Proverbs 3:3
"Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:"

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee,.... Or, forsake not them, and the exercise of them; show "mercy" to fellow creatures, to sinful men, to the bodies of men, by relieving their wants; and to their souls, by pitying and praying for them, and by giving them wholesome counsel and advice: to fellow Christians, sympathize with them in their troubles, put on bowels of compassion, be tenderhearted, and forgive offences; and, in a spirit of meekness, restore backsliders, for God will have mercy, and not sacrifice. Attend to "truth"; exercise faith on the Lord; cast not away your confidence; speak truth to your neighbour and brother; and hold fast the truth

of the Gospel, and never depart from it. Though many interpreters understand this by way of promise, and as an encouragement to regard the doctrines and ordinances of Christ, rendering the words, "mercy and truth shall not forsake thee" (g); meaning the mercy and truth of God; the "mercy" of God in forgiving sin, in sympathizing under affliction, in helping in time of need, in supplying with all needful grace, and in bringing to eternal life; for the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, upon them that fear him, Psa 103:17 ; the "truth" of God, his faithfulness in performing promises, never fails; the unbelief of man cannot make it of no effect; though we believe not, he abides faithful and true to every word of his; not one shall fail, or pass away; all shall be fulfilled; see Psa 89:33 ; "all his paths are mercy and truth", and he never goes out of them, Psa 25:10 ; bind them about thy neck; as chains for ornament: not mercy and truth, just before mentioned, as may seem at first sight; but the law and commandments of wisdom, Pro 3:1 ; or the doctrines and ordinances of Christ; see Pro 1:8 ; reckon it as your greatest honour, glory, and beauty, that you steadfastly adhere to these things; nothing makes a believer look more lovely in conversation than a close regard to the truths of Christ, and a constant walking in his ordinances; write them upon the table of thine heart; do not forget them, keep them in memory, and always retain a hearty affection for them; it is the Spirit's work to write them in the heart; and when they are there written, it is the work of saints, under a divine influence, to copy them over in life, and to show by their conduct and behaviour that they are written there; see Jer 31:33 . The allusion, in both phrases, is to the directions given about the law of Moses, Deu 6:8 ; and to the writing of his law on tables of stone: and it was usual with the ancients, in later times, to write on tables of wood; Solon's laws were written on tables of wood (h); and such were the "tabellae et pugillares" of the Romans, made of box, beech, and other sorts of wood, covered with wax, on which they wrote; See Gill on Hab 2:2 ; but Solomon would have his law written on the fleshly tables of the heart, Co2 3:3 . (g) "non derelinquent te", Piscator; "non deserent te", Michaelis; so Aben Ezra and Gersom. (h) Laert, Vit. Solon. A. Gell. Noet. Attic. l. 2. c. 12.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (11 words)

H2617 חֵסֵד
Definition:

Fromchacad; kindness; by implication (towards God) piety: rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) Beauty -- favour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-)kindness, merciful (kindness), mer Fromchacad; kindness; by implication (towards God) piety: rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) Beauty -- favour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-)kindness, merciful (kindness), mer

Possible Meanings:
  • shame (semantic_range)
  • reproach (semantic_range)
H0571 אֶמֶת
Definition:

48106t.; suffixאֲמִתּוֺ,אֲמִתְּךָPsalm 91:418t.1reliability, sureness:דֶּרֶח אֱמֶתsure wayGenesis 24:48(J);שׂכראמתsure rewardProverbs 11:18;אות אמתsure tokenJoshua 2:12(J);זֶרַע אמתJeremiah 2:21.2stab 48106t.; suffixאֲמִתּוֺ,אֲמִתְּךָPsalm 91:418t.1reliability, sureness:דֶּרֶח אֱמֶתsure wayGenesis 24:48(J);שׂכראמתsure rewardProverbs 11:18;אות אמתsure tokenJoshua 2:12(J);זֶרַע אמתJeremiah 2:21.2stab

Possible Meanings:
  • firmness (semantic_range)
  • faithfulness (semantic_range)
  • stability (semantic_range)
H0408 אַל
Definition:

a.(a) with a verb, which is then always an imperfect (never an imperative), by preference in the cohortative or jussive mood, where this is in use, and may be of any person or number;Genesis 15:1and o a.(a) with a verb, which is then always an imperfect (never an imperative), by preference in the cohortative or jussive mood, where this is in use, and may be of any person or number;Genesis 15:1and o

Possible Meanings:
  • these (semantic_range)
H5800 עָזַב
Definition:

A primitive root; to loosen, i.e. Relinquish, permit, etc. -- commit self, fail, forsake, fortify, help, leave (destitute, off), refuse, X surely.Brown-Driver-BriggsI.עָזַב213verbleave, forsake, loose A primitive root; to loosen, i.e. Relinquish, permit, etc. -- commit self, fail, forsake, fortify, help, leave (destitute, off), refuse, X surely.Brown-Driver-BriggsI.עָזַב213verbleave, forsake, loose

Possible Meanings:
  • restore (semantic_range)
  • repair (semantic_range)
H7194 קָשַׁר
Definition:

to tie, physically (gird, confine, compact) or mentally (in love, league) -- bind (up), (make a) conspire(-acy, -ator), join together, knit, stronger, work (treason).NAS Exhaustive ConcordanceWord Ori to tie, physically (gird, confine, compact) or mentally (in love, league) -- bind (up), (make a) conspire(-acy, -ator), join together, knit, stronger, work (treason).NAS Exhaustive ConcordanceWord Ori

Possible Meanings:
  • conspiracy (semantic_range)
H5921 עַל
Definition:

“The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). From the opening verses, עַל marks God’s sovereignty above the chaotic deep, foreshadowing His orderly governance of the “The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). From the opening verses, עַל marks God’s sovereignty above the chaotic deep, foreshadowing His orderly governance of the

Possible Meanings:
  • upon (semantic_range)
  • on account of (semantic_range)
  • to (semantic_range)
H1621 גַּרְגְּרוֹת
Definition:

9;Proverbs 3:22,גַּרְגְרוֺתֶ֑ךָProverbs 3:3,גַּרְגְּרֹתֶ֑ךָProverbs 6:21— always in figure, instruction of parents an ornament, a chainupon neckProverbs 1:9,bind them upon thy neckProverbs 6:21; so of 9;Proverbs 3:22,גַּרְגְרוֺתֶ֑ךָProverbs 3:3,גַּרְגְּרֹתֶ֑ךָProverbs 6:21— always in figure, instruction of parents an ornament, a chainupon neckProverbs 1:9,bind them upon thy neckProverbs 6:21; so of

H3789 כָּתַב
Definition:

32+,כָּתַבְתָּJeremiah 36:6+, suffixוּכְתַבְתָּםconsecutiveDeuteronomy 6:9;Deuteronomy 11:20, etc. (Perfect 27 t.);ImperfectיִכְתֹּבIsaiah 44:5,וַיִּכְתֹּבExodus 24:4+, etc. (Imperfect 39 t.);Imperati 32+,כָּתַבְתָּJeremiah 36:6+, suffixוּכְתַבְתָּםconsecutiveDeuteronomy 6:9;Deuteronomy 11:20, etc. (Perfect 27 t.);ImperfectיִכְתֹּבIsaiah 44:5,וַיִּכְתֹּבExodus 24:4+, etc. (Imperfect 39 t.);Imperati

Possible Meanings:
  • writing (semantic_range)
H5921 עַל
Definition:

“The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). From the opening verses, עַל marks God’s sovereignty above the chaotic deep, foreshadowing His orderly governance of the “The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). From the opening verses, עַל marks God’s sovereignty above the chaotic deep, foreshadowing His orderly governance of the

Possible Meanings:
  • upon (semantic_range)
  • on account of (semantic_range)
  • to (semantic_range)
H3871 לוּח
Definition:

8; constructProverbs 3:34t.; dualלֻחֹתָ֑יִםEzekiel 27:5; pluralלוחֹת(לֻחוֺת,לֻחֹת) absoluteExodus 32:1617t.; constructDeuteronomy 4:1316t.; —1chiefly of stone tablets on which ten words were writtenEx 8; constructProverbs 3:34t.; dualלֻחֹתָ֑יִםEzekiel 27:5; pluralלוחֹת(לֻחוֺת,לֻחֹת) absoluteExodus 32:1617t.; constructDeuteronomy 4:1316t.; —1chiefly of stone tablets on which ten words were writtenEx

Possible Meanings:
  • board (semantic_range)
  • plank (semantic_range)
  • plate (semantic_range)
  • boards (semantic_range)
H3820 לֵב
Definition:

15(feminineProverbs 12:25, from influence ofנֶפֶשׁsee De Now)inner man, mind will, heart, absolute and constructלֵבGenesis 8:21239t.;לֶבֿExodus 15:815t.; suffixלִבִּיGenesis 24:45102t.;לִבְּךָExodus 9 15(feminineProverbs 12:25, from influence ofנֶפֶשׁsee De Now)inner man, mind will, heart, absolute and constructלֵבGenesis 8:21239t.;לֶבֿExodus 15:815t.; suffixלִבִּיGenesis 24:45102t.;לִבְּךָExodus 9

Possible Meanings:
  • in the midst of the sea (semantic_range)

Interlinear data not available for this verse yet.

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