Proverbs 16:7 kjv
When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Proverbs 16:7 nkjv
When a man's ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Proverbs 16:7 niv
When the LORD takes pleasure in anyone's way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them.
Proverbs 16:7 esv
When a man's ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Proverbs 16:7 nlt
When people's lives please the LORD,
even their enemies are at peace with them.
Proverbs 16 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 23:5 | You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies... | God's protection amidst adversaries. |
| Ps 37:3-4 | Trust in the LORD and do good... delight in the LORD... | Righteous actions bring blessings. |
| Ps 84:11 | ...no good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. | God's blessings for righteous living. |
| Gen 33:4 | Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. | God turning an enemy's heart (Jacob & Esau). |
| Gen 26:27-29 | Abimelech said... We see that the LORD has been with you. So let there now be an oath... | God's blessing making enemies acknowledge peace. |
| Isa 26:3 | You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. | Perfect peace for those focused on God. |
| Isa 32:17 | And the effect of righteousness will be quietness and assurance forever. | Righteousness brings peace and security. |
| Isa 41:10-14 | Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed... those who contend with you shall be as nothing. | God defending and defeating enemies. |
| Rom 5:1 | Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God... | Foundational peace with God through faith. |
| Rom 8:28 | And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good... | God's providential working in all circumstances. |
| Rom 12:18 | If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. | Believer's striving for peace with others. |
| Phil 4:6-7 | ...let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God... will guard your hearts... | God's peace guarding heart and mind. |
| Heb 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe... | Faith as prerequisite for pleasing God. |
| 1 Sam 2:30 | ...for those who honor me I will honor... | Principle of God honoring those who honor Him. |
| 2 Chron 15:2 | The LORD is with you while you are with him... | Conditional favor based on being with God. |
| 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 sovereignty over the hearts of others. |
| Josh 10:25 | Do not be afraid... For the LORD your God will fight for you... | God fighting on behalf of His people. |
| Ps 91:1-16 | He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High... For he will command his angels concerning you... | Divine protection from harm. |
| Prov 3:1-2 | My son, do not forget my teaching... long life and peace they will add to you. | Obedience bringing peace and longevity. |
| Jer 29:7 | But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare. | Seeking welfare for all leading to personal welfare. |
| Job 12:10 | In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. | God's absolute sovereignty over all. |
| Col 1:10 | ...so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him... | Walking in a way that truly pleases the Lord. |
| Psa 5:11-12 | Let all who take refuge in You rejoice... For You bless the righteous... | Blessings and rejoicing for the righteous who trust God. |
| Isa 54:17 | No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed... | God nullifying threats and opposing forces. |
Proverbs 16 verses
Proverbs 16 7 Meaning
Proverbs 16:7 proclaims a profound principle of divine governance: when a person's life and actions are in alignment with God's will and are pleasing to Him, the Almighty sovereignly intervenes to resolve or neutralize conflict, even causing adversaries to live in harmony or cease hostility towards that individual. This verse highlights the reciprocal nature of humanity's relationship with God, where obedient and righteous living yields supernatural protection and favor.
Proverbs 16 7 Context
Proverbs 16:7 is nestled within a larger section of proverbs (chapters 10-29) which are generally maxims offering practical wisdom for life, often drawing stark contrasts between the righteous and the wicked, and the outcomes of their choices. This specific proverb underscores the Lord's active involvement in human affairs. The book frequently emphasizes that true wisdom begins with the "fear of the LORD" (Prov 1:7), and the ultimate well-being (shalom) stems from living in accordance with His righteous ways. In the ancient Near East, hostility and personal enmities were common threats. The idea that God Himself could mediate such conflicts and turn the hearts of adversaries was a powerful assertion of His sovereignty and protection over His faithful. It contrasts with pagan notions of capricious deities and asserts YHWH's moral character and intervention.
Proverbs 16 7 Word analysis
- When: Establishes a conditional clause, indicating a prerequisite for the promised outcome.
- man's ways (Hebrew: d'rakim, plural of derekh): Refers not just to isolated actions, but to one's entire course of life, conduct, path, or moral direction. It encompasses habits, attitudes, and character that are consistently lived out.
- please (Hebrew: ratsah): To be pleased with, accepted by, delighted in, or take pleasure in. This denotes divine approval and favor, implying an alignment with God's moral and righteous standards.
- the LORD (Hebrew: YHWH, pronounced Adonai): The covenantal God of Israel. The focus is on a personal relationship with the God who actively engages with His people.
- he makes (Hebrew: yashlim, Hiphil causative of shalom): This signifies direct divine action. God causes or enables something to happen. It's not the man's doing, but God's.
- even his enemies (Hebrew: oy'vim): This highlights the surprising and supernatural extent of God's power. It’s a remarkable promise given the nature of conflict and animosity in human relationships.
- to be at peace (Hebrew: shalom): More than just the absence of conflict. Shalom means wholeness, well-being, harmony, prosperity, and a complete sense of tranquility. In this context, it often means the cessation of hostility or that enemies are rendered ineffective in their animosity, sometimes even resulting in reconciliation.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "When a man's ways please the LORD": This is the indispensable prerequisite. It points to a life of moral integrity, faithfulness, and consistent obedience to God's will. It's about a character that finds divine approval, not just a superficial religious display. It suggests seeking God's delight, which stems from a heart devoted to Him and manifested through righteous living.
- "he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him": This phrase reveals the astonishing consequence of such a life. God's intervention is supernatural, extending even to the hearts and actions of hostile individuals or groups. This does not necessarily mean conversion of enemies into friends, but rather that God orchestrates circumstances or changes their dispositions, rendering them harmless or, in some cases, causing actual reconciliation and an end to animosity. It's a demonstration of God's ultimate sovereignty over all human relationships and even over the will of adversaries.
Proverbs 16 7 Bonus section
This proverb speaks to the absolute sovereignty of God, implying that no opposition, however formidable, is beyond His power to pacify or neutralize when His child is walking in righteousness. It doesn't promise a life devoid of any challenges or conflict, but rather assurance that God will manage or mitigate the effects of adversarial relationships. The "peace" offered is often divine protection that makes enemies unable to succeed in their malicious intent, or it can even be a literal change of heart where once hostile parties find themselves unable to maintain animosity. It also implies that divine favor is a stronger shield than any human defense strategy against malevolence. This principle encourages faithful living not out of fear, but out of a trust in God's protective and providential care.
Proverbs 16 7 Commentary
Proverbs 16:7 stands as a profound declaration of God's active involvement and providence in the lives of those devoted to Him. The essence is that righteous conduct, driven by a heart that genuinely seeks to please God, invokes divine intervention that supernaturally brings about a cessation of hostilities or a state of harmony even from the most unlikely sources – one's enemies. This "peace" is a direct result of God's power, reflecting His ability to influence hearts and circumstances beyond human control. It's a reminder that true security comes not from personal strength or diplomacy alone, but from alignment with the Almighty, who holds sway over all creation, including the dispositions of adversarial forces. It speaks to a higher peace—a divine provision that renders enemies powerless or even turns their hearts towards agreement. For instance, in personal life, living with integrity and seeking God’s will may disarm a hostile co-worker or even turn a strained familial relationship into one of understanding, by God's grace.