Proverbs 12:3
Proverbs 12:3 in Multiple Translations
A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.
A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
A man shall not be established by wickedness; But the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
No man will make himself safe through evil-doing; but the root of upright men will never be moved.
Wickedness doesn't provide security, but those who live right are deeply rooted and cannot be moved.
A man cannot be established by wickednesse: but the roote of the righteous shall not be mooued.
A man is not established by wickedness, And the root of the righteous is not moved.
A man shall not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
Men shall not be strengthened by wickedness: and the root of the just shall not be moved.
People do not become secure/safe by doing what is wicked; righteous people will be very safe and secure [LIT] like [MET] a tree that has deep roots.
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 12:3
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
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Proverbs 12:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
לֹא
יִכּ֣וֹן
אָדָ֣ם
בְּ/רֶ֑שַׁע
וְ/שֹׁ֥רֶשׁ
צַ֝דִּיקִ֗ים
בַּל
יִמּֽוֹט
לֹא
lôʼ
H3808
not
Part
יִכּ֣וֹן
kûwn
H3559
to establish
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms
אָדָ֣ם
ʼâdâm
H120
the man (Adam)
N-ms
בְּ/רֶ֑שַׁע
reshaʻ
H7562
wickedness
Prep | N-ms
וְ/שֹׁ֥רֶשׁ
sheresh
H8328
root
Conj | N-ms
צַ֝דִּיקִ֗ים
tsaddîyq
H6662
righteous
Adj
בַּל
bal
H1077
not
Part
יִמּֽוֹט
môwṭ
H4131
to shake
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 12:3
לֹא
lôʼ
H3808
"not"
Part
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Definition: 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Usage: Occurs in 3967 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without. See also: Genesis 2:5; Genesis 31:15; Exodus 4:9.
יִכּ֣וֹן
kûwn
H3559
"to establish"
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms
This verb means to set something up or establish it, like setting up a tent or appointing someone to a position, as seen in Isaiah 7:14.
Definition: : prepare/direct 1) to be firm, be stable, be established 1a) (Niphal) 1a1) to be set up, be established, be fixed 1a1a) to be firmly established 1a1b) to be established, be stable, be secure, be enduring 1a1c) to be fixed, be securely determined 1a2) to be directed aright, be fixed aright, be steadfast (moral sense) 1a3) to prepare, be ready 1a4) to be prepared, be arranged, be settled 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to establish, set up, accomplish, do, make firm 1b2) to fix, make ready, prepare, provide, provide for, furnish 1b3) to direct toward (moral sense) 1b4) to arrange, order 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be established, be fastened 1c2) to be prepared, be ready 1d) (Polel) 1d1) to set up, establish 1d2) to constitute, make 1d3) to fix 1d4) to direct 1e) (Pulal) to be established, be prepared 1f) (Hithpolel) to be established, be restored
Usage: Occurs in 211 OT verses. KJV: certain(-ty), confirm, direct, faithfulness, fashion, fasten, firm, be fitted, be fixed, frame, be meet, ordain, order, perfect, (make) preparation, prepare (self), provide, make provision, (be, make) ready, right, set (aright, fast, forth), be stable, (e-) stablish, stand, tarry, [idiom] very deed. See also: Genesis 41:32; Job 18:12; Psalms 5:10.
אָדָ֣ם
ʼâdâm
H120
"the man (Adam)"
N-ms
Adam was the first human, created by God and mentioned in Genesis 2:19, who married Eve and had sons including Cain, Abel, and Seth.
Definition: The first named man living at the time before the Flood, first mentioned at Gen.2.19; married to Eve (H2332); father of: Cain (H7014B), Abel (H1893) and Seth (H8352); also translated "man" at Gen.2.19,21,23; 3.8,9,20; 5.2; "mankind" at Deu.32.8; "others" at Job.31.33; Another spelling of a.dam (אָדָם "Adam" H0121) man, human being
Usage: Occurs in 526 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] another, [phrase] hypocrite, [phrase] common sort, [idiom] low, man (mean, of low degree), person. See also: Genesis 1:26; Judges 18:7; Psalms 8:5.
בְּ/רֶ֑שַׁע
reshaʻ
H7562
"wickedness"
Prep | N-ms
The Hebrew word for wickedness, describing wrong or immoral actions, as seen in the wickedness of enemies or those hostile to God. It appears in various forms, such as iniquity or wickedness. This concept is discussed in biblical books like Psalms and Proverbs.
Definition: 1) wrong, wickedness, guilt 1a) wickedness (as violence and crime against civil law) 1b) wickedness (of enemies) 1c) wickedness (in ethical relations)
Usage: Occurs in 29 OT verses. KJV: iniquity, wicked(-ness). See also: Deuteronomy 9:27; Proverbs 12:3; Psalms 5:5.
וְ/שֹׁ֥רֶשׁ
sheresh
H8328
"root"
Conj | N-ms
A root is the underground part of a plant. In the Bible, it can also mean a source or foundation, like in the book of Job.
