God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 19:16
16Whoever obeys the law preserves his life, ⌞but⌟ whoever despises the Lord’s ways will be put to death.
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
14Home and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a sensible wife comes from the Lord. 15Laziness throws one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will go hungry. Whoever obeys the law preserves his life, ⌞but⌟ whoever despises the Lord’s ways will be put to death. 17Whoever has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his good deed. 18Discipline your son while there is still hope. Do not be the one responsible for his death.
Read all of Proverbs 19Proverbs 19:16 word by word
שֹׁמֵ֣ר מִ֭צְוָה שֹׁמֵ֣ר נַפְשׁ֑וֹ בּוֹזֵ֖ה דְרָכָ֣יו יָמֽוּת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 19:16
- Proverbs 3:1My son, do not forget my teachings, and keep my commands in mind,
- Proverbs 29:18Without prophetic vision people run wild, but blessed are those who follow ⌞God’s⌟ teachings.
- Psalms 103:18to those who are faithful to his promise, to those who remember to follow his guiding principles.
- Ecclesiastes 8:5Whoever obeys his commands will avoid trouble. The mind of a wise person will know the right time and the right way ⌞to act⌟.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13After having heard it all, this is the conclusion: Fear God, and keep his commands, because this applies to everyone.
- Jeremiah 7:23But I did tell them this, ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Live the way I told you to live so that things will go well for you.’
- Luke 10:28Jesus told him, “You’re right! Do this, and life will be yours.”
- John 14:15“If you love me, you will obey my commandments.
- John 15:10If you obey my commandments, you will live in my love. I have obeyed my Father’s commandments, and in that way I live in his love.
- 1 Corinthians 7:19Circumcision is nothing, and the lack of it is nothing. But keeping what God commands is everything.
- 1 John 2:3We are sure that we know Christ if we obey his commandments.
- 1 John 3:22and receive from him anything we ask. We receive it because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.
- 1 John 5:3To love God means that we obey his commandments. Obeying his commandments isn’t difficult
- Revelation 22:14“Blessed are those who wash their robes so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.
- Proverbs 16:17The highway of decent people turns away from evil. Whoever watches his way preserves his own life.
- Proverbs 21:23Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
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
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries