Amplified Bible
Proverbs 21:2
2Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs and examines the hearts [of people and their motives].
Proverbs 21:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.
- New International Version (NIV)A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.
Context of Proverbs 21:2
1The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it whichever way He wishes. Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs and examines the hearts [of people and their motives]. 3To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice [for wrongs repeatedly committed]. 4Haughty and arrogant eyes and a proud heart, The lamp of the wicked [their self-centered pride], is sin [in the eyes of God].
Read all of Proverbs 21Proverbs 21:2 word by word
כָּֽל־דֶּרֶךְ־אִ֭ישׁ יָשָׁ֣ר בְּעֵינָ֑יו וְתֹכֵ֖ן לִבּ֣וֹת יְהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 21:2
- Proverbs 16:2All the ways of a man are clean and innocent in his own eyes [and he may see nothing wrong with his actions], But the Lord weighs and examines the motives and intents [of the heart and knows the truth].
- Proverbs 20:6Many a man proclaims his own loyalty and goodness, But who can find a faithful and trustworthy man?
- Proverbs 30:12There is a generation (class of people) that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness.
- Psalms 36:2For he flatters and deceives himself in his own eyes Thinking that his sinfulness will not be discovered and hated [by God].
- Luke 18:11The Pharisee stood [ostentatiously] and began praying to himself [in a self-righteous way, saying]: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the rest of men—swindlers, unjust (dishonest), adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
- Galatians 6:3For if anyone thinks he is something [special] when [in fact] he is nothing [special except in his own eyes], he deceives himself.
- James 1:22But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth].
- Proverbs 24:12If you [claim ignorance and] say, “See, we did not know this,” Does He not consider it who weighs and examines the hearts and their motives? And does He not know it who guards your life and keeps your soul? And will He not repay [you and] every man according to his works?
- 1 Samuel 16:7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
- Jeremiah 17:10I, the Lord, search and examine the mind, I test the heart, To give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.
- Luke 16:15So He said to them, “You are the ones who declare yourselves just and upright in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts [your thoughts, your desires, your secrets]; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.
- John 2:24But Jesus, for His part, did not entrust Himself to them, because He knew all people [and understood the superficiality and fickleness of human nature],
- Revelation 2:23And I will kill her children (followers) with pestilence [thoroughly annihilating them], and all the churches will know [without any doubt] that I am He who searches the minds and hearts [the innermost thoughts, purposes]; and I will give to each one of you [a reward or punishment] according to your deeds.
Commentaries on Proverbs 21:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2The Lord pondereth the hearts - Every man feels strongly attached to his own opinions, modes of acting, etc.; and though he will not easily give up any thing to the judgment of a neighbor, whom he will naturally consider at least as fallible as himself, yet he should consider that the unerring eye of God is upon him; and he should endeavor to see that what he does is acceptable in the eye of his Maker and Judge.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 2Verse 2 We are partial in judging ourselves and our actions.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2This proverb is almost exactly the same in Proverbs 16:2.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. (Compare Pr 14:2; 16:2-25).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 21:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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