Proverbs 16:1 kjv
The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
Proverbs 16:1 nkjv
The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
Proverbs 16:1 niv
To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue.
Proverbs 16:1 esv
The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
Proverbs 16:1 nlt
We can make our own plans,
but the LORD gives the right answer.
Proverbs 16 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 19:21 | Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. | God's ultimate plans prevail over human plans. |
| Prov 20:24 | A person’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand their own way? | The Lord guides and directs our paths. |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. | Dependence on God for guidance and direction. |
| Jas 4:13-15 | Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there… Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." | Human planning must be subject to God's will. |
| Jer 10:23 | LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps. | Man lacks self-sufficiency in direction. |
| Ps 33:10-11 | The LORD foils the plans of the nations... But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever. | God frustrates human schemes but establishes His own. |
| Isa 46:10 | I make known the end from the beginning… My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. | God declares and executes His sovereign will. |
| Dan 4:35 | All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases... No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?" | God's absolute power and authority over all. |
| Phil 2:13 | for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. | God's work in both our desires and actions. |
| Exod 4:11-12 | Then the LORD said to him, "Who gave human beings their mouths? ... Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." | God enables and guides speech for His purpose. |
| Jer 1:9 | Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "I have put my words in your mouth." | God places His words into the mouths of His servants. |
| Matt 10:19-20 | But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. | The Holy Spirit guides and provides words in trials. |
| Lk 21:15 | for I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. | Divine wisdom provided for eloquent response. |
| Lam 3:37-38 | Who can speak and have it happen, if the Lord has not decreed it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come? | Nothing occurs without the Lord's decree. |
| Rom 9:16 | So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. | Salvation and outcomes are by God's mercy, not human effort. |
| Job 23:13-14 | But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does... He carries out his decree against me, and many such plans he has in store. | God's will is unchangeable and absolute. |
| Prov 16:9 | The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. | Man proposes, God disposes (direct parallel). |
| Gen 50:20 | You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. | God orchestrates human evil for His good purpose. |
| Num 22:38 | Balaam said to Balak, "...The word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak." | Even an unwilling prophet speaks only what God allows. |
| Jn 15:5 | I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. | Dependence on Christ for any fruitfulness or effectiveness. |
| Ezra 7:6 | This Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the LORD, the God of Israel, had given... The king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him. | God's guiding hand enables success in human efforts. |
| Is 30:1 | "Woe to the rebellious children," declares the LORD, "who carry out a plan, but not mine; and who make an alliance, but not of My Spirit..." | Rebellious planning against God's will. |
Proverbs 16 verses
Proverbs 16 1 Meaning
Proverbs 16:1 articulates a profound truth about divine sovereignty over human intent and execution. While the internal deliberations, plans, and intentions originate in the human heart, the definitive response, declaration, or ultimate outcome—expressed as the 'answer of the tongue'—is solely directed and determined by the Lord. It signifies that human initiative is subservient to God's ultimate control and purposes.
Proverbs 16 1 Context
Proverbs 16:1 stands at the beginning of a chapter heavily focused on divine sovereignty and wisdom, a central theme within the Book of Proverbs, particularly within the collection attributed to Solomon (chapters 10-29). This verse sets the stage by immediately introducing the tension and interrelationship between human will and divine control, a topic revisited in subsequent verses like 16:3 ("Commit your works to the LORD, and your plans will be established.") and 16:9 ("The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps."). The broader cultural context of ancient Israel emphasized a monotheistic worldview where Yahweh was sovereign over all aspects of life, including human thought and action. This truth serves as a direct counter-argument to contemporary beliefs, common in the broader Ancient Near East, where multiple gods might compete, or fate was seen as an impersonal force, diminishing a singular divine oversight. Instead, Proverbs asserts a personal God who actively engages with and ultimately directs the path of humanity.
Proverbs 16 1 Word analysis
- מַעַרְכֵי (ma'arḵê) – "arrangements," "preparations," "dispositions." From the root ‘arakh (to arrange, to set in order).
- This word implies intentionality, not just random thoughts. It suggests careful plotting, devising, or laying out plans within the heart. It’s a considered design.
- לֵב (lev) – "heart."
- In Hebrew anthropology, the heart is not merely the seat of emotion, but the center of intellect, will, reason, decision-making, and moral choice. It represents the inner person, the seat of understanding and intention.
- אָדָם (adam) – "man," "humanity."
- Refers to mankind universally. The verse states this truth applies to all humans.
- מַעֲנֵה (ma'aneh) – "answer," "response," "declaration," "result," "reply." From the root ‘anah (to answer, respond, attend to).
- This term carries significant weight. It implies the outcome, the actual verbalization, or the final determination. It’s what proceeds out from the intention.
- לָשׁוֹן (lashon) – "tongue."
- Symbolizes speech, articulation, utterance, or expression. In the context of "answer of the tongue," it represents the public manifestation or the ultimate outworking of thoughts, including spoken words, declarations, or enacted decisions. It is the instrument through which intentions are realized or thwarted.
- יְהֹוָה (YHWH) – "LORD."
- Refers to the personal, covenantal God of Israel, emphasizing His unique and absolute sovereignty. The use of the divine name underscores that this control is by the specific, personal will of God.
Words-group analysis:
- "The arrangements of the heart belonging to man": This phrase highlights human agency in thought and planning. It recognizes that humans are endowed with the capacity to devise strategies, form intentions, and contemplate actions internally. This part is within human capability and responsibility.
- "But from the LORD is the answer of the tongue": This starkly contrasts the human part with divine control. The conjunction "but" (waw conjunctive with mem of source, 'and from') signals a direct counterpoint. It asserts that despite human internal planning, the actual outcome, declaration, or realization of those plans (represented by the 'tongue' as expression or execution) originates solely from God. It emphasizes that the effectiveness, direction, or even permission for an utterance or plan's outworking ultimately rests with God. This is not about God giving words to the tongue necessarily, but about God determining what comes from the tongue in terms of effective outcome or spoken decree.
Proverbs 16 1 Bonus section
- This proverb does not imply that God is responsible for evil thoughts in the human heart, but rather that He maintains ultimate control over the manifestation and outcome of all thoughts, whether good or bad, aligning them with His larger, inscrutable plan.
- The tension between human planning and divine determination is a recurring theological theme throughout the Bible, emphasizing God's omnipotence and omnipresence, challenging human intellectual pride, and promoting trust in His wisdom and control.
- Some interpretations of "answer of the tongue" lean towards God's enabling and giving utterance, meaning the very words one speaks come from God. Other, perhaps more comprehensive, interpretations suggest that it refers to the decisive, concluding word or action that gives effect to a plan, the "yes" or "no" or "this way" or "that way" which God alone issues for the final outcome. Both align with the concept of God's sovereignty.
Proverbs 16 1 Commentary
Proverbs 16:1 captures a core tenet of biblical wisdom: the profound interface between human free will and divine sovereignty. It teaches that while humans are indeed the architects of their own internal thoughts, designs, and aspirations (the "arrangements of the heart"), the ultimate articulation, the public declaration, or the eventual outcome of these intentions (the "answer of the tongue") rests under the decisive authority of the Lord. This verse does not negate human responsibility or the value of diligent planning; rather, it sets the boundary of human agency. It serves as a potent reminder for believers to humbly submit all their plans, thoughts, and intentions to God's ultimate will and direction. Our internal machinations are essential, but their effective and purposeful realization requires God's superintendence, transforming our thoughts into actions that align with His divine purpose. This principle prevents both passive fatalism and arrogant self-reliance, fostering a dependence on God in all matters.