English Standard Version
Proverbs 3:18
18She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.
Proverbs 3:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
- New International Version (NIV)She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.
- New King James Version (NKJV)She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.
Context of Proverbs 3:18
16Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed. 19The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; 20by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.
Read all of Proverbs 3Proverbs 3:18 word by word
עֵץ־חַיִּ֣ים הִ֭יא לַמַּחֲזִיקִ֣ים בָּ֑הּ וְֽתֹמְכֶ֥יהָ מְאֻשָּֽׁר׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 3:18
- Proverbs 11:30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.
- Proverbs 13:14The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.
- Genesis 2:9And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
- Genesis 3:22Then the Lord God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—"
- Revelation 22:2through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Commentaries on Proverbs 3:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18She is a tree of life - חיים עץ ets chaiyim, "the tree of lives," alluding most manifestly to the tree so called which God in the beginning planted in the garden of Paradise, by eating the fruit of which all the wastes of nature might have been continually repaired, so as to prevent death for ever. This is an opinion which appears probable enough. The blessings which wisdom - true religion - gives to men, preserve them in life, comfort them through life…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18This and the other references in Proverbs Proverbs 11:30; Proverbs 13:12; Proverbs 15:4 are the only allusions in any book of the Old Testament, after Genesis, to the “tree” itself, or to its spiritual significance. Further, there is the tendency to a half-allegorizing application of that history. “The tree of life” which Adam was not to taste lies open to his children. Wisdom is the “tree of life,” giving a true immortality. The symbol entered largely…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-20Verses 13-20 No precious jewels or earthly treasures are worthy to be compared with true wisdom, whether the concerns of time or eternity be considered. We must make wisdom our business; we must venture all in it, and be willing to part with all for it. This Wisdom is the Lord Jesus Christ and his salvation, sought and obtained by faith and prayer. Were it not for unbelief, remaining sinfulness, and carelessness, we should find all our ways pleasantness…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18The tree of life refers to the first tree in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:9).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. Wisdom allegorized as a tree of life--(Ge 2:9; 3:22) whose fruit preserves life, gives all that makes living a blessing.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 3:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 3
- 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries