Proverbs 3:23 - Exposition

Then shall thou walk in thy way safely. The first of the promises of protection, which follow from Proverbs 3:23-26 . He who keeps "sound wisdom and discretion" shall enjoy the greatest sense of security in all situations of life. Safely ( lavetakh ); either in confidence, as Vulgate fiducialiter, i.e. confidently, because of the sense of security (cf. LXX ; πεποιθὼς ἐν εἰρήνῃ , and Proverbs 3:26 ); or in security: the adverb lavetakh is equivalent to betakh in Proverbs 1:30 and Proverbs 10:9 . The allusion is obvious. As he who is accompanied by an escort proceeds on his way in safety, so you protected by God will pass your life in security; or, as Trapp, "Thou shalt ever go under a double guard, 'the peace of God' within thee ( Philippians 4:7 ), and the 'power of God' without thee ( 1 Peter 1:5 )." And thy foot shall not stumble; literally, and thou shall not strike thy foot. Stumble in the original is thiggoph, 2 singular kal future of nagaph, "to smite, … strike against with the foot." So in Psalms 91:12 . The Authorized Version, however, correctly gives the sense. The LXX ; like the Authorized Version, makes "foot" the subject, ὁ δὲ ποῦς σου σὺ μὴ προσκόψῃ , "(That) thy foot may not stumble." For a similar assurance, see Proverbs 4:12 . The meaning is: You will not stumble, because you will be walking in the way of wisdom, which is free from stumbling blocks (Lapide). You will not fall into sin.