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Selected Verse: Proverbs 20:24 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Pr 20:24 |
Strong Concordance |
Man's [01397] goings [04703] are of the LORD [03068]; how can a man [0120] then understand [0995] his own way [01870]? |
| |
King James |
Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Man's goings--literally, "Stately steppings of a strong man."
a man--any common man.
understand--or, "perceive." |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
| The order of a man's life is a mystery even to himself. He knows not where he is going, or for what God is educating him. |
| Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
24 The steps of a man depend on Jahve;
And a man - how can he understand his way?
Line first is from Psa 37:23, but there, where the clause has the verbal predicate כּוננוּ, the meaning is that it is the gracious assistance of God, by virtue of which a man takes certain steps with his feet, while here we have before us a variation of the proverb "der Mensch denkt, Gott lenkt" = man proposes, God disposes, Pro 16:9, Jer 10:23; for מן, as at Sa2 3:37; Psa 118:23, denotes God in general as conditioning, as the ultimate cause. Man is indeed free to turn himself hither or thither, to decide on this course of conduct or on that, and is therefore responsible for it; but the relations co-operating in all his steps as the possible and defining conditions are God's contrivance and guidance, and the consequences which are connected with his steps and flow therefrom, lie beyond the power of man - every one of his steps is a link of a chain, neither the beginning nor the end of which he can see; while, on the other hand, God's knowledge comprehends the beginning, middle, and end, and the wisdom of God ruling in the sphere of history, makes all human activity, the free action of man, subservient to his world-plan. The question, which has a negative answer, is applicable to man: what, i.e., how shall he understand his way? מה is like, e.g., Exo 10:26; Job 9:2; Job 19:28, accus., and fluctuates between the functions of a governed accusative: What does he understand... (Job 11:8) and an adv.: how, i.e., how so little, how even not, for it is the מה of the negative question which has become in (Arab.) mâ a word of negation. The way of a man is his life's-course. This he understands in the present life only relatively, the true unravelling of it remains for the future. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| His way - What the issue of his designs will be. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| Man's goings are of the Lord - He, by his providence, governs all the great concerns of the world. Man often traverses these operations; but he does it to his own damage. An old writer quaintly says: "They who will carve for themselves shall cut their fingers." |
8 It is as high [01363] as heaven [08064]; what canst thou do [06466]? deeper [06013] than hell [07585]; what canst thou know [03045]?
28 But ye should say [0559], Why persecute [07291] we him, seeing the root [08328] of the matter [01697] is found [04672] in me?
2 I know [03045] it is so of a truth [0551]: but how should man [0582] be just [06663] with God [0410]?
26 Our cattle [04735] also shall go [03212] with us; there shall not an hoof [06541] be left behind [07604]; for thereof must we take [03947] to serve [05647] the LORD [03068] our God [0430]; and we know [03045] not with what we must serve [05647] the LORD [03068], until we come [0935] thither.
23 This is the LORD'S [03068] doing; it is marvellous [06381] in our eyes [05869].
37 For all the people [05971] and all Israel [03478] understood [03045] that day [03117] that it was not of the king [04428] to slay [04191] Abner [074] the son [01121] of Ner [05369].
23 O LORD [03068], I know [03045] that the way [01870] of man [0120] is not in himself: it is not in man [0376] that walketh [01980] to direct [03559] his steps [06806].
9 A man's [0120] heart [03820] deviseth [02803] his way [01870]: but the LORD [03068] directeth [03559] his steps [06806].
23 The steps [04703] of a good man [01397] are ordered [03559] by the LORD [03068]: and he delighteth [02654] in his way [01870].