Proverbs 16:33 kjv
The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.
Proverbs 16:33 nkjv
The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.
Proverbs 16:33 niv
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
Proverbs 16:33 esv
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
Proverbs 16:33 nlt
We may throw the dice,
but the LORD determines how they fall.
Proverbs 16 33 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 50:20 | "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good..." | God's control over evil intentions. |
| Lev 16:8-10 | Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats... one for the Lord and one... Azazel. | Practical use of lots for sacred determination. |
| Num 26:55-56 | "The land shall be divided by lot... by the names of the tribes..." | Lot-casting for land division as God's will. |
| Josh 7:16-18 | They cast lots... and Achan the son of Carmi... was taken. | Divine revelation through lot to expose sin. |
| 1 Sam 10:19-21 | When he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by their clans, the clan of Matri was taken... and Saul was taken. | God choosing a king via lots. |
| 1 Sam 14:41-42 | So Saul said to the Lord, "Give Urim"... and Saul and Jonathan were taken. | Priestly lot used to discern guilt. |
| 1 Chr 24:5 | "...for there were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God, both from the sons of Eleazar and the sons of Ithamar, divided by lot." | Lot-casting for assigning priestly duties. |
| Job 2:10 | "Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" | God's sovereignty over both good and adversity. |
| Ps 33:11 | "The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations." | God's plans are unchangeable and eternal. |
| Ps 115:3 | "Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases." | Affirmation of God's absolute will and power. |
| Prov 16:1 | "The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord." | Similar proverb, God controls outcome of plans. |
| Prov 16:9 | "A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." | Similar proverb, God guides human paths. |
| Prov 19:21 | "Many plans are in a man's heart, but the counsel of the Lord will stand." | God's ultimate counsel overrides human plans. |
| Prov 20:24 | "A man's steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?" | God orchestrates human movements. |
| Prov 21:1 | "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He will." | God's control extends even to powerful leaders. |
| Prov 21:30 | "There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel against the Lord." | Human effort is futile against God's will. |
| Lam 3:37-38 | "Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both good and ill go forth?" | All outcomes, good or bad, from God's decree. |
| Jonah 1:7 | "Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us." So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. | Sailors cast lots; God reveals Jonah's disobedience. |
| Dan 4:35 | "He does according to His will... no one can restrain His hand..." | God's unchallenged will over all creation. |
| Matt 10:29-30 | "Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father." | God's detailed providence over small matters. |
| Acts 1:23-26 | So they put forward two men... And they prayed and said... "Show which one of these two You have chosen..." And they cast lots for them... and Matthias was added. | New Testament example of lot-casting under divine direction. |
| Rom 8:28 | "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God..." | God's orchestration of all events for His purpose. |
| Eph 1:11 | "...having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will..." | God's pre-determined purpose working through all things. |
Proverbs 16 verses
Proverbs 16 33 Meaning
This proverb declares that even seemingly random or chance events, represented by the casting of lots, are ultimately under the sovereign control and determined will of the Lord. Human action may initiate a process, but its final outcome, its "every decision," originates not from arbitrary chance but from divine decree. It affirms God's absolute authority over all matters, large or small, leaving nothing outside of His ultimate governance.
Proverbs 16 33 Context
Proverbs 16 emphasizes the sovereignty of God over human plans and actions, a dominant theme throughout the chapter. It juxtaposes human foresight and effort with God's ultimate control and determination of outcomes. Verses like 16:1, 16:2, and 16:9 set the stage for 16:33 by highlighting that while humans may devise their own paths and purposes, the Lord is the one who directs the tongue, weighs the motives, and orders the steps. This verse fits seamlessly into this narrative, specifically addressing a practice common in ancient Near Eastern and Israelite societies. Casting lots (like throwing dice or drawing marked stones) was a recognized method for decision-making, dividing land, discerning guilt, or appointing individuals to tasks, believed to reveal divine will rather than mere chance. This cultural understanding lends specific force to the proverb: if even this seemingly random process is controlled by God, then surely all other, more deliberate human efforts are also within His purvey.
