Proverbs 2:11 — Word Study
WLCמְ֭זִמָּה תִּשְׁמֹ֥ר עָלֶ֗יךָ תְּבוּנָ֥ה תִנְצְרֶֽכָּה׃
BSA◂Discretionmᵉzimmâh [wise purposes, thoughtful planning] will watch over youshâmar▸ [keep you safe, guard you] ◂and understandingtâbûwn [insight, skill] will guard younâtsar▸ [keep you, preserve you, watch over you]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| מְ֭זִמָּה | discretion | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| תִּשְׁמֹ֥ר | it will watch | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person feminine singular |
| עָלֶ֗יךָ | over you | Preposition, suffix |
| תְּבוּנָ֥ה | understanding | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| תִנְצְרֶֽכָּה׃ | it will preserve you | Verb qal imperfect third person feminine singular, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you, |
| KJV | Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: |
| ASV | Discretion shall watch over thee; Understanding shall keep thee: |
| YLT | Thoughtfulness doth watch over thee, Understanding doth keep thee, |
| WEB | Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you, |
| BBE | Wise purposes will be watching over you, and knowledge will keep you; |
The translations agree on the protective nature of discretion and understanding.
The sentence has two main clauses connected by 'and,' emphasizing the dual roles of discretion and understanding.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectמְזִמָּה
verbשָׁמַר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Proverbs 2:11
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Value of Wisdomgenerated
Proverbs 2:11 emphasizes the protective nature of wisdom and understanding. In the preceding verses, wisdom is described as entering the heart and delighting the soul, setting the stage for the assertion that discretion and understanding will guard the individual from evil paths and harmful influences, as seen in verses 10-12.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 4:6 | Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you. |
| 2 | Proverbs 6:22–24 | When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. |
| 3 | Psalm 25:21 | May integrity and uprightness preserve me, because I wait for You. |
| 4 | Psalm 119:9–11 | How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word. |
| 5 | Ecclesiastes 9:15–18 | Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — מְזִמָּה, Me.zi.mahgenerated
The word מְזִמָּה (Me.zi.mah) refers to a plan or plot, which can be either good or evil. It is derived from a root meaning to plan and is used in contexts that highlight both malicious and clever intentions. In this verse, it signifies wise purposes and thoughtful planning that act as a safeguard.
Discretion is not merely a passive quality; it actively watches over the individual, suggesting a vigilant and protective role. This aligns with the broader theme in Proverbs, where wisdom is portrayed as a guiding force in life.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In the Berean Standard Bible, the term used is discretion, which is consistent across the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb תִּשְׁמֹ֥ר, it will watch, governs the first clause, while the second clause introduces another subject, תְּבוּנָ֥ה, understanding, with its own verb תִנְצְרֶֽכָּה, it will preserve. This structure highlights the dual roles of discretion and understanding in safeguarding the individual.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the actions of discretion and understanding, presenting them as the primary agents of protection in the verse.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates מְזִמָּה as φυλάξει (phulaxe), meaning 'it will guard.' This choice emphasizes the active role of discretion in providing protection.
The Greek rendering of תְּבוּנָה also aligns with the protective theme, reinforcing the idea that understanding is a guardian.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 2:11 teaches that discretion and understanding will protect you. Discretion is about wise planning and purpose, while understanding brings insight and skill. Together, they guard you in life.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Discretion refers to wise planning and purpose, acting as a protective force in decision-making.
Understanding provides insight and skill, helping us navigate life's challenges and avoid pitfalls.
Having both qualities ensures a well-rounded approach to life, enabling us to make wise choices and stay safe from harm.
You can develop these qualities through studying wisdom literature, seeking counsel, and reflecting on your experiences.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to apply discretion and understanding?
- How can I seek wisdom to help guard me against negative influences?
- What practical steps can I take to cultivate discretion in my decision-making?
- How can understanding enhance my relationships with others?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers reference this verse to discuss the protective role of wisdom and counsel in the life of believers.
