secrecy. This truth forms the bedrock for divine justice and accountability.
Proverbs 15 3 Context
Proverbs 15 is a rich collection of maxims contrasting wisdom with foolishness, often focusing on the power of the tongue, the nature of righteous and wicked attitudes, and the overarching theme of God's providential rule. Verse 3 directly addresses God's omnipresence and omniscience, providing the divine backdrop against which all human behavior, good or bad, is ultimately assessed. It emphasizes that no action or intention can escape the divine gaze, influencing the practical advice given throughout the book regarding humility, justice, diligence, and integrity. This concept would have stood in stark contrast to local ancient Near Eastern polytheistic beliefs where deities were often associated with specific places or limited powers.
Proverbs 15 3 Word analysis
- The eyes of the LORD:
'eyney(עֵינֵי): Hebrew for "eyes," used here as an anthropomorphism, attributing a human physical characteristic to God. This signifies divine perception, comprehension, active observation, and deep knowledge. It is not limited to mere sight but implies full awareness, understanding of motives, and purpose behind actions.Yahweh(יְהוָה): The sacred personal name of God, revealing Him as the covenant-making, eternal, self-existent One. The use of this specific name, rather than a generic term for deity, emphasizes the direct, personal, and active involvement of the God of Israel in human affairs.- Significance: Represents God's omnipresent omniscience and His active, sovereign oversight.
- are in every place:
bᵉchol-maqom(בְּכָל־מָק֑וֹם):bᵉcholmeaning "in all" or "every," andmaqommeaning "place."- Significance: States unequivocally God's omnipresence. No physical location, no hidden corner, no secret chamber is beyond His view. This counters any belief that actions done in private can escape divine notice, asserting His boundless presence and knowledge.
- keeping watch:
tzofot(צֹפוֹת): Hebrew for "watching," derived from the roottsafah(צָפָה), meaning "to look out, to scout, to observe, to guard." It implies an active, purposeful, continuous observation, not just a casual glance. It suggests readiness to discern and potentially act.- Significance: Indicates that God's observation is not passive but dynamic and purposeful. It is surveillance that leads to knowledge for the sake of judgment, protection, or intervention.
- on the evil:
raʻim(רָעִים): Hebrew plural for "evil, wicked, bad." Refers to people who are morally corrupt, engaged in acts contrary to God's law and righteousness.- Significance: God's specific and discerning attention is directed towards wrongdoing. No act of wickedness, no wicked individual, escapes His scrutiny.
- and the good:
vᵉtovim(וְטוֹבִים): Hebrew for "and the good." Refers to those who are righteous, virtuous, upright, and obedient to God's will.- Significance: God's attention is not solely on evil; He also observes and recognizes the good. This assures the righteous that their faithful living is acknowledged, implying future recompense and blessing, just as the evil will face judgment.
Proverbs 15 3 Bonus section
The active "keeping watch" (צֹפוֹת - tzofot) not only denotes observation but often implies guarding or preparing to act. In other biblical contexts, this root can refer to a watchman on a wall, constantly vigilant against danger or waiting for a sign. This gives a dynamic quality to God's seeing – it's not a passive surveillance, but an active, discerning presence that holds implications for intervention, justice, or support. The truth that "the eyes of the LORD are in every place" profoundly underscores the "fear of the Lord" – not a cowering dread, but a reverential awe and submission that stems from understanding His absolute authority, holiness, and inescapable awareness of all things. It's an encouragement to choose wisely, live righteously, and walk in alignment with divine wisdom, as there are no hidden places from His gaze.
Proverbs 15 3 Commentary
Proverbs 15:3 is a foundational truth within the wisdom literature, serving as a constant reminder of divine accountability. It succinctly states that God's comprehensive knowledge pervades all reality; He sees everything and everyone, at all times, without exception. This divine omnipresence and omniscience are not abstract concepts but have profound moral and practical implications. For the wicked, it serves as a solemn warning that their secret schemes and hidden transgressions are fully known to God, guaranteeing that justice will eventually prevail. There is no escape from the Lord's scrutiny. For the righteous, it offers profound comfort and motivation. Their quiet acts of integrity, unnoticed by human eyes, and their persevering righteousness amidst trials, are perfectly perceived and remembered by their Heavenly Father. This truth calls believers to live with integrity in all spheres, knowing that their true audience is God Himself, who justly assesses every heart and deed.
Examples:
- A student considering cheating on a test knows God sees their intent and action.
- Someone tempted to slander a coworker remembers that God observes their words and motives.
- A person consistently serving others in secret finds comfort that God sees and acknowledges their labor of love.