Proverbs 19:16

Proverbs 19:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
• New International Version (NIV)Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life, but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die.
• New King James Version (NKJV)He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of his ways will die.

Context of Proverbs 19:16

14Your parents may give you riches and a house to live in. But only the Lord can give you a wise wife. 15A lazy person cannot wake up from sleep. If he does no work, he will always be hungry. If you obey God's commands, you will keep your life safe. If you do not respect his teaching, you will die. 17If you are kind to poor people, you are lending money to the Lord. He will pay back the debt to you. 18When your children do wrong things, warn them while you still have the chance. If you do not punish them, you are helping them to go to an early death.

Proverbs 19:16 word by word

שֹׁמֵ֣ר מִ֭צְוָה שֹׁמֵ֣ר נַפְשׁ֑וֹ בּוֹזֵ֖ה דְרָכָ֣יו יָמֽוּת׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• He that keepethשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: obeyH8104
• the commandmentמִצְוָהmitsvâh · commandmentH4687
• keepethשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: guardH8104
• his own soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: lifeH5315
• he that despisethבָּזָהbâzâh · to despiseH959
• his waysדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
• shall dieמוּתmûth · to dieH4191

Cross-references for Proverbs 19:16

• Proverbs 3:1My child, do not forget what I teach you. Always think carefully about my commands.
• Proverbs 29:18If people do not hear God's message, there is no law to control them. But if someone obeys God's law, he is in a happy place.
• Psalms 103:18He continues to love people who obey his covenant. Those are the people who obey his laws.
• Ecclesiastes 8:5Trouble will not come to anyone who obeys the king's command. A wise person knows the right time to do things. He also knows the right way to do them.
• Ecclesiastes 12:13Now I have heard everything and this is what I have decided: Respect God and obey his commands. That is God's purpose for all people.
• Jeremiah 7:23I also told them, “Obey me. Then I will be your God, and you will be my people. You must live in the way that I have commanded you. If you do that, you will enjoy your lives.”
• Luke 10:28‘You have told me the right answer,’ Jesus said. ‘If you do this, you will have true life with God.’
• John 14:15Jesus then said, ‘If you love me, do what I have told you to do.
• John 15:10If you obey what I have told you, you will be living in my love. In the same way, I have obeyed what my Father has told me to do. In that way, I live in his love.
• 1 Corinthians 7:19It is not important whether someone has circumcised you or not. The important thing is this: Obey what God says.
• 1 John 2:3This is how we can be sure that we know God: If we obey God's commands, we know that we belong to him.
• 1 John 3:22We can pray to God and we can ask him to help us. He will give us what we ask him for. That is because we obey his commands and we do the things that please him.
• 1 John 5:3Because, if we really love God, we will obey his commands. And those commands are not difficult for us to obey.
• Revelation 22:14Believers who keep themselves clean will be happy. They are like people who always wash their clothes. I will let them eat the fruit from the tree that causes people to have true life. I will let them go through the gates into the city.
• Proverbs 16:17Honest people follow a straight road that keeps them away from evil things. If you want to keep your life safe, watch where you are going.
• Proverbs 21:23If you want to keep away from trouble, always be careful about what you say.

Commentaries on Proverbs 19:16

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Keepeth his own soul - i. e., His life in the truest and highest sense.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16Verse 16 If we keep God's word, God's word will keep us from every thing really hurtful. We abuse the doctrine of free grace, if we think that it does away the necessity and advantage of obedience. Those that live at random must die. This truth is clearly taught in words enough to alarm the stoutest sinner.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16Following God's commandments, the law of Moses, keeps a person safe (see Deuteronomy 28:15–68).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. (Compare Pr 10:17; 13:13). despiseth ... ways--opposed to keeping or observing, neglects (Pr 16:17) (as unworthy of regard) his moral conduct.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 19:16

• Impenitence
• Obedience
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Judgment
• Pity
• Scorner
• Slothfulness
• Careless; Carelessly
• Die
• Proverb
• Proverbs, the Book of

Commentaries on Proverbs 19

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings