Proverbs 16:3 kjv

Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Proverbs 16:3 nkjv

Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established.

Proverbs 16:3 niv

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

Proverbs 16:3 esv

Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.

Proverbs 16:3 nlt

Commit your actions to the LORD,
and your plans will succeed.

Proverbs 16 verses

Proverbs 16 3 Meaning

Proverbs 16:3 calls for the complete surrender of all human endeavors and plans to God. When one actively casts their "works"—meaning their actions, tasks, and enterprises—upon the Lord, then their deepest "thoughts" or intentions, purposes, and schemes will be made firm, stable, and ultimately successful according to His divine will. It teaches that true stability and achievement come not from human effort alone, but from God's establishment of one's direction in life when He is fully trusted and acknowledged.

Proverbs 16 3 Context

Proverbs chapter 16 belongs to a collection of Solomonic proverbs that frequently explore themes of wisdom, divine sovereignty, human responsibility, and the nature of God. The chapter begins by asserting that human plans (the plans of the heart) are ultimately under divine control (the answer of the tongue is from the LORD), setting a pervasive theme of God's overarching dominion (Prov 16:1). This particular verse, 16:3, then functions as an instruction on how to align one's actions with this divine sovereignty, assuring stability when human efforts are intentionally consecrated to the Lord. The surrounding verses continue to emphasize God's role in guiding human steps (Prov 16:9) and His knowledge of all paths (Prov 16:2), creating a coherent call for trust in God amidst all life's undertakings.

Proverbs 16 3 Word analysis

• Commit: The Hebrew word is גֹּל (gol), an imperative verb derived from גָּלַל (galal), meaning "to roll," "to roll away," or "to make something roll." It signifies an active, deliberate transfer or surrender of a burden, responsibility, or an undertaking from oneself to another. The imagery is often likened to rolling a heavy stone off one's shoulders and placing it squarely onto someone else's. This is not passive wishing but active handing over.
• your works: The Hebrew word is מַעֲשֶׂיךָ (ma'aseykha), which refers to actions, deeds, endeavors, undertakings, enterprises, and labors. It encompasses every activity or project a person undertakes in life, not limited to spiritual or religious tasks but including all aspects of daily living, work, and planning.
• to the LORD: This translates from the Hebrew לַיהוָה (la-YHWH), referring to Yahweh, the personal covenant name of God. This indicates that the commitment is made to the living, active, and personal God of Israel who is intimately involved in human affairs, rather than an abstract concept or a passive deity. It implies a relationship of trust and covenant.
• and your thoughts: The Hebrew word is מַחְשְׁבֹתֶיךָ (makhsh'voteykha), meaning "plans," "purposes," "devices," "designs," or "intentions." It refers to the internal deliberations, the mental constructs, strategies, and aspirations that precede and guide one's actions. It signifies the deep, formative processes of the mind, not just fleeting ideas.
• will be established: The Hebrew word is יִכֹּנוּ (yikkōnu), derived from the root כּוּן (kun), which conveys the idea of being firm, stable, steadfast, secure, prepared, directed, or enduring. It denotes divine confirmation and solidity. When applied to "thoughts," it implies that God will give stability, certainty, and effective direction to these plans, bringing them to a firm and successful outcome consistent with His will. This does not mean every specific detail of a human plan will occur as envisioned, but that God will confirm and stabilize the underlying purpose, aligning it with His perfect design.
• Words-group Analysis:
• "Commit your works to the LORD": This phrase highlights the critical human action: an act of surrender, faith, and dependence. It signifies taking one's own efforts, anxieties, and sense of control, and actively entrusting them fully to God's sovereign care and guidance. It challenges self-reliance and fosters reliance on the divine.
• "and your thoughts will be established": This is the divine response and promise. The stability of one's inner intentions and plans is the blessed result of such surrender. This means clarity, direction, and security for the inner workings of the mind, preventing vacillation and confusion. God ensures that the deeper purposes, when aligned with His will, are not in vain but will come to a steadfast realization.

Proverbs 16 3 Bonus section

• The Hebrew verb galal ("to roll") in "Commit" carries a powerful spiritual metaphor also seen in Psa 22:8 and Psa 37:5, where it speaks of casting one's dependence or burden upon God, illustrating active trust and reliance.
• The promise of "establishment" for one's "thoughts" (makhsh'voteykha) implies not only firmness but also divine confirmation. This means God will not only provide a stable path, but He will also affirm the underlying, God-honoring purpose, providing internal conviction and outward direction.
• This proverb provides a balance between human planning and divine sovereignty, teaching that human planning is valuable when it is submitted to God, and God's sovereignty then ensures the ultimate fruitfulness and proper direction of those plans. It rejects both fatalism and humanistic self-sufficiency.

Proverbs 16 3 Commentary

Proverbs 16:3 offers profound counsel for how one should approach all life's undertakings: with active, faithful reliance on the Living God. The imperative to "commit" is not an instruction to cease effort, but to infuse all effort with divine direction and trust. It's about consciously placing every action and plan under God's oversight and will. The divine promise that one's "thoughts will be established" then follows, assuring that the deeper purposes and intentions will find firmness and stability, ultimately succeeding according to God's wise and perfect plan. This verse transcends mere financial or material success, pointing to the unshakable foundation that comes from living a life continually aligned with divine wisdom and sovereignty, leading to inner peace and true fulfillment in the Lord.

Examples:

• For personal vocation: Instead of solely strategizing career paths, pray over and dedicate career ambitions and daily work to God, seeking His leading for the "establishment" of one's professional purpose.
• For family decisions: Rather than only consulting family members and finances, "commit" the family's future plans (e.g., relocating, education choices) to the Lord, trusting Him to establish the best direction.