Proverbs 3:20 kjv
By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
Proverbs 3:20 nkjv
By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew.
Proverbs 3:20 niv
by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.
Proverbs 3:20 esv
by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.
Proverbs 3:20 nlt
By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth,
and the dew settles beneath the night sky.
Proverbs 3 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:2 | The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. | Spirit of God over chaotic waters in creation. |
| Gen 7:11 | On that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of heaven were opened. | God's control over deeps for judgment (the Flood). |
| Ex 14:21 | Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind... and the waters were divided. | God's power over waters (Red Sea). |
| Num 20:11 | Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly... | God causing water from rock. |
| Deut 33:28 | Israel dwells in safety, the fountain of Jacob alone, in a land of grain and wine, whose heavens drop down dew. | God's blessing includes dew from heaven. |
| Job 5:10 | He gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields. | God's active provision of rain. |
| Job 38:8, 10-11, 16 | Or who shut in the sea with doors...? and prescribed limits for it... Have you entered the springs of the sea? | God's power and boundaries over the deep. |
| Psa 29:3 | The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the Lord, over many waters. | God's power extends over all waters. |
| Psa 33:7 | He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses. | God's sovereignty over great waters. |
| Psa 65:9-10 | You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water... you make it soft with showers. | God's abundant provision of water. |
| Psa 104:24 | O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all. | God's wisdom evident in creation. |
| Psa 136:5 | to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever; | God's understanding in creation of heavens. |
| Pro 8:27-28 | When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above... | Wisdom's presence and role in creation. |
| Isa 40:28 | Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. His understanding is unsearchable. | God's unsearchable understanding in creation. |
| Isa 44:27 | who says to the deep, ‘Be dry,’ and ‘I will dry up your rivers’; | God's absolute command over the deep. |
| Jer 10:12-13 | It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. | God's wisdom, power, understanding in creation. |
| Jer 14:22 | Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain? Are not you he, O Lord our God? | Only God provides rain; challenge to idols. |
| Hos 14:5 | I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily. | God as life-giving dew, bringing restoration. |
| Joel 2:23 | for he has given you the autumn rain in just measure... the autumn and spring rain as before. | God provides timely rain. |
| John 1:3 | All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. | Christ's role as Creator (Divine Wisdom/Word). |
| Col 1:16 | For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth... all things were created through him and for him. | Christ's creative power and sovereignty. |
| Heb 1:3 | He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. | Christ upholds creation by divine power. |
| Acts 14:17 | Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons. | God's goodness manifest in rain and seasons. |
| Rom 1:20 | For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen... | Creation reveals God's attributes. |
Proverbs 3 verses
Proverbs 3 20 Meaning
Proverbs 3:20 declares that it is through God's infinite knowledge that the great deeps—the primordial waters and underground springs—were brought forth or are caused to yield their waters, and that the clouds of the sky distill and provide life-sustaining dew. This verse highlights the divine source and comprehensive reach of wisdom, attributing all natural processes, from the powerful eruption of deep waters to the gentle falling of dew, to God's all-encompassing understanding. It emphasizes His sovereign control over creation and His ongoing providence.
Proverbs 3 20 Context
Proverbs chapter 3 is a comprehensive exhortation to trust in and acquire divine wisdom. The verses leading up to 3:20 highlight the benefits of wisdom, such as long life, peace, favor, guidance, health, and prosperity (vv. 1-18). Verse 19 explicitly states that "The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens." Proverbs 3:20 builds directly upon this by detailing how that divine wisdom and understanding operate in the physical world. It anchors the earlier admonitions about practical living in the reality of God's overarching control and intimate knowledge of creation. This passage implicitly sets God's wisdom apart from and superior to any human or pagan conception of power over natural elements, underscoring that all cosmic processes are orchestrated by His intellect.
Proverbs 3 20 Word analysis
- by his knowledge (בְּדַעְתּוֹ, bə-ḏa‘-tōw): This refers to God's profound, omniscient understanding and insight. It is the attribute by which God comprehends and governs all things, foundational to the operation and existence of the universe. It ties directly to the "wisdom" (ḥokmah) and "understanding" (təvunah) mentioned in Proverbs 3:19. God's knowledge is not merely an awareness but an active, creative, and sustaining force.
