Proverbs 3:4 kjv
So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Proverbs 3:4 nkjv
And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.
Proverbs 3:4 niv
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Proverbs 3:4 esv
So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.
Proverbs 3:4 nlt
Then you will find favor with both God and people,
and you will earn a good reputation.
Proverbs 3 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 3:3 | Do not let steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you... | Direct preceding context; basis for verse 4's outcome. |
| Ps 145:18-19 | The LORD is near to all who call on Him... He hears their cry and saves them. | God's responsiveness to the righteous; demonstrates His favor. |
| Jam 4:6 | But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” | God's favor (grace) for the humble and righteous. |
| Lk 2:52 | And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. | Jesus exemplifies finding favor with both God and humanity. |
| Acts 2:47 | ...praising God and having favor with all the people. | The early church found favor through their devoted walk. |
| Acts 7:10 | ...and rescued him from all his afflictions and granted him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt... | Joseph's experience of divine favor leading to human influence. |
| Prov 8:35 | For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD. | Finding wisdom (personified) is equated with obtaining divine favor. | Prov 12:2 | A good man obtains favor from the LORD... | Direct connection between goodness and God's favor. |
| Ps 111:10 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. | Echoes "good understanding" as a result of fearing God. |
| Php 1:9 | And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment... | Prayer for spiritual understanding. |
| Col 1:9 | ...asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. | Desire for spiritual discernment, like "good understanding." |
| Gen 39:4 | But Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his personal servant... | Biblical example of gaining favor with a powerful individual due to character. |
| 1 Sam 2:26 | Now the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor both with the LORD and with people. | Samuel's life parallels Jesus and the Proverb's principle. |
| Ezra 7:6 | Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the LORD, the God of Israel, had given... the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him. | Example of a righteous person finding favor with rulers. |
| Neh 2:8 | ...And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was on me. | Nehemiah's experience of God's favor opening doors. |
| Ps 5:12 | For You bless the righteous, O LORD; You cover him with favor as with a shield. | God's favor as divine protection and blessing for the righteous. |
| Rom 12:17-18 | Repay no one evil for evil... live peaceably with all. | Behaving well among men often leads to goodwill. |
| 2 Cor 8:21 | For we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man. | Encourages striving for integrity before both God and man. |
| Prov 22:11 | He who loves purity of heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king as his friend. | Good character leads to high favor among people. |
| Dan 1:9 | And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs... | God grants favor even in challenging environments for His faithful. |
| Titus 2:9-10 | Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters... so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. | Living faithfully gains respect and beautifies Christian witness. |
| 1 Pet 2:13-15 | Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution... For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. | Good conduct among people silences critics and garners respect. |
Proverbs 3 verses
Proverbs 3 4 Meaning
Proverbs 3:4 declares that those who uphold steadfast love and faithfulness will secure favor and good understanding, both in the presence of God and among people. This verse reveals a foundational principle: obedience to divine wisdom, specifically manifesting as unwavering loyalty and truthfulness, naturally leads to acceptance, goodwill, and insightful discernment from both heavenly and earthly realms. It highlights a dual blessing—spiritual affirmation from God and social approval from humanity—as a consequence of living righteously.
Proverbs 3 4 Context
Proverbs 3:4 is nestled within a larger admonition (Proverbs 3:1-12) where a father, or wisdom instructor, exhorts his "son" to embrace wisdom and divine precepts. The opening verses emphasize internalizing God's commands (3:1-2), leading to long life and peace. Verse 3 directly precedes verse 4, stressing the vital importance of never abandoning "steadfast love and faithfulness" but binding them around one's neck and writing them on the tablet of one's heart. Verse 4 then presents the blessed outcome of this commitment, offering favor and good understanding from both God and man. This sets the stage for further instructions on trusting the Lord fully (3:5-6) and not relying on human understanding. The broader context of Proverbs is wisdom literature, aimed at teaching righteous living and the fear of the Lord to young people entering society, demonstrating that walking in God's ways has tangible benefits and produces a life of security, peace, and good reputation. Historically, a father's instruction was crucial for moral formation and social integration in Israelite society.
Proverbs 3 4 Word analysis
- So you will find (וּמְצָא חֵן, ūmətsā’ ḥēn): This phrase indicates a resultant blessing, a direct consequence. The previous verse (3:3) commands a course of action; this verse states the positive outcome. It suggests that such favor is not stumbled upon randomly but is attained through intentional, righteous living.
- favor (חֵן, ḥēn): This significant Hebrew word conveys grace, charm, goodwill, and acceptance. It signifies being looked upon with kindness and approval. It implies a delightful quality that evokes positive regard. The concept of ḥēn from God means His gracious disposition and acceptance, while ḥēn from man denotes goodwill, respect, and amiability in social interactions.
- and good understanding (שֵׂכֶל טוֹב, sēḵel ṭōv):
- understanding (שֵׂכֶל, sēḵel): More than mere intellect, sēḵel denotes discernment, prudence, skillful planning, and insightful wisdom leading to right conduct. It implies the ability to think clearly, act wisely, and discern moral and practical distinctions. It is functional wisdom for navigating life.
- good (טוֹב, ṭōv): Denotes moral goodness, excellence, and beneficence. Thus, "good understanding" is not just mental acuity, but a moral and practical wisdom that is beneficial and upright. It aligns one with divine will and allows one to navigate the world skillfully and ethically.
- in the sight of God (לְעֵינֵי אֱלֹהִים, lə‘êney ’ĕlōhîm): Literally "in the eyes of God," or "before God." This signifies divine approval and recognition. It emphasizes that one's upright conduct is not hidden from the Creator and is pleasing to Him, implying a direct relationship and blessing. This is the primary and most important level of favor.
- and man (וְאָדָם, wə’āḏām): Refers to humanity in general. This indicates the social dimension of the blessing. When one lives according to wisdom, others recognize and appreciate their character, leading to respect, trust, and acceptance within the community. It means having a good reputation among peers.