Proverbs 16:1"The plans of the heart belong to man; But the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah.""A man may think what he will say, but at the moment the word comes to him from the Eternal."[1] "People make their plans, but it is the Lord who makes those things happen."[2] "This proverb is identical in meaning with Proverbs 16:9, and with our saying that, `man proposes; God disposes.'"[3] read more
Proverbs 16:1. The preparations of the heart, &c.— Houbigant renders it, It is in man to prepare discourse within himself; it is in the Lord to moderate or rule the tongue. Bishop Patrick says, the Hebrew words run plainly thus; Man hath the disposing of the heart: He may, with God's leave and common assistance, intend, propound, resolve within himself, what he will say and do; but that he shall be able to utter things in that order he hath premeditated, or, if he be able, shall attain the... read more
1. preparations—schemes. in man—or literally, "to man," belonging, or pertaining to him. the answer . . . Lord—The efficient ordering is from God: "Man proposes; God disposes." read more
The meaning of this proverb is similar to that of Proverbs 16:9. Even though man has freedom to plan, in the end he only fulfills the will of God by what he says. Man plans his words, but what really comes out takes place because God sovereignly controls. "Man proposes, God disposes," is a common equivalent.". . . when someone is trying to speak before others, the Lord directs the words according to his sovereign will." [Note: Ibid., p. 1002.] read more
B. How to Please God 16:1-22:16There is a shift in emphasis in Solomon’s anthology here. Pleasing God (cf. 1 Corinthians 7:33; Colossians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:4; 1 John 3:22) becomes a greater factor in the proverbs that follow, whereas those in chapters 10-15 had living successfully more in view. Nevertheless, this is only a change in proportion of emphasis. Both ends are present in both sections of the book (chs. 10-15 and Proverbs 16:1 to Proverbs 22:16). read more
1. Trusting God ch. 16In this chapter, there is also a slight change in the form of the proverbs. Solomon expressed the earlier proverbs (chs. 10-15) mainly in antithetical parallelisms, but the proverbs in this section are mainly synonymous and synthetic parallelisms. Instead of the key word being "but" it now becomes "and." read more
1-9. God’s control of human life.1. Read, ’the preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.’ Man prepares his plans, but the decisive, final word is suggested by God. ’There’s a divinity that shapes our ends, roughhew them as we will.’2. Cp. 1 Corinthians 4:4.4. Read, ’The Lord hath made everything for its own end.’ God is the absolute Sovereign (Amos 3:6). The wicked are created for punishment (Exodus 9:16; Ezekiel 38:16; Ezekiel 39:21; Romans 9:17).... read more
XVI.(1) The preparations of the heart in man . . .—Rather, To man belong the counsels of the heart. He may turn over in his mind what is the right thing to be said on any occasion, “but from the Lord is the answer of the tongue.” (Comp. Proverbs 15:23.) read more
CHAPTER 17A JUST BALANCE"A just balance and scales are the Lord’s: all the weights of the bag are His work."- Proverbs 16:11"A false balance is an abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is His delight."- Proverbs 11:1"Diverse weights, and divers measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord."- Proverbs 20:10"Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord; and a false balance is not good."- Proverbs 20:23THE sixteenth chapter opens-and we may annex to it the last verse of... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 16:1
preparations = arrangements or plans. The Ellipsis ( App-6 ) of the verb in the first clause must be supplied (as it is in the second clause): "To man [pertain] the plans of his heart; but from Jehovah [comes] the final decree. "Compare Proverbs 16:9 . May be well rendered "the last word" (Compare Proverbs 16:4 ). See App-74 . Illustrations: Balaam (Numbers 23:11 , Numbers 23:12 ; Numbers 24:10-13 .Joshua 24:9 , Joshua 24:10 . Nehemiah 13:2 ). Compare Jeremiah 10:23 . man = man. Hebrew. ... read more