The Meaning of Proverbs 3:2 Explained

Proverbs 3:2

KJV: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

YLT: For length of days and years, Life and peace they do add to thee.

Darby: for length of days, and years of life, and peace shall they add to thee.

ASV: For length of days, and years of life, And peace, will they add to thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For length  of days,  and long  life,  and peace,  shall they add  to thee. 

What does Proverbs 3:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 3:1-12 - The Results Of Trusting Jehovah
How replete with helpful instruction on the policy of life is this paragraph! The young of both sexes are invited to be merciful in their judgments or dealings, and faithful in the discharge of their responsibilities or duties. These are two prime qualifications for a right attitude toward God and man.
The perplexed are bidden to distrust their own understanding and to trust in God for guidance. If you do not see your way, wait till God reveals it. Notice the repeated word all-all thine heart, all thy ways. A thread reaching from our person to the ground may impair our perfect insularity. The business man is urged to honor God, as Abraham did, when returning laden with booty from his conflict with the freebooting kings, Genesis 14:23. The suffering are urged to look beyond their pain and sorrow to the hand that chastens, Proverbs 3:11-12. These precious words are endorsed by later Scriptures. See Hebrews 12:5-6 and Revelation 3:19. We can never forget the tender assurance of Job 5:18-19. There is no chance in life; accept all as by God's appointment or permission. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 3

1  various exhortations
13  The gain of wisdom
27  Exhortation to goodness
33  the different state of the wicked and upright

What do the individual words in Proverbs 3:2 mean?

For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you
כִּ֤י אֹ֣רֶךְ יָ֭מִים וּשְׁנ֣וֹת חַיִּ֑ים וְ֝שָׁל֗וֹם יוֹסִ֥יפוּ לָֽךְ

אֹ֣רֶךְ  length 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אֹרֶךְ  
Sense: length.
יָ֭מִים  of  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
וּשְׁנ֣וֹת  and  long 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.
חַיִּ֑ים  life 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
וְ֝שָׁל֗וֹם  and  peace 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.
יוֹסִ֥יפוּ  they  will  add 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָסַף 
Sense: to add, increase, do again.
לָֽךְ  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular