Proverbs 22:19 kjv

That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

Proverbs 22:19 nkjv

So that your trust may be in the LORD; I have instructed you today, even you.

Proverbs 22:19 niv

So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you.

Proverbs 22:19 esv

That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to you today, even to you.

Proverbs 22:19 nlt

I am teaching you today ? yes, you ?
so you will trust in the LORD.

Proverbs 22 verses

Proverbs 22 19 Meaning

Proverbs 22:19 declares the fundamental purpose behind the wise instructions given in the Book of Proverbs: to cultivate and deepen the hearer's confidence and reliance upon the Lord. It signifies that the teachings are not merely for acquiring practical skills or worldly success, but are ultimately designed to steer the individual towards a relationship of profound trust and security in the Divine. The verse emphasizes the immediate and personal nature of this critical imparting of wisdom.

Proverbs 22 19 Context

Proverbs 22:19 marks a crucial turning point within the book, introducing a section often referred to as "The Sayings of the Wise" (starting from Prov 22:17 and extending through Prov 24:34). Preceding this verse (Prov 22:17-18), the writer urges the hearer to pay attention, listen intently, and internalize these words of wisdom, finding delight in them and keeping them ready on their lips. Verse 19 then explicitly articulates the ultimate purpose of all this instruction. The book of Proverbs is not merely a collection of prudential sayings for worldly success, but a divine guide for living life before the Lord, rooted in the foundational principle of "the fear of the Lord" (Prov 1:7). Historically and culturally, these proverbs were intended as foundational teachings for young men, equipping them to navigate life's complexities righteously and honorably within their community, ultimately cultivating a life of trust and obedience to God as their King and Deliverer.

Proverbs 22 19 Word analysis

• That thy trust:

  • מִבְטָח (mibṭaḥ): This Hebrew noun means 'trust', 'confidence', 'security', or 'reliance'. It denotes a firm, confident reliance upon someone or something, indicating not just belief, but active dependence and security.
  • The that (lih'yôt) expresses purpose or outcome, indicating the very reason for the preceding instruction. The entire instruction aims at cultivating this specific posture of mibṭaḥ.

• may be in the Lord:

  • בַּֽיהוָה (bayhōwāh): This is the covenant name of God, YHWH (Yahweh), commonly rendered "the LORD" (in all caps) in English Bibles. This specific name emphasizes God's self-existent, eternal, and personal nature, highlighting His faithfulness and capacity to fulfill His promises.
  • Placing mibṭaḥ in YHWH signifies that God Himself is the proper and ultimate object of all genuine, life-sustaining confidence and security.

• I have made known:

  • הוֹדַעְתִּיךָ (hoda‘tîkha): Derived from the root ידע (yada'), meaning 'to know', 'to teach', 'to make known'. The Hiphil conjugation indicates a causative action: 'I have caused you to know', 'I have taught you', 'I have revealed to you'. This implies an active, intentional, and authoritative impartation of knowledge or instruction by the teacher.

• to thee this day:

  • הַיּ֫וֹם (hayyōwm): This adverb means 'today', 'this day'. Its inclusion adds a sense of urgency, immediacy, and personal relevance to the instruction. It is not just theoretical knowledge but teaching to be grasped and applied now.
  • The repeated to thee (the –ךָ suffix on hoda‘tîkha) emphasizes the direct, personal nature of the communication to the individual recipient.

• even to thee:

  • אַף־אָתָּה (’ap-’attāh): This phrase, combining the conjunction אַף ('even', 'also', 'indeed') with the pronoun אָתָּה ('you', masculine singular), serves as a strong emphatic reiteration of the personal address. It stresses that these teachings are particularly and pointedly for you—the listener—underscoring the personal responsibility to receive and implement this wisdom. It prevents the hearer from dismissing the words as general advice for others.

Proverbs 22 19 Bonus section

The structure of Proverbs 22:17-21 serves as a short introductory preamble to "The Thirty Sayings of the Wise" (Prov 22:22 - 24:22). This preamble establishes the teacher's authority, the student's need to attend, and, critically in verse 19, the overarching purpose of the instruction: the cultivation of deep, abiding trust in God. This highlights that true biblical wisdom is inherently theological; it begins and ends with the Lord. It's not simply moral philosophy but guidance rooted in covenant relationship.

Proverbs 22 19 Commentary

Proverbs 22:19 functions as a profound declaration of the ultimate objective behind divine wisdom: the establishment of deep-seated trust in the Lord. The practical and moral instructions in Proverbs are not merely a manual for ethical living or achieving temporal success. Their deepest aim is to cultivate a right relationship with God, where reliance is placed not on human cunning, wealth, or power, but on the unfailing character and provision of YHWH. The emphasis on this day signifies the urgency and immediacy of receiving and applying this core principle, preventing delay or procrastination in acknowledging God as the sole source of true security. The emphatic even to thee makes the instruction intensely personal, underscoring individual accountability and the direct call to each hearer to reorient their lives around divine trust. This verse grounds the entire edifice of practical wisdom in its spiritual foundation, making it clear that all godly behavior flows from an intimate and trusting walk with the Most High. It is a divine invitation to security in God in a chaotic world.