Definition: 1) root 1a) root (literal) 1b) root (of people involving firmness or permanence) (fig) 1c) root, bottom (as lowest stratum) (fig) Aramaic equivalent: sho.resh (שֹׁ֫רֶשׁ "root" H8330)
Usage: Occurs in 32 OT verses. KJV: bottom, deep, heel, root. See also: Deuteronomy 29:17; Isaiah 11:1; Psalms 80:10.
צַ֝דִּיקִ֗ים
tsaddîyq
H6662
"righteous"
Adj
Means being just or righteous, as seen in government, personal conduct, or character, often describing someone made right with God. It appears in descriptions of King David and other biblical leaders. The concept is central to the Bible's teachings on morality and ethics.
Definition: 1) just, lawful, righteous 1a) just, righteous (in government) 1b) just, right (in one's cause) 1c) just, righteous (in conduct and character) 1d) righteous (as justified and vindicated by God) 1e) right, correct, lawful
Usage: Occurs in 197 OT verses. KJV: just, lawful, righteous (man). See also: Genesis 6:9; Proverbs 10:31; Psalms 1:5.
בַּל
bal
H1077
"not"
Part
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means not or nothing, often used to show something is absent or non-existent. It appears in various forms, like lest or neither. The KJV Bible translates it in different ways, including not or none.
Definition: not, hardly, else
Usage: Occurs in 58 OT verses. KJV: lest, neither, no, none (that...), not (any), nothing. See also: 1 Chronicles 16:30; Psalms 140:12; Psalms 10:4.
יִמּֽוֹט
môwṭ
H4131
"to shake"
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to shake or waver, like something that's unstable. It appears in books like Psalms and Proverbs, to describe things that are falling apart or unstable. The KJV translates it as 'be carried' or 'fall'.
Definition: 1) to totter, shake, slip 1a) (Qal) to totter, shake, slip 1b) (Niphal) to be shaken, be moved, be overthrown 1c) (Hiphil) to dislodge, let fall, drop 1d) (Hithpael) to be greatly shaken
Usage: Occurs in 36 OT verses. KJV: be carried, cast, be out of course, be fallen in decay, [idiom] exceedingly, fall(-ing down), be (re-) moved, be ready, shake, slide, slip. See also: Leviticus 25:35; Psalms 62:3; Psalms 10:6.
Study Notes — Proverbs 12:3
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 12:3 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 12:3
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 12:3
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 12:3
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 12:3
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 12:3
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 12:3
- Sermons on Proverbs 12:3
Context — Loving Discipline and Knowledge
1Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
2The good man obtains favor from the LORD, but the LORD condemns a man who devises evil.
3A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.
4A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but she who causes shame is like decay in his bones. 5The plans of the righteous are just, but the counsel of the wicked leads to deceit.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 10:25 | When the whirlwind passes, the wicked are no more, but the righteous are secure forever. |
| 2 | Ephesians 3:17 | so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love, |
| 3 | Proverbs 12:12 | The wicked desire the plunder of evil men, but the root of the righteous flourishes. |
| 4 | Job 27:16–18 | Though he heaps up silver like dust and piles up a wardrobe like clay, what he lays up, the righteous will wear, and his silver will be divided by the innocent. The house he built is like a moth’s cocoon, like a hut set up by a watchman. |
| 5 | Colossians 2:7 | rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. |
| 6 | Psalms 125:1–2 | Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion. It cannot be moved; it abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people, both now and forevermore. |
| 7 | Psalms 15:5 | who lends his money without interest and refuses a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken. |
| 8 | Job 20:5–9 | the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary? Though his arrogance reaches the heavens, and his head touches the clouds, he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who had seen him will ask, ‘Where is he?’ He will fly away like a dream, never to be found; he will be chased away like a vision in the night. The eye that saw him will see him no more, and his place will no longer behold him. |
| 9 | Job 5:3–5 | I have seen a fool taking root, but suddenly his house was cursed. His sons are far from safety, crushed in court without a defender. The hungry consume his harvest, taking it even from the thorns, and the thirsty pant after his wealth. |
| 10 | 1 Samuel 25:33 | Blessed is your discernment, and blessed are you, because today you kept me from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand. |
Proverbs 12:3 Summary
This verse means that if we try to build our lives on sin and bad choices, we will not have a strong foundation and will likely fall. But if we try to live a good life, following God's ways, we will have a strong foundation and will not be easily shaken. This is similar to what Jesus taught in Matthew 7:24-25, where He said that building your house on a rock will help it stand strong against storms. By choosing to follow God and live a righteous life, as seen in Psalms 1:1-3, we can have a blessed and stable life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be 'established' in Proverbs 12:3?
To be established means to have a firm foundation and stability in life, as seen in Psalm 16:8, where David trusts in God's presence to keep him stable, and in Matthew 7:24-25, where Jesus teaches that building on a rock gives a house the ability to withstand storms.
