The Meaning of Proverbs 16:20 Explained

Proverbs 16:20

KJV: He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

YLT: The wise in any matter findeth good, And whoso is trusting in Jehovah, O his happiness.

Darby: He that giveth heed to the word shall find good; and whoso confideth in Jehovah, happy is he.

ASV: He that giveth heed unto the word shall find good; And whoso trusteth in Jehovah, happy is he.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He that handleth a matter  wisely  shall find  good:  and whoso trusteth  in the LORD,  happy  [is] he. 

What does Proverbs 16:20 Mean?

Study Notes

trusteth
.
trust
Trust is the characteristic O.T. word for the N.T. "faith," "believe." It occurs 152 times in the O.T., and is the rendering of Heb. words signifying to take refuge (e.g. Ruth 2:12 "to lean on" (e.g.) Psalms 56:3 "to roll on" (e.g.) Psalms 22:8 "to stay upon" (e.g.) Job 35:14 .

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 16

1  The Plans of the heart

What do the individual words in Proverbs 16:20 mean?

He who heeds wisely unto the word will find good and whoever trusts in Yahweh happy [is] he
מַשְׂכִּ֣יל עַל־ דָּ֭בָר יִמְצָא־ ט֑וֹב וּבוֹטֵ֖חַ בַּיהוָ֣ה אַשְׁרָֽיו

מַשְׂכִּ֣יל  He  who  heeds  wisely 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׂכַל 
Sense: to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand, prosper.
עַל־  unto 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
דָּ֭בָר  the  word 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
יִמְצָא־  will  find 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
ט֑וֹב  good 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
וּבוֹטֵ֖חַ  and  whoever  trusts 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בָּטוּחַ 
Sense: to trust.
בַּיהוָ֣ה  in  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אַשְׁרָֽיו  happy  [is]  he 
Parse: Interjection, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶשֶׁר 
Sense: happiness, blessedness.