Proverbs 5:21 - Avoiding Immorality
For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD
This phrase emphasizes the omniscience of God, a theme prevalent throughout the Bible. The idea that God sees all human actions is echoed in passages like Psalm 139:1-4, where David acknowledges that God knows every movement and thought. In the ancient Near Eastern context, this understanding of a deity's omnipresence was unique to the Israelites, contrasting with the localized gods of surrounding cultures. The phrase also serves as a moral reminder that nothing is hidden from God, encouraging believers to live righteously. This aligns with the wisdom literature's focus on living a life that honors God, as seen in Ecclesiastes 12:14, which states that God will bring every deed into judgment.
and the LORD examines all his paths
The term "examines" suggests a thorough and discerning observation, indicating that God not only sees but also evaluates human actions. This reflects the biblical theme of divine judgment, where God assesses the moral quality of human behavior. The concept of "paths" symbolizes the choices and directions one takes in life, a common metaphor in Proverbs. This examination is not merely punitive but also protective, as seen in Psalm 23:3, where God leads in paths of righteousness. Theologically, this underscores God's role as both judge and shepherd, guiding and correcting His people. The phrase also foreshadows the New Testament teaching of Christ as the way (John 14:6), where Jesus embodies the path to righteousness and eternal life.
Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal presence and omniscience. In this verse, the LORD is portrayed as the all-seeing and all-knowing God who observes human actions.
2. A Man
Represents humanity in general. The verse speaks to every individual, highlighting personal accountability before God.
3. Paths/Ways
Symbolic of the choices and actions a person takes in life. The verse underscores that these are under divine scrutiny.
Teaching Points
God's Omniscience
Recognize that God sees and knows everything about our lives. This awareness should lead us to live with integrity and accountability.
Personal Accountability
Understand that our actions are not hidden from God. This should encourage us to make choices that honor Him.
The Importance of Righteous Living
Since God examines all our paths, we should strive to walk in righteousness and avoid paths that lead to sin.
Encouragement in God's Watchfulness
God's constant watch over us is not only for judgment but also for guidance and protection. Trust in His oversight as a source of comfort.
Reflecting on Our Paths
Regularly evaluate the paths you are taking in life. Are they aligned with God's will and purpose for you?
Lists and Questions
Top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 5Does God’s prediction of Israel’s rebellion (Deut. 31:16) conflict with the principle of free will, implying a predetermined outcome? Proverbs 5:21: If God truly sees every action, what empirical or scientific basis exists to support the notion of an omniscient observer?What does Proverbs 3:6 mean?Where can wise counsel be found?
(21) For the ways of man . . .--Another reason for avoiding sin is the certainty of detection by the Judge, whose "eyes run to and fro through the whole earth" (2Chronicles 16:9), comp. Psalm 11:4.
Verse 21. - For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord. The obvious meaning here is that as "the eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good" (Proverbs 15:3), there is no possibility of any act of immorality escaping God's notice. The consciousness of this fact is to be the restraining motive, inasmuch as he who sees will also punish every transgression. The great truth acknowledged here is the omniscience of God, a truth which is borne witness to in almost identical language in Job: "For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings" (Job 34:21; cf. 24:23 and Job 31:4). So Hanani the seer says to Asa King of Judah, "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth" (2 Chronicles 16:9); and Jehovah says, in Jeremiah, "For mine eyes are upon all their ways, they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes" (Jeremiah 16:17; cf. 32:29); and again, in Hosea, "They are before my face" (Hosea 7:2), and the same truth is re-echoed in the Epistle to the Hebrews, in all probability gathered from our passage, "All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do" (Hebrews 4:13). The ways of man; i.e. the conduct of any individual man or woman; ish, "man," being used generically. Are before the eyes of the Lord; i.e. are an object on which Jehovah fixes his gaze and scrutiny. And he pondereth all his goings. The word "he pondereth" is in the original m'phalles, the piel participle of philles, piel of the unused kal, palas, and appears to be properly rendered in the Authorized Version. This verb, however, has various meanings:
(1) to make level, or prepare, as in Proverbs 4:26 and Proverbs 5:6;
(2) to weigh, or consider accurately, in which sense it is used here.
So Gesenius, Lee, Buxtorf, and Davidson. Jehovah not only sees, but weighs all that a man does, wheresoever he be, and will apportion rewards and punishments according to a man's actions (Patrick). The German commentators, Delitzsch and Zockler, however, look upon the word as indicating the overruling providence of God, just as the former part of the verse refers to his omniscience, and render, "he marketh out," in the sense that the Lord makes it possible for a man to walk in the way of uprightness and purity. There is nothing inherently objectionable in this view, since experience shows that the world is regulated by the Divine government, but it loses sight to some extent of the truth upon which the teacher appears to be insisting, which is that evil actions are visited with Divine retribution. Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
For
כִּ֤י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction
a man’s
אִ֑ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person
ways
דַּרְכֵי־ (dar·ḵê-)
Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action
are before
נֹ֨כַח ׀ (nō·ḵaḥ)
Preposition
Strong's 5227: The front part, opposite, in front of, forward, in behalf of
the eyes
עֵינֵ֣י (‘ê·nê)
Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain
of the LORD,
יְ֭הוָה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH
and [the Lord] watches
מְפַלֵּֽס׃ (mə·p̄al·lês)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6424: To roll flat, prepare, to revolve, weigh
all
וְֽכָל־ (wə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every
his paths.
מַעְגְּלֹתָ֥יו (ma‘·gə·lō·ṯāw)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4570: An entrenchment, track
Links
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Proverbs 5:21 Catholic BibleOT Poetry: Proverbs 5:21 For the ways of man are before (Prov. Pro Pr)