Can a righteous person ever be uprooted?
According to Proverbs 12:3, the righteous cannot be uprooted, but this does not mean they will never face challenges or trials, as seen in Job 1:1-22, where Job faces severe testing yet remains faithful, demonstrating that even in hardship, the righteous remain rooted in their faith.
What is the relationship between wickedness and being established?
Proverbs 12:3 teaches that a man cannot be established through wickedness, implying that a life of sin and rebellion against God will ultimately lead to instability and destruction, as warned in Proverbs 10:29, where the way of the wicked will lead to their own ruin.
How does this verse relate to my everyday life?
This verse reminds us that our choices have consequences, and choosing to live a righteous life, as defined by God's word, such as in Deuteronomy 10:12-13, will lead to stability and blessings, while a life of wickedness will lead to chaos and destruction.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I may be trying to establish myself through wickedness or worldly means, and how can I surrender these to God?
- How can I ensure that my roots of faith are deep and strong, so I am not uprooted by the challenges of life?
- What does it mean to be 'righteous' in God's eyes, and how can I pursue righteousness in my daily life?
- In what ways can I trust God to establish me and give me a firm foundation, even when the world around me seems unstable?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 12:3
A man shall not be established by wickedness,.... Not any man, though he may be established in his wickedness, so as not to be rooted out of it; yet he cannot be so established by it as not to be
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 12:3
A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved. A man shall not be established by wickedness.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 12:3
By wickedness; by any sinful courses by which he useth to secure or stablish himself; whereby he implies that he shall be rooted up. Shall not be moved, to wit, out of its place. He shall stand fast, and flourish, like a well-rooted tree.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 12:3
Proverbs 12:3 A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.Ver. 3. A man shall not be established by wickedness.] For he lays his foundation upon firework, and brimstone is scattered upon his house top: if the fire of God from heaven but flash upon it, it will be all a flame immediately. He walks all day upon a mine of gunpowder; and hath God with his armies ready to run upon the thickest bosses of his buckler, and to hurl him to hell. How can this man be sure of anything? Cain built cities, but could not rest in them. Ahab begat seventy sons, but not one successor in the kingdom. Phocas having built a mighty wall, heard from heaven: "Though thy walls were as high as heaven, sin is under it, and will subvert it." Aσταφμητοντοκακον. Sin hath no settledness. But the root of the righteous shall not be moved.] For though shaken with winds, yet they are rooted as trees; like a ship at anchor, they wag up and down, yet remove not. "God is my rock, I shall not be greatly moved." Nay, "I shall not be moved at all." "The gates of hell cannot do it." "None can pluck them out of God’ s hands," for he "hath laid help upon one that is mighty." εανυφοιςταταιχηεωςουρανουενδοντοκακον, ευαλωτοςηπολις.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 12:3
Verse 3. A man shall not be established by wickedness] Evil is always variable: it has no fixed principle, except the root that is in the human heart; and even that is ever assuming new forms. Nothing is permanent but goodness; and that is unchangeable, because it comes from GOD. The produce of goodness is permanent, because it has God's blessing in it: the fruit of wickedness, or the property procured by wickedness, is transitory, because it has God's curse in it. The righteous has his root in God; and therefore he shall not be moved.
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 12:3
3. Root of the righteous — The righteous are here figuratively compared to a tree deeply rooted, and able to resist the storms, and continue unmoved in a flourishing condition. Not so the wicked.
Sermons on Proverbs 12:3
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Taming of the Tongue by Leonard Ravenhill | Leonard Ravenhill emphasizes the profound impact of the tongue, likening it to a sword that can inflict deep wounds and damage relationships. He reflects on the various types of to |
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The Rock and the Bowing Wall by John Henry Jowett | John Henry Jowett preaches on Psalm 62, using powerful symbols to illustrate the confidence of the righteous and the futility of the wicked. The righteous find security in God as t |
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February 8. 1678. the Motion of the Earth. by Jane Lead | Jane Lead describes a vision where the Earth was in turmoil, with its inhabitants shaking and unable to find stability. In the midst of chaos, a voice reveals that the unmovable Ro |
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Be Diligent to Get Alone With God by Hans R. Waldvogel | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the incredible love and goodness of God towards His people. He encourages the audience to believe in and trust God wholeheartedly, as His wi |
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(Europe 2008) Session 4 - Assuming the Ministry of Christ by B.H. Clendennen | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of following Jesus wholeheartedly. He highlights how the disciples left everything behind to follow Jesus and how they watche |
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The Provision of Grace by Paris Reidhead | In this sermon transcript, the speaker describes the scene of the apostle Paul dictating a letter from prison in Rome. Despite being chained to soldiers, Paul raises his hands and |
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(Through the Bible) Jude by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of being spiritually minded in a world that is temporary and will eventually be dissolved. He highlights the need to approach |