We read in sacred Scripture, dearly beloved, that holy counsel should keep those who are solicitous for their soul’s salvation, as the divine Word puts it: “Holy counsel shall keep you.” If holy counsel keeps a soul,Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 2 →
Counsel will guard you, etc. The evil way, the works of iniquity; the man speaking perversely, he calls the teachers of iniquitous behavior. The evil way, onto which they call those who say, Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 2 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 2:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleDiscretion shall preserve thee,.... Which wisdom or the Gospel gives, or the Lord by the means of it; for the Gospel makes a man wise and discreet in the business of salvation, and in his conduct and
Read John Gill on Proverbs 2 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryWhen wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 2 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleFrom wicked courses, and the mischiefs which attend upon them; as is particularly expressed in the following verses.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 2 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 2:11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:Ver. 11. Discretion.] Heb., Thoughtfulness, or good advisement. Cogito quasi coagito. Notat sereitatem, such as is that of the wife "to please her husband," casting this way and that way how to give best content: or that of the good housewife to "build her house," studying in every business how to set everything in order, as the carpenter studies how to set every part of the frame in joint. Becman, μεριμνα.
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 2 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 11. Discretion shall preserve thee] מזמה mezimmah. See on Proverbs 1:4. Here the word is taken in a good sense, a good device. The man invents purposes of good; and all his schemes, plans, and devices, have for their object God's glory and the good of man: he deviseth liberal things, and by liberal things he shall stand. Coverdale translates, "Then shall COUNSEL preserve thee." A very good translation, much better than the present.
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 2 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges11. preserve] Rather: watch over, R.V.; φυλάξει, LXX.; custodiet, Vulg.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 2 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleOF WISDOM IN FROM EVIL , Proverbs 2:10-22. 10, 11. When wisdom entereth — Here the instructor starts out again, in a different train of thought, to show the effects of a sanctified education in
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 2 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you,
Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you,
Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you,
Discretion will protect you, understanding will guard you,
Tyndale line
Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
Discretion shall watch over thee; Understanding shall keep thee:
Discretion shall watch over thee, understanding shall keep thee:
Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
Then shall counsell preserue thee, and vnderstanding shall keepe thee,
Strictly literal
discretion shall keep thee, understanding shall preserve thee:
Thoughtfulness doth watch over thee, Understanding doth keep thee,
Thoughtfulness watches over you, || Understanding keeps you,
Discretion will watch over thee, understanding will keep thee;
Discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you.
From the Latin
Counsel shall keep thee, and prudence shall preserve thee,
Simplified
Good decisions will keep you on track; thinking logically will keep you safe.
Wise purposes will be watching over you, and knowledge will keep you;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint show agreement in the core message of the verse, with three of the five Hebrew words matched in the Greek translation. This indicates a consistent understanding of the protective nature of wisdom and discretion across these texts.
מְ֭זִמָּה תִּשְׁמֹ֥ר עָלֶ֗יךָ תְּבוּנָ֥ה תִנְצְרֶֽכָּה׃
3 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 2:11
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
מְזִמָּה (mzimmah) refers to a plan or device, often with a connotation of evil intent. It can denote purpose, discretion, or plot, and may describe both wicked and wise schemes. The term is derived from a root meaning to plan and is used in contexts that highlight both malicious and clever intentions.
מְזִמָּה n.f. purpose, discretion, device
base
H4209 מְזִמָּה purpose, discretion, device
4209 mzimmah mez-im-maw'
from 2161; a plan, usually evil (machination), sometimes good
(sagacity):--(wicked) device, discretion, intent, witty
invention, lewdness, mischievous (device), thought, wickedly.
see HEBREW for 02161
מְזִמָּה (me.zim.mah) — plot.
1) purpose, discretion, device, plot
1a) purpose
1b) discretion
1c) devices (evil)
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
The Hebrew word שָׁמַר (*shamar*) is a primitive root meaning to keep, guard, or observe. It encompasses a wide range of actions including protecting, waiting for, and celebrating obligations like the Sabbath. The verb appears in various forms, indicating nuances such as being on guard or refraining from certain actions. It is used extensively in the Old Testament, reflecting both physical and moral vigilance.
שָׁמַר 465 vb. keep, watch, preserve
Qal 425
keep, have charge of
keep, guard, captives
hence, watch for, wait for
watch, observe
keep, retain, of storing up (food)
keep within bounds, restrain
observe, celebrate
keep sabbath
of other obligations
observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)
sts. י׳ subj.
keep, reserve, weeks of harvest
Niph.
36be on one's guard
keep oneself, refrain, abstain
be kept, guarded
Pi. those paying regard to false vanities
Hithp. I kept myself from
base
H8104 שָׁמַר keep, watch, preserve .. . keep, have charge of
. keep, guard, captives
. hence, watch for, wait for
. watch, observe
. . keep, retain, of storing up (food)
. keep within bounds, restrain
. . observe, celebrate
. keep sabbath
. of other obligations
. observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)
. sts. י׳ subj.
