The Meaning of Proverbs 3:5 Explained

Proverbs 3:5

KJV: Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

YLT: Trust unto Jehovah with all thy heart, And unto thine own understanding lean not.

Darby: Confide in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not unto thine own intelligence;

ASV: Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Trust  in the LORD  with all thine heart;  and lean  not unto thine own understanding. 

What does Proverbs 3:5 Mean?

Study Notes

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 .

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 3:5 mean?

Trust in Yahweh with all your heart and on your own understanding not lean
בְּטַ֣ח אֶל־ יְ֭הוָה בְּכָל־ לִבֶּ֑ךָ וְאֶל־ בִּֽ֝ינָתְךָ֗ אַל־ תִּשָּׁעֵֽן

בְּטַ֣ח  Trust 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: בָּטוּחַ 
Sense: to trust.
יְ֭הוָה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בְּכָל־  with  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
לִבֶּ֑ךָ  your  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
וְאֶל־  and  on 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
בִּֽ֝ינָתְךָ֗  your  own  understanding 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בִּינָה  
Sense: understanding, discernment.
תִּשָּׁעֵֽן  lean 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁעַן  
Sense: to lean on, trust in, support.