The Meaning of Proverbs 20:18 Explained

Proverbs 20:18

KJV: Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

YLT: Purposes by counsel thou dost establish, And with plans make thou war.

Darby: Plans are established by counsel; and with good advice make war.

ASV: Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[Every] purpose  is established  by counsel:  and with good advice  make  war. 

What does Proverbs 20:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 20:16-30 - "the Glory Of Young Men"
What a wonderful thought is given in Proverbs 20:27! We stand like a row of unlighted candles until God's Spirit kindles us. Has the Divine Nature ever bent over your nature, communicating to it its glow and fire? If so, be very careful that no puff of wind shall extinguish that sacred spark; and see that it is supplied with the daily nutriment it requires. The whole paragraph seems to indicate the clear shining of this light, which must not be hidden under a bushel, but placed on the stand, that it may give light to all who come in. So let your light shine that men may admire neither the lamp-stand nor the wick, but the glory of the light of God radiating from you.
Such a soul will be true, Proverbs 20:17; will be wise, Proverbs 20:18; will eschew tale-bearing and flattery, Proverbs 20:19; will honor the parents that gave it birth, Proverbs 20:20; will win a good inheritance by patient industry, Proverbs 20:21; will wait on the salvation of God, Proverbs 20:22; will accept God's guidance, Proverbs 20:24; will follow mercy and truth, Proverbs 20:28; will be strong, and pure, and faithful. Such should be the glory of all young men and maidens if their old age shall be beautiful, Proverbs 20:29. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 20

1  Proper Living

What do the individual words in Proverbs 20:18 mean?

Plans by counsel are established and by wise counsel wage war
מַ֭חֲשָׁבוֹת בְּעֵצָ֣ה תִכּ֑וֹן וּ֝בְתַחְבֻּל֗וֹת עֲשֵׂ֣ה מִלְחָמָֽה

מַ֭חֲשָׁבוֹת  Plans 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: מַחֲשָׁבָה  
Sense: thought, device.
בְּעֵצָ֣ה  by  counsel 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵצָה 
Sense: counsel, advice, purpose.
תִכּ֑וֹן  are  established 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: כּוּן 
Sense: to be firm, be stable, be established.
וּ֝בְתַחְבֻּל֗וֹת  and  by  wise  counsel 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural
Root: תַּחְבֻּלֹות  
Sense: direction, counsel, guidance, good advice, (wise) counsel.
עֲשֵׂ֣ה  wage 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
מִלְחָמָֽה  war 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִלְחָמָה  
Sense: battle, war.