Proverbs 21:2

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 wherever He pleases. Every person’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord examines the hearts. 3To do righteousness and justice Is preferred by the Lord more than sacrifice. 4Haughty eyes and a proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is sin.

Proverbs 21:2 word by word

כָּֽל־דֶּרֶךְ־אִ֭ישׁ יָשָׁ֣ר בְּעֵינָ֑יו וְתֹכֵ֖ן לִבּ֣וֹת יְהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear

• Everyכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• person’sאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
• is rightיָשָׁרyâshâr · uprightH3477
• in his own eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
• But the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• examinesתָּכַןtâkan · to measureH8505
• the heartsלֵבlêb · heartH3820

Cross-references for Proverbs 21:2

• Proverbs 16:2All the ways of a person are clean in his own sight, But the Lord examines the motives.
• Proverbs 20:6Many a person proclaims his own loyalty, But who can find a trustworthy person?
• Proverbs 30:12There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes, Yet is not washed from his filthiness.
• Psalms 36:2For it flatters him in his own eyes Concerning the discovery of his wrongful deed and the hatred of it.
• Luke 18:11The Pharisee stood and began praying this in regard to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, crooked, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
• Galatians 6:3For if anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
• James 1:22But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves.
• Proverbs 24:12If you say, “See, we did not know this,” Does He who weighs the hearts not consider it? And does He who watches over your soul not know it? And will He not repay a person according to his work?
• 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 God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
• Jeremiah 17:10I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, To give to each person according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.
• Luke 16:15And He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of people, but God knows your hearts; because that which is highly esteemed among people is detestable in the sight of God.
• John 2:24But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, because He knew all people,
• Revelation 2:23And I will kill her children with plague, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you 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

• God Continued...
• Heart
• Self-Righteousness

In the dictionaries

• Mind
• Ponder
• Toss
• Proverb
• Proverbs, the Book of

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