- the depths (תְּהֹמוֹת, tə-hō-mōṯ): This term refers to the great, often primordial, deep waters. It can signify the subterranean water sources that feed springs and rivers, the vastness of the oceans, or even the cosmic "deep" present at creation (Gen 1:2). It often conveys an image of something immense, powerful, and hidden, controlled solely by divine power.
- are broken up (בָּקְעוּ, bāq-‘ū): From the verb baqa‘, meaning "to cleave," "split open," "break through," or "burst forth." This word implies a powerful, active, and dramatic divine intervention. It denotes God's capacity to control and transform even the most formidable and chaotic natural elements, causing waters to gush forth, as seen in creation, the Flood, or from rocks in the wilderness.
- and the clouds (וּשְׁחָקִים, ū-šə-ḥā-qîm): Refers to the "skies" or "expanse," specifically the clouds from which precipitation falls. This contrasts with the hidden, subterranean depths, pointing to the upper reaches of the atmosphere. It represents the other crucial aspect of the earth's water cycle.
- drop down (יִרְעֲפוּ, yir-‘ă-p̄ū): From the verb ra‘ap, meaning "to distill," "drip," or "shed drop by drop." This word conveys a sense of gentle, steady, and consistent precipitation, rather than a forceful breaking or bursting. It signifies a continuous, nurturing provision from God.
- the dew (טָל, ṭāl): Moisture formed from condensation, particularly important for sustaining life and vegetation in arid climates where rain might be scarce during certain seasons. Dew symbolizes blessing, freshness, divine favor, and ongoing sustenance from God.
- by his knowledge the depths are broken up: This phrase highlights God's sovereign and potent command over the most fundamental and potentially chaotic elements of creation. His knowledge is the active force that organizes the primordial chaos, brings forth life-sustaining water from hidden sources, and ultimately demonstrates His absolute control. It implies an initial, decisive act of creation and continuous control over earthly resources.
- and the clouds drop down the dew: This phrase complements the previous one by showing God's nuanced and gentle yet consistent provision. It moves from a powerful, initial act over the deeps to the regular, vital sustenance provided by atmospheric moisture. This portrays God's meticulous care, ensuring continuous life by orchestrating subtle natural processes.
- Combined Imagery: The verse juxtaposes two types of divine action: the forceful "breaking up" of the "depths" and the gentle "dropping down" of "dew" from the "clouds." This illustrates the breadth of God's power and wisdom, which encompasses both the grand, dramatic shaping of the earth's features and the delicate, daily provision of moisture. Both extremes of the hydrological cycle are governed by God's knowledge, reinforcing His all-encompassing sovereignty.
Proverbs 3 20 Bonus section
This verse stands as a quiet polemic against any pagan notions of capricious nature gods or an impersonal, mechanistic universe. By explicitly linking all vital water sources (the deeps and the heavens) to God's knowledge, it affirms monotheism and His exclusive, consistent control. It underscores that creation is not a static past event but an ongoing demonstration of God's wisdom in His continuous governance of the natural world, emphasizing His providence. For the ancient Near Eastern audience, dependent on consistent rain and springs for survival, attributing this vital provision to "His knowledge" would have instilled profound trust and encouraged humble submission to God's ways.
Proverbs 3 20 Commentary
Proverbs 3:20 serves as a profound theological assertion embedded within a practical wisdom text. It grounds the earlier admonitions to pursue and trust in wisdom (Pro 3:5-18) by revealing that the same wisdom, originating from God Himself, is responsible for the very fabric of the physical world. It attributes the earth's foundational stability and ongoing provision not to chance, human effort, or pagan deities, but directly to God's unique and perfect knowledge. This divine knowledge is actively demonstrated through His control over all water sources—both the powerful "breaking open" of hidden deeps (recalling creation, the Flood, or miraculous gushing water) and the gentle, life-sustaining "dropping down" of dew from the sky. This dual imagery showcases God's comprehensive omnipotence and faithfulness: His wisdom orchestrates both dramatic, transformative acts and the subtle, continuous cycles necessary for life. Ultimately, the verse reassures the reader that if God's wisdom underpins such grand and intricate natural systems, it is entirely trustworthy for guiding human life.