Proverbs 4:21 — Word Study
WLCאַל־ יַלִּ֥יזוּ מֵעֵינֶ֑יךָ שָׁ֝מְרֵ֗ם בְּת֣וֹךְ לְבָבֶֽךָ׃
BSADo notʼal [let them depart] loselûwz▸ sight of themʻayin keep themshâmar [preserve, attend to, in the midst of, deep within] withintâvek your heartlêbâb [innermost being, mind and emotions]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אַל־ | do not | Particle |
| יַלִּ֥יזוּ | let them depart | Verb, Hiphil, imperfect third person masculine plural |
| מֵעֵינֶ֑יךָ | from eyes your | Preposition, noun common feminine dual construct, suffix |
| שָׁ֝מְרֵ֗ם | keep them | Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular, suffix |
| בְּת֣וֹךְ | in [the] midst of | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| לְבָבֶֽךָ׃ | heart your | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart. |
| KJV | Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. |
| ASV | Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart. |
| YLT | Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart. |
| WEB | Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart. |
| BBE | Let them not go from your eyes; keep them deep in your heart. |
The translations agree on the essential meaning, focusing on the importance of keeping wisdom close.
The sentence is structured with a main command followed by supporting actions, emphasizing the importance of keeping wisdom close.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbלוּז
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 4:21
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 — A Father's Instruction on Wisdomgenerated
Proverbs 4:21 is part of a larger discourse where a father instructs his son to pay attention to wisdom and understanding. The surrounding verses emphasize the significance of adhering to wise teachings, highlighting their life-giving properties and the necessity of guarding one’s heart, as seen in Proverbs 4:23.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 3:3–21 | Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. |
| 2 | Proverbs 2:1 | My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you, |
| 3 | Psalm 40:8 | I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שָׁ֝מְרֵ֗ם, Sham.Remgenerated
The verb שָׁמַר (shamar) means to keep, guard, or observe. It emphasizes the action of protecting something valuable, in this case, wisdom. The imperative form indicates a strong command to actively watch over these teachings.
This word encompasses a range of actions from physically guarding to morally observing obligations, reflecting a deep commitment to wisdom. The parsing as a second person masculine singular indicates that the instruction is directed specifically at the son.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is rendered similarly across translations, with all versions emphasizing the need to keep wisdom close.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse is straightforward, with one main command: שָׁ֝מְרֵ֗ם, keep them. This command is supported by a prohibition, אַל־ יַלִּ֥יזוּ, do not let them depart, which sets the tone for the importance of the action.
The word order emphasizes the imperative nature of keeping wisdom, as it follows directly after the prohibition, creating a clear directive.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates שָׁ֝מְרֵ֗ם as αὐτὰς, indicating a direct correspondence with the Hebrew meaning of keeping or guarding. This choice maintains the focus on the action of preserving wisdom.
The Greek word ἐκλίπωσίν for יַלִּ֥יזוּ suggests a similar sense of departure, aligning with the Hebrew's emphasis on not straying from wisdom.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 4:21 tells us not to lose sight of wisdom and to keep it deep within our hearts. This instruction emphasizes the importance of guarding wisdom as a vital part of our lives.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Keeping wisdom in your heart means to internalize and cherish wise teachings, allowing them to guide your thoughts and actions.
Not letting wisdom depart from our eyes ensures that we remain focused on what is right and true, preventing us from straying into folly.
You can guard wisdom by regularly reflecting on wise teachings, practicing them in daily life, and surrounding yourself with those who value wisdom.
Losing sight of wisdom can lead to poor decisions and a lack of direction in life, as wisdom provides guidance and clarity.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I seen the importance of wisdom in my own life?
- How can I actively keep wisdom in my heart and mind?
- What practices can help me guard my heart against distractions?
- Who can I turn to for guidance when I feel lost or uncertain?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 4:21 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleLet them not depart from thine eyes,.... Commit them to writing, frequently read them over; let them be always in sight, as a rule and directory to steer the course of life by.
Read John Gill on Proverbs 4 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryLet them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 4 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHeartily love them, and stedfastly retain them,
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 4 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 4:21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.Ver. 21. Let them not depart.] In the midst of thy heart.] As in a safe repository, a ready repertory.
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 4 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 21. Keep them in the midst of thine heart.] Let them be wrapped up in the very centre of thy affections; that they may give spring and energy to every desire, word, and wish.
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 4 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible21. In the midst of thine heart — In the very centre of thy affections or mind.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 4 →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
Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart.
Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
Do not let them depart from your sight, guard them within your heart;
Tyndale line
Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart.
Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
Let them not depart from thy eyes; keep them in the midst of thy heart.
Let them not depart from thine eyes, but keepe them in the middes of thine heart.
Strictly literal
Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thy heart.
Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart.
Do not let them turn aside from your eyes, || Preserve them in the midst of your heart.
Let them not slip away from thy eyes: guard them in the midst of thy heart.
Do not let them turn away from your eyes; keep them in your heart.
From the Latin
Let them not depart from thy eyes, keep them in the midst of thy heart:
Simplified
Don't lose sight of them; think about them deeply,
Let them not go from your eyes; keep them deep in your heart.
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 agree closely in wording, with all six words in the Hebrew matched in the Greek translation. This alignment indicates a consistent understanding of the verse across these textual traditions.
אַל־ יַלִּ֥יזוּ מֵעֵינֶ֑יךָ שָׁ֝מְרֵ֗ם בְּת֣וֹךְ לְבָבֶֽךָ׃
6 of the 6 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 4:21
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.
אַל (al) is a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'no,' often used to express a wish or prohibition rather than an objective fact. It can also function as a noun meaning 'nothing.' The lexicons highlight its use in various contexts, including deprecative forms, but do not show significant disagreement.
אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition
base
H408 אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition
408 'al al
a negative particle (akin to 3808); not (the qualified
negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun,
nothing:--nay, neither, + never, no ,nor, not, nothing
(worth), rather than.
see HEBREW for 03808
אַל (al) — not.
1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)
1a) do not, let not (with a verb)
1b) let there not be (with a verb understood)
1c) not, no (with substantive)
1d) nothing (as substantive)
Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
Part — ParticleHTn
לוּז (luwz) is a Hebrew verb meaning to turn aside or depart. It can describe both a literal departure and a figurative sense of being devious or perverse. The word appears primarily in poetic contexts, often emphasizing the importance of not straying from wisdom or guidance.
[לוּז] vb. (poet., mostly WsdLt) turn aside, depart
Qal let them not (i.e. sound wisdom) depart from thine eyes
Niph. fig., devious, crooked
Hiph. let them [my words] not depart from thine eyes (strictly, let them not practice, exhibit, deviation)
base
H3868 [לוּז] (poet., mostly WsdLt) turn aside, depart .let them not (i.e. sound wisdom) depart from thine eyes
. fig., devious, crooked
. let them [my words] not depart from thine eyes (strictly, let them not practice, exhibit, deviation)
3868 luwz looz
a primitive root; to turn aside (compare 3867, 3874 and
3885), i.e. (literally) to depart, (figuratively) be
perverse:--depart, froward, perverse(-ness).
see HEBREW for 03867
see HEBREW for 03874
see HEBREW for 03885
לוּז (luz) — be devious.
1) to depart, turn aside
1a) (Qal) to depart
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to go wrong, go crooked
1b2) devious, perverse (participle)
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to be lost from view
1c2) to become devious
V-Hiphil-Juss-3mp — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVhi3mp
The Hebrew word עַ֫יִן (*'ayin*) means 'eye' and can refer to both the physical organ and its figurative uses, such as mental qualities and desires. It also denotes a 'spring' or 'fountain' of water. The entries highlight various phrases and contexts, including appearances and expressions of emotion, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
עַ֫יִן 859 n.f. eye
lit. as physical organ
eyes as showing mental qualities
desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes
Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states
Transferred mngs.:
visible surface of earth
appearance
gleam, sparkle
Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead
base
עַ֫יִן n.f. spring (of water). Particular springs are:
ע׳ חֲרֹר Ju 7:1
ע׳ הַקּוֹרֵא (partridge-spring) Ju 15:19
ע׳ רֹגֵל near Jerus.
ע׳ הַתַּנִּין (dragon-spring)
base
H5869a עַ֫יִן eye . lit. as physical organ
. . eyes as showing mental qualities
. desire of the eyes, abominations of the eyes
. Fig. of mental and physical faculties, acts and states
. Transferred mngs.: . visible surface of earth
. appearance
. gleam, sparkle
. Other phrases are: an eye for an eye; eye to eye; in the presence of, in full view of; of business transaction; on the forehead
H5869b עַ֫יִן spring (of water)
5869 `ayin ah'-yin
probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or
figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the
landscape):--affliction, outward appearance, + before, +
think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, +
displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour,
fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble,
knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please,
presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, +
think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye.
: eye
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain (Gate).
§ spring, fountain
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — Fountain of.
§ spring, fountain
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: seeing.
: seeing
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: appearance.
: appearance
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: before(the eyes).
: before(the_eyes)
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
עַ֫יִן (a.yin) — eye: sin.
: sin
1) eye
1a) eye
1a1) of physical eye
1a2) as showing mental qualities
Prep | N-cd | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine dual construct · suffixHR/Ncfdc/Sp2ms
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-Impv-2ms | Suff — Verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffixHVqv2ms/Sp3mp
תָּ֫וֶךְ (tavek) means 'midst' or 'middle,' indicating a central position or location. It can also imply being 'among' or 'between' things, particularly in contexts involving separation or division. The term appears in various forms, such as 'into' or 'through,' especially after verbs of motion.
תָּ֫וֶךְ 416 subst. midst
base
H8432 תָּ֫וֶךְ subst. midst
8432 tavek taw'-vek
from an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. (by
implication) the centre:--among(-st), X between, half, X
(there- ,where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among),
X out (of), X through, X with(-in).
תָּ֫וֶךְ (ta.vekh) — midst.
1) midst, middle
1a) midst, middle
1b) into, through (after verbs of motion)
1c) among (of a number of persons)
1d) between (of things arranged by twos)
1e) from among (as to take or separate etc)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
לֵבָב (lebab) refers to the inner man, encompassing the mind, will, and heart. It highlights aspects like emotions, moral character, and conscience, often contrasting the inner self with the outer. The term is used primarily for humans and can also denote courage and appetites.
לֵבָב 251 n.m. inner man, mind, will, heart
seldom of things in the midst of the seas
usu. of men
the inner man in contrast with the outer
the inner man, indef. the soul, comprehending mind, affections and will
specific ref. to mind
spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions, determinations of the will
spec. ref. to conscience
spec. ref. to moral character
= the man himself
spec. as seat of appetites
spec. of seat of the emotions and passions
seat of courage
base
H3824 לֵבָב inner man, mind, will, heart . seldom of things in the midst of the seas
. usu. of men . the inner man in contrast with the outer
. the inner man, indef. the soul, comprehending mind, affections and will
. specific ref. to mind
. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions, determinations of the will
. spec. ref. to conscience
. spec. ref. to moral character
. = the man himself
. spec. as seat of appetites
. spec. of seat of the emotions and passions
. seat of courage
3824 lebab lay-bawb'
from 3823; the heart (as the most interior organ); used also
like 3820:--+ bethink themselves, breast, comfortably,
courage, ((faint), (tender-)heart((-ed)), midst, mind, X
unawares, understanding.
see HEBREW for 03823
see HEBREW for 03820
לֵבָב (le.vav) — heart.
1) inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding
1a) inner part, midst
1a1) midst (of things)
1a2) heart (of man)
1a3) soul, heart (of man)
1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory
1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)
1a6) conscience
1a7) heart (of moral character)
1a8) as seat of appetites
1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage
Aramaic equivalent: le.vav (לְבַב "heart" H3825)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp2ms