The Meaning of Proverbs 3:18 Explained

Proverbs 3:18

KJV: She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

YLT: A tree of life she is to those laying hold on her, And whoso is retaining her is happy.

Darby: She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her; and happy is he that retaineth her.

ASV: She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: And happy is every one that retaineth her.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

She [is] a tree  of life  to them that lay hold  upon her: and happy  [is every one] that retaineth  her. 

What does Proverbs 3:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 3:13-26 - Wisdom's Ways Of Pleasantness
Wisdom is susceptible of cultivation. It is a mine that needs to be worked with patient toil. Compare Proverbs 3:13-15 with Job 28:18. It is comparable to a noble woman, who approaches us with full-handed beneficence, Proverbs 3:16-17. It may be described as a tree, requiring careful tendance and bearing fruit for the patient cultivator, Proverbs 3:18. And we may turn from our own little lives to see the mighty results of divine wisdom in Creation and Providence. We are made in the image of God, our minds are able to appreciate His mind, and we think over again, as Kepler said, the thoughts of God, Proverbs 3:19-20.
Learn the security of the life which is built on the eternal principles of this book. It has no fear. Its repose is unbroken by alarm. It is at peace with itself, with man, and with God. This is not the result of our calculating prudence, but because we exercise ourselves to have consciences void of offense toward God and man; and because the God of patience, of hope, and of peace is with us. See Romans 15:5; Romans 15:13; Romans 15:33. [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 3:18 mean?

A tree of life she [is] to those who take hold of her and [all] who retain her happy [are] -
עֵץ־ חַיִּ֣ים הִ֭יא לַמַּחֲזִיקִ֣ים בָּ֑הּ וְֽתֹמְכֶ֥יהָ מְאֻשָּֽׁר פ

עֵץ־  A  tree 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֵץ  
Sense: tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows.
חַיִּ֣ים  of  life 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
הִ֭יא  she  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, third person feminine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
לַמַּחֲזִיקִ֣ים  to  those  who  take  hold 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine plural
Root: חָזַק  
Sense: to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore.
בָּ֑הּ  of  her 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
וְֽתֹמְכֶ֥יהָ  and  [all]  who  retain  her 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, third person feminine singular
Root: תָּמַךְ  
Sense: to grasp, hold, support, attain, lay hold of, hold fast.
מְאֻשָּֽׁר  happy  [are] 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Participle, masculine singular
Root: אָשַׁר 
Sense: to go straight, walk, go on, advance, make progress.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation