The Meaning of Proverbs 3:21 Explained

Proverbs 3:21

KJV: My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

YLT: My son! let them not turn from thine eyes, Keep thou wisdom and thoughtfulness,

Darby: My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion:

ASV: My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep sound wisdom and discretion:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

My son,  let not them depart  from thine eyes:  keep  sound wisdom  and discretion: 

What does Proverbs 3:21 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 Proverbs 3:16-17. It is comparable to a noble woman, who approaches us with full-handed beneficence, Job 28:18. 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 3:21 mean?

My son not let them depart from your eyes Keep sound wisdom and discretion
בְּ֭נִי אַל־ יָלֻ֣זוּ מֵעֵינֶ֑יךָ נְצֹ֥ר תֻּ֝שִׁיָּ֗ה וּמְזִמָּֽה

בְּ֭נִי  My  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יָלֻ֣זוּ  let  them  depart 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: לוּז  
Sense: to depart, turn aside.
מֵעֵינֶ֑יךָ  from  your  eyes 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, cdc, second person masculine singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
נְצֹ֥ר  Keep 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: נְצוּרִים 
Sense: to guard, watch, watch over, keep.
תֻּ֝שִׁיָּ֗ה  sound  wisdom 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: תּוּשִׁיָּה  
Sense: wisdom, sound knowledge, success, sound or efficient wisdom, abiding success.
וּמְזִמָּֽה  and  discretion 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מְזִמָּה  
Sense: purpose, discretion, device, plot.