Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
Trying hard to squeeze the blog post in the midst of a very busy weekend, lol. I'm going to make it easy on myself and just look at Proverbs 16, in which we find 5 verses containing the word heart/ hearts...at least, in the 1984 edition of the NIV translation.
And we hit it right away in verse 1:
To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue. 'Heart' is the most frequently seen Hebrew word, Strong's 3820, Leb - inner man, mind will, heart, understanding.
Ok, this verse...is odd. I looked up