Proverbs 3:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.

NIV: by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.

NASB: By His knowledge the ocean depths were burst open, And the clouds drip with dew.

CSB: By his knowledge the watery depths broke open, and the clouds dripped with dew.

NLT: By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth, and the dew settles beneath the night sky.

KJV: By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

NKJV: By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew.

Solomon extols God's knowledge by recalling that the Lord burst open reservoirs of water that were below the earth in the time of Noah. Genesis 7:11 reports that "in the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened." In those days, unbelievers might have mocked Noah as he built an ark and preached. They felt safe. But in His knowledge the Lord burst the fountains of the deep and silenced Noah's critics.

Rain also serves as a reminder of how God's design, through His wisdom, accomplishes His will. When the Lord questioned Job, He asked: "Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain…to bring rain on a land where no man is, on the desert in which there is no man, to satisfy the waste and desolate land, and to make the ground sprout with grass?" (Job 38:25–27).

Proverbs 3:13–26 extols the virtue of wisdom. Solomon began this discussion in chapter 1, and explained in chapter 2 that the Lord gives wisdom to the upright. Now he describes as blessed the person who finds wisdom, and explains its benefits and applications. Wisdom, as used in this book, refers to the ability to apply godly knowledge. While not a guarantee someone will act accordingly, having a grasp of God's intent for our lives is immensely valuable.

This chapter of Proverbs is addressed to Solomon's son. The term, ''my son'' occurs 15 times in chapters 1—7. The words may apply to one of Solomon's students in his court or to one of his biological sons. The application of wisdom in Proverbs 3 shows the benefits of trusting in the Lord with one's whole heart. Solomon credits obedience to and trust in God for longevity, success, guidance, health, reward that exceeds monetary wealth, enjoyment, peace, security, confidence, excellent human relationships, the Lord's blessing and favor, and honor. As with all ''proverbs,'' biblical or otherwise, their purpose is to impart general wisdom, not absolute prophecy. Like the original audience, modern readers are not expected to see these guidelines as absolute guarantees for any one person.

This passage lies in the second section of the book, found in chapters 1—9. The author, King Solomon, reigned over Israel from 971 to 931 BC. The first section of Proverbs, the preface, is found in Proverbs 1:1–7. The third section, chapters 10—22, were also written by Solomon. These proverbs were likely written by Solomon in his middle years, whereas he probably wrote Song of Songs in his early adulthood, and Ecclesiastes near the end of his life. As in the first two chapters, wisdom is stressed in Proverbs 3.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.

Accessed 5/6/2024 12:41:52 AM