Proverbs 19:3 kjv
The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.
Proverbs 19:3 nkjv
The foolishness of a man twists his way, And his heart frets against the LORD.
Proverbs 19:3 niv
A person's own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the LORD.
Proverbs 19:3 esv
When a man's folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD.
Proverbs 19:3 nlt
People ruin their lives by their own foolishness
and then are angry at the LORD.
Proverbs 19 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 1:7 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. | Contrast of wisdom vs. folly |
| Prov 14:1 | The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down. | Folly leads to self-destruction |
| Ps 14:1 | The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." | Nature of the "fool" |
| Jer 2:19 | Your evil will chastise you; your apostasy will reprove you. Know and see that it is evil and bitter for you... | Sin's self-inflicted consequence |
| Hos 13:9 | "You are destroyed, O Israel, for you are against me, against your helper." | Man's rebellion against God |
| Deut 30:19 | I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death... choose life. | Consequences of choices |
| Isa 59:8 | The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths; they have made their roads crooked. | Perverted/crooked paths |
| Prov 4:23 | Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. | Importance of the heart |
| Jer 17:9 | The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? | Deceitfulness of the human heart |
| Mk 7:21-23 | For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery... | Sin originating from the heart |
| Rom 1:21-22 | For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools... | Folly leading to distorted thinking |
| Rom 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. | Consequence of sin |
| Gal 6:7 | Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. | Reaping what is sown |
| Gen 3:12-13 | The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate." ... "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." | Blaming others, avoiding responsibility |
| Job 1:22 | In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. | Job's refusal to blame God |
| Job 2:10 | He said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips. | Righteous response to suffering |
| Jas 1:13 | Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. | God is not the source of evil |
| Rom 9:20 | But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me thus?" | Rebuking those who contend with God |
| Prov 28:13 | Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. | Accepting responsibility |
| Ps 73:2-3 | But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. | Questioning God's justice until understanding |
| 1 Cor 1:20 | Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? | God's wisdom transcends human folly |
Proverbs 19 verses
Proverbs 19 3 Meaning
Proverbs 19:3 conveys the tragic sequence of human folly: a person's lack of discernment and moral failing directly leads to the corruption of their own life path, which in turn causes their heart to become angered and resentful against the LORD, refusing to acknowledge their self-inflicted predicament.
Proverbs 19 3 Context
Proverbs chapter 19 is a collection of diverse maxims, characteristic of wisdom literature, providing practical instruction for a righteous life. Many verses highlight contrasts between wisdom and folly, diligence and laziness, integrity and perversion, justice and injustice. This particular verse addresses the deep-seated problem of human nature—a disposition towards self-inflicted harm combined with a refusal to accept accountability, culminating in blaming the divine. It forms part of a broader discourse within Proverbs that emphasizes personal responsibility for one's actions and the direct link between moral character and life's outcome, often presenting wisdom as the path to life and folly as the path to ruin. Historically, the audience would have been instructed in the derekh, the 'way' or path of life, chosen by the individual.
Proverbs 19 3 Word analysis
- The foolishness (אִוֶּלֶת - 'ivvelet): This term goes beyond a simple lack of intelligence; it denotes a moral deficiency, a deliberate rejection of wisdom and sound judgment. It is active folly, characterized by stubbornness and a refusal to learn or consider consequences. The fool, in the biblical sense, is often morally bankrupt, even denying God's existence (Ps 14:1).
- of a man (אָדָם - 'adam): Refers to humanity in general, emphasizing that this behavior is a common human failing. It's not limited to a specific group but is a potential downfall for anyone.
- perverts (סֶלֶף - selehf): Meaning to twist, make crooked, subvert, or destroy. It signifies a destructive act, not a passive error. It suggests that the person actively corrupts or ruins their own path through their foolish decisions and actions, creating disarray where there should be order.
- his way (דֶּרֶךְ - derekh): Refers to one's life's path, conduct, and course of actions. It encompasses moral character and the overall direction of one's life. The foolishness directly impacts and corrupts the entire trajectory of the person's existence.
- and his heart (לֵב - lev): In Hebrew thought, the heart is not merely the seat of emotions but the core of one's being – the intellect, will, conscience, and moral decision-making center. It's where intentions are formed.
- frets (זָעַף - za'aph): To be enraged, vexed, gloomy, or grieved. It implies an internal churning, a rebellious and bitter anger directed at an external source, specifically God. This vexation is a form of resentment.
- against the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): Refers to the personal, covenant God of Israel. The ultimate and deeply tragic end of foolishness is to become angry not just at circumstances, but directly at God Himself, blaming Him for consequences that stem from one's own poor choices and foolish living. This implies a defiance and unwillingness to acknowledge divine sovereignty or personal responsibility.
Proverbs 19 3 Bonus section
The phenomenon described in Proverbs 19:3 is a deep-seated aspect of fallen human nature: the unwillingness to take responsibility for one's failures. This inclination leads to a blaming of external factors, including God, rather than acknowledging internal flaws and choices. It points to the core human tendency to justify oneself and reject divine authority. The wisdom literature consistently presents wisdom as adherence to God's commands and folly as rebellion against them, emphasizing that human flourishing is inextricably linked to righteous living, not chance or external factors that can be blamed. The antidote to such a "fretting heart" is humility, self-reflection, and seeking divine wisdom that leads to a straightening of one's path.
Proverbs 19 3 Commentary
Proverbs 19:3 starkly reveals the perverse logic of human folly: rather than admitting personal culpability for life's ruinous outcomes, a person afflicted with 'ivvelet, or stubborn foolishness, tends to accuse the very sovereign God who governs all things righteously. This proverb describes a devastating sequence: initial foolish actions, flowing from a morally wayward heart, actively corrupt and twist the individual's path in life. The bitterness and frustration stemming from these self-inflicted consequences then cause the heart to turn its resentment, not inward towards repentance, but outward in anger and complaint against the LORD. This reaction, rooted in spiritual blindness and pride, refuses to recognize that God is just and that suffering is often a direct result of departing from His wisdom and ways. It highlights the profound irony and tragedy of the sinful heart, which compounds its self-destruction by rebelling against its Maker.