Proverbs 16 33 Word analysis
- The lot (Hebrew: גּוֹרָל, goral): Refers to a pebble, small stone, or other object used for casting or drawing, commonly employed in ancient times as a method of decision-making. Its inherent nature implies randomness or chance to human perception. Biblically, it's used for various purposes, from dividing land (Num 26:55) to choosing priests (1 Chr 24:5) and even discerning God's will (Josh 7:16).
- is cast (Hebrew: יֻטָּל, yuttal, from the root נָטַל natal - to throw, cast): This verb is in the Hophal stem (passive causative), indicating that the lot is caused to be cast or is thrown. It highlights the human agency in initiating the action, emphasizing that someone performs the act of casting.
- into the lap (Hebrew: חֵיק, ḥeq): Refers to the bosom, fold of a garment, or the pouch formed in a garment over the knees where objects would land. It represents the immediate receptacle where the outcome of the cast is revealed, making the "landing place" seem arbitrary.
- but (Hebrew: וְ, wə, meaning "and" but functioning here adversatively, "but" or "however"): This crucial conjunction marks a clear contrast and shift in focus. It separates the human act from the divine determination, emphasizing the profound difference between the perceived random action and the underlying divine control.
- its every decision (Hebrew: וְכָל־מִשְׁפָּטוֹ, wə-kol-mishpato - and all its judgment/decision): Kol means "all" or "every," highlighting the comprehensive nature of God's control. Mishpat (מִשְׁפָּט) means "judgment," "decision," or "verdict." Here, it refers specifically to the outcome or final determination that the casting of lots yields. It's not just a decision, but every aspect of its decision.
- is from the Lord (Hebrew: מֵיהוה, meYahweh - from Yahweh): This specifies the ultimate source and authority of the decision. Yahweh (the Lord) is God's covenant name, signifying His unchanging, eternal, and sovereign character. It means that the outcome is not arbitrary or dependent on chance, but a deliberate act of divine will, planned and executed by God Himself.
- "The lot is cast into the lap": This phrase describes the human action and the superficial appearance of randomness. It represents human agency, perceived chance, and the immediate, visible outcome of an unpredictable method. This part acknowledges the reality of human actions.
- "but its every decision is from the Lord": This counterbalances the first phrase by revealing the divine reality behind the visible act. It asserts God's ultimate sovereignty and omnipotence, declaring that nothing is truly random or outside His complete and perfect control, even something as seemingly haphazard as a lot cast into a lap.
- The interplay of human action and divine will: The entire verse elegantly presents the profound theological concept of concurrent causation – humans act, but God governs the outcomes. It does not negate human responsibility but places human agency within the overarching framework of divine providence.
Proverbs 16 33 Bonus section
This proverb primarily serves as a theological statement about divine sovereignty rather than an endorsement of lot-casting as a prescriptive method for Christians today. While lots were used by God's people in the Old Testament and even in the early New Testament (Acts 1:26), the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost marked a new era of direct divine guidance and discernment for believers (Acts 2, Rom 8:14, 1 Cor 2:10). The emphasis shifts from external methods to internal Spirit-led discernment, prayer, biblical wisdom, and counsel. However, the core truth of the proverb remains timeless: God's hand is in everything. Even today, what humans perceive as coincidences, good fortune, or ill luck are, from God's perspective, part of His larger, perfectly executed plan. This concept grounds humility, acknowledges God's omnipresence, and calls for unwavering trust in His ultimate control over all circumstances.
Proverbs 16 33 Commentary
Proverbs 16:33 offers a profound statement on divine sovereignty, asserting that even what appears to be pure chance is actually a manifestation of God's will. The ancient practice of casting lots was perceived by humans as random, yet this proverb reveals it as a tool in God's hand. This teaches us that all events, whether seemingly random, chaotic, or meticulously planned, are ultimately subject to God's purpose. It dismantles the notion of blind luck or independent fate, elevating God as the orchestrator of all outcomes. Believers can find great peace in this truth, trusting that even when life seems unpredictable, a loving, sovereign God is directing "every decision." It encourages submission to His will and a recognition of His pervasive rule, dispelling anxieties about life's uncertainties.