. keep, reserve, weeks of harvest
. . be on one's guard
. keep oneself, refrain, abstain
. be kept, guarded
. those paying regard to false vanities
. I kept myself from
8104 shamar shaw-mar'
a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns),
i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.:--beward,
be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark,
look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save
(self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).
שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: obey.
: obey/observe
1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to keep, have charge of
1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)
1a3) to watch for, wait for
1a4) to watch, observe
1a5) to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory)
1a6) to keep (within bounds), restrain
1a7) to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow)
1a8) to keep, preserve, protect
1a9) to keep, reserve
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be on one's guard, take heed, take care, beware
1b2) to keep oneself, refrain, abstain
1b3) to be kept, be guarded
1c) (Piel) to keep, pay heed
1d) (Hithpael) to keep oneself from
שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: guard.
: guard
1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to keep, have charge of
1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singularHVqi3fs
woch ('ashmurah, 'ashmoreth; phulake): A division of the night. The night was originally divided into three watches (Jud 7:19), but later into four, as we find in the New Testament (Mt 14:25; Mr 6:48). We do not know the limits of the watches in the first division, but the middle watch probably began two hours before midnight and ended two hours after. The fourfold division was according to the Roman system, each of which was a fourth part of the night.
See TIME.
"Watch" is also the guard placed on watch (mishmar, Ne 4:9; koustodia, from Latin custodia, Mt 27:65,66; 28:11). It sometimes refers to the act of watching, as in…
A division of the night. See HOURS.
→ (A division of time)
See NIGHT TIME
The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
עַל, עָ֑ל
subst. height
As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed
—
of clothing, etc., which any one wears
With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears
. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
5921 `al al
properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the
singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a
particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always
in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great
variety of applications (as follow):--above, according
to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because
of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both
and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in
(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,
through(-out), to, touching, X with.
see HEBREW for 05920
עַל (al) — upon.
prep
1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards
1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)
1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)
1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)
1e) over (of suspension or extension)
1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)
1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)
1h) to (as a dative)
[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.
conj
HR/Sp2ms — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp2ms
תְּבוּנָה (tebunah) means understanding and encompasses intelligence, skill, and insight. It can refer to both the act of understanding and the faculty itself, as well as the object of knowledge. The term is personified as a teacher in some contexts.
תְּבוּנָה n.f. understanding
the act
the faculty
the object of knowledge
personified as teacher.
base
H8394 תְּבוּנָה understanding
8394 tabuwn taw-boon'
and (feminine) tbuwnah {teb-oo-naw'}; or towbunah
{to-boo-naw'}; from 995; intelligence; by implication, an
argument; by extension, caprice:--discretion, reason,
skilfulness, understanding, wisdom.
see HEBREW for 0995
תְּבוּנָה (ta.vu.nah) — understanding.
1) understanding, intelligence
1a) the act of understanding
1a1) skill
1b) the faculty of understanding
1b1) intelligence, understanding, insight
1c) the object of knowledge
1d) teacher (personification)
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
נָצַר (natsar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to watch, guard, or keep. It encompasses a range of actions including protecting, preserving, and observing, as well as concealing or keeping secret. The entries suggest both positive and negative connotations, such as guarding from danger or hiding something. The term can also refer to a watchman.
[נָצַר] vb. watch, guard, keep;—Qal
Watch, guard, keep
Guard from dangers, preserve
Guard with fidelity, keep, observe
Guard, keep secret
Keep close, blockaded
base
H5341 נָצַר watch, guard, keep . Watch, guard, keep
. Guard from dangers, preserve
. Guard with fidelity, keep, observe
. Guard, keep secret
. Keep close, blockaded
5341 natsar naw-tsar'
a primitive root; to guard, in a good sense (to protect,
maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal, etc.):--
besieged, hidden thing, keep(-er, -ing), monument, observe,
preserve(-r), subtil, watcher(-man).
נָצַר (na.tsar) — to watch.
1) to guard, watch, watch over, keep
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to watch, guard, keep
1a2) to preserve, guard from dangers
1a3) to keep, observe, guard with fidelity
1a4) to guard, keep secret
1a5) to be kept close, be blockaded
1a6) watchman (participle)
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs | Suff — Verb qal imperfect third person feminine singular · suffixHVqi3fs/Sp2ms