Proverbs 21:1 kjv

The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

Proverbs 21:1 nkjv

The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

Proverbs 21:1 niv

In the LORD's hand the king's heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.

Proverbs 21:1 esv

The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.

Proverbs 21:1 nlt

The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD;
he guides it wherever he pleases.

Proverbs 21 verses

Proverbs 21 1 Meaning

Proverbs 21:1 proclaims the absolute sovereignty of the LORD over human rulers, particularly kings who possess immense authority. It reveals that the king's deepest intentions, decisions, and entire will are under the direct, effortless control of God. Just as a farmer can easily direct irrigation channels or rivers to flow where he pleases, so God guides the mind and purposes of a king according to His divine will, shaping outcomes for His overarching plans.

Proverbs 21 1 Context

Proverbs 21:1 stands within a collection of divinely inspired wisdom. The chapter itself contains various maxims concerning justice, righteousness, diligence, and the folly of the wicked. This specific verse offers a profound theological statement that grounds all human governance and activity in the ultimate sovereignty of God. In an ancient world where kings often claimed divine lineage or absolute authority, this proverb served as a stark reminder to both rulers and the ruled that even the mightiest human power is ultimately subservient to the unseen hand of Yahweh. It contrasts with pagan ideas of multiple, often squabbling, deities or capricious fates, presenting a singular, omnipotent God who exercises complete control. The practical implication is that relying on or fearing human leaders excessively is misguided; true security and direction come from God.

Proverbs 21 1 Word analysis

• The king's heart:

  • Hebrew: Lev melekh (לֵב־מֶלֶךְ).
  • Lev (לב): Not merely the seat of emotions, but primarily in ancient Hebrew thought, the center of intellect, will, reason, planning, and moral character. It signifies the king's innermost being, his core decision-making faculty, his very purpose.
  • Melekh (מֶלֶךְ): "King." Represents the supreme earthly authority in the ancient Near East. A king had power of life and death, declared wars, made laws, and shaped his nation's destiny.
  • Significance: To state that even this ultimate human locus of power and decision is controlled by God underscores the immense scope of divine sovereignty.

• is in the hand of the LORD:

  • Hebrew: B'yad YHWH (בְּיַד יְהוָה).
  • B'yad (בְּיַד): "In the hand of." The "hand" is a biblical metaphor for power, control, agency, direction, and ownership.
  • YHWH (יהוה): The covenant name of God, revealed to Israel, signifying the eternal, self-existent, faithful God.
  • Significance: It implies direct, active, and complete control. God doesn't just know what a king will do; He actively directs and disposes their will. It signifies a personal, active intervention rather than passive observation.

• as the rivers of water:

  • Hebrew: Palge-mayim (פַּלְגֵי־מַיִם).
  • Palge (פַּלְגֵי): "Channels," "streams," "divisions." Refers to irrigation channels or natural riverbeds.
  • Mayim (מַיִם): "Water."
  • Significance: This metaphor is drawn from ancient agriculture, where controlling water flow (for irrigation) was crucial and required precise channeling. Water, though powerful in its natural flow, is easily diverted and controlled by human ingenuity for their purposes. This highlights the effortlessness and certainty with which God directs the king's will, no matter how powerful the king may seem. It implies unhindered, fluid redirection.

• he turneth it whithersoever he will:

  • Hebrew: Yattennu al-kol-asher yafotz (יַטֶּנּוּ עַל כָּל אֲשֶׁר יַחְפֹּץ).
  • Yattennu (יַטֶּנּוּ): From the root natah (נטה), meaning "to stretch out," "to bend," "to incline," "to direct." It suggests a smooth, unforced bending or guiding.
  • Al-kol-asher yafotz (עַל כָּל אֲשֶׁר יַחְפֹּץ): "Wherever He wills," "according to all His desire." Expresses the complete freedom and intentionality of God's sovereign action.
  • Significance: God's direction is not forceful coercion, but a subtle and effective guidance of the king's desires and plans themselves. It ensures that divine purposes are executed, regardless of human intentions or apparent opposition. The "He" explicitly refers back to YHWH, reinforcing His role as the active agent.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD": Establishes God's ultimate authority over all human governance and decision-making, countering any belief in independent human autonomy, especially among powerful rulers.
  • "as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will": Provides a vivid and relatable analogy illustrating the ease, certainty, and completeness of God's sovereign control. It's a statement of absolute divine prerogative.

Proverbs 21 1 Bonus section

The emphasis of Proverbs 21:1 on the "king's heart" rather than merely his actions or decree is crucial. It signifies that God controls not just the external manifestation of power, but the very springs of a ruler's intentions, thoughts, and plans. This extends divine sovereignty to the internal realm of human volition, showcasing an even deeper level of control. It's not that God merely reacts to a king's decisions, but that He is prior to them, inclining the will itself. This verse, therefore, implicitly teaches about divine providence working through natural means and human agency, without negating human responsibility. Even the wicked inclinations of kings can, by God's wisdom, be redirected to achieve good, just as the turbulent currents of a river can be channeled for beneficial irrigation. This illustrates the incomprehensible wisdom and power of God, who is able to integrate every element, even rebellion, into His comprehensive plan.

Proverbs 21 1 Commentary

Proverbs 21:1 offers profound comfort and calls for humility. It teaches that even the most formidable human authority, the king with his power to wage war or establish peace, is not ultimately free or self-directed, but is an instrument in God's mighty hand. This verse is not about God violating human free will in every micro-decision, but about His ability to infallibly steer the macro-outcomes through human leaders, even redirecting their deepest intentions to serve His eternal plan. Whether through prompting a benevolent action, hindering an evil design, or using a tyrannical ruler as a rod of discipline, God's sovereignty remains paramount. For believers, this brings peace, knowing that God oversees world affairs; for leaders, it's a humbling truth, urging dependence on divine wisdom rather than self-reliance. It underscores that behind all human governance stands the all-wise, all-powerful LORD.

• Practical Usage Examples:
  • When feeling anxious about political leaders or governmental decisions, this verse reminds believers that God remains in control.
  • It encourages prayer for leaders, trusting that God can guide their hearts according to His will (1 Tim 2:1-2).
  • It fosters humility in those in authority, prompting them to seek divine guidance rather than acting purely on personal ambition.