Proverbs 3:18 kjv
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
Proverbs 3:18 nkjv
She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her.
Proverbs 3:18 niv
She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.
Proverbs 3:18 esv
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.
Proverbs 3:18 nlt
Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
happy are those who hold her tightly.
Proverbs 3 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 2:9 | ...the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. | Tree of life in Eden. |
| Gen 3:22 | ...lest he reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever. | Expulsion from Eden to prevent eternal life apart from God. |
| Prov 3:13 | Happy is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who obtains understanding. | Introduces the blessing of finding wisdom. |
| Prov 3:16 | Long life is in her right hand... | Wisdom brings longevity. |
| Prov 4:22 | For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. | God's words and wisdom bring life. |
| Prov 8:35 | For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord... | Wisdom (personified) is the source of life and favor. |
| Prov 8:36 | But he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death. | Contrast: rejecting wisdom leads to death. |
| Prov 11:30 | The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise. | Righteousness linked to the tree of life concept. |
| Prov 13:12 | Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. | Fulfillment brings life-giving refreshment. |
| Prov 15:4 | A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. | Right speech has life-giving power. |
| Psa 16:11 | You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy... | The Lord reveals the path to life and joy. |
| Deut 30:19 | ...choose life, that you and your offspring may live... | God calls Israel to choose life by obeying Him. |
| Jer 21:8 | And to this people you shall say, ‘Thus says the Lord: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.’ | Choice between pathways leading to life or death. |
| Matt 7:14 | For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. | The challenging path to true life. |
| Jn 1:4 | In him was life, and the life was the light of men. | Jesus as the source of life and light. |
| Jn 14:6 | Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life..." | Jesus identifies Himself as the ultimate source of life. |
| 1 Cor 1:24 | ...but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. | Christ personified as divine wisdom. |
| 1 Cor 1:30 | And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God... | Christ is the source of our wisdom from God. |
| Col 2:3 | in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. | All wisdom found in Christ. |
| Rev 2:7 | ...To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’ | Promise of access to the tree of life for the victorious. |
| Rev 22:2 | ...the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. | The tree of life in the New Jerusalem. |
| Rev 22:14 | Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. | Access to tree of life as reward for faithfulness. |
Proverbs 3 verses
Proverbs 3 18 Meaning
Proverbs 3:18 declares that wisdom is a "tree of life" to those who grasp her, bestowing blessing and happiness upon all who retain her. This verse encapsulates the profound and vital benefits of true, divine wisdom, portraying it not merely as intellectual knowledge but as a dynamic source of flourishing, well-being, and sustained joy.
Proverbs 3 18 Context
Proverbs chapter 3 focuses on exhortations to live a life governed by divine wisdom, presenting wisdom as more valuable than precious gems or material wealth. Verses 13-17 preceding verse 18 describe the happiness and blessings that come from finding and possessing wisdom: it brings length of days, riches, honor, pleasant ways, and peace. Proverbs 3:18 serves as a direct summary and culmination of these benefits, using the potent metaphor of the "tree of life" to symbolize wisdom's profound life-giving power. The broader book of Proverbs functions as practical guidance from a father to a son, aimed at instilling the "fear of the Lord" (Prov 1:7), which is the beginning of all true knowledge and wisdom, ensuring a life of favor with God and people in ancient Israelite society. The original audience would understand wisdom not as mere intellectualism but as skilled living and discerning application of divine truth, deeply rooted in their covenant relationship with God. There are no direct polemics here, but the emphasis on divine wisdom contrasts sharply with any ancient Near Eastern notions of acquiring success through human cunning or idolatrous practices without Yahweh.
Proverbs 3 18 Word analysis
- She (הִיא, hi): Refers directly back to "wisdom" (חָכְמָה, chokmah) which has been personified throughout Proverbs, particularly starting from chapter 1 and heavily emphasized in chapters 8-9. This personification highlights wisdom as an active, almost sentient entity to be pursued, not an abstract concept. It underscores wisdom's profound impact on human life.
- is a tree of life (עֵץ חַיִּים, 'etz chayyim): This powerful metaphor is drawn directly from the Garden of Eden narrative (Gen 2:9, 3:22). The "tree of life" represents not just biological existence, but eternal, full, vibrant, and blessed existence—a life characterized by completeness, healing, and enduring flourishing. Connecting wisdom to this imagery implies that wisdom restores, sustains, and grants ultimate well-being, remedying the effects of sin that led to expulsion from the original tree of life. It signifies an inexhaustible source of vitality and flourishing.
- to those who lay hold of her (לַמַּחֲזִיקִים בָּהּ, la-machaziqim bah): The Hebrew verb חָזַק (chazaq) means "to be strong, grasp, seize, take hold of, prevail." This is an active, volitional phrase. It implies a deliberate, firm, and persistent grip on wisdom. It's not passive reception but an energetic pursuit and continuous appropriation. It highlights that the benefits of wisdom are contingent upon actively seeking and securing her.
- and happy (וְתֹמְכֶיהָ מְאֻשָּׁר, ve-tomcheha me'ushshar): The term "happy" (אׇשַׁר, 'ashar) signifies a state of blessedness, well-being, prosperity, and spiritual flourishing. This is the inner and outer state of joy that stems from living in accordance with divine principles. It's a profound, enduring contentment.
- is everyone who retains her (וְתֹמְכֶיהָ מְאֻשָּׁר, ve-tomcheha me'ushshar): The verb תָּמַךְ (tamach) means "to hold, support, maintain, grasp." While "lay hold of" implies the initial strong seizing, "retains her" implies continuous, sustained adherence and upholding. It speaks to loyalty and faithfulness to wisdom over time, maintaining the connection. It underscores that the blessings of wisdom are not just for those who initially find her, but for those who faithfully continue in her ways.
Proverbs 3 18 Bonus section
The concept of the "tree of life" appearing multiple times in Proverbs (3:18, 11:30, 13:12, 15:4) underscores its profound theological and existential significance throughout the wisdom literature. It suggests that divine wisdom, righteous living, fulfilling desires according to God's will, and gracious communication are all pathways back to a state of original blessing and continuous flourishing. This recurring motif creates a conceptual bridge from Eden's lost paradise to the ultimate restoration found in the New Testament's vision of a redeemed world, where the tree of life is accessible again (Rev 2:7, 22:2). Furthermore, Christian theological understanding identifies Christ Himself as the embodiment of God's wisdom (1 Cor 1:24, 30), thus fulfilling the promise of Proverbs 3:18, as He is the ultimate "Way, Truth, and Life" (Jn 14:6) who offers abundant life (Jn 10:10). The path to wisdom in Proverbs is a path to a Christ-centered life, even implicitly, leading to true and lasting joy.
Proverbs 3 18 Commentary
Proverbs 3:18 stands as a profound summary of wisdom's transformative power, positioning it as the ultimate source of enduring life and profound happiness. The imagery of the "tree of life" connects divine wisdom directly to God's original design for humanity's flourishing, implying that true life, full and complete, is found in alignment with divine counsel. This life is not passively received but actively acquired ("lay hold of") and consistently maintained ("retains her"). The verse serves as a beatitude, confirming that those who prioritize and live by God's wisdom will experience deep satisfaction and blessedness in all areas of life, a joy far surpassing transient worldly gains. It is a call to a living, dynamic relationship with divine truth that permeates and blesses one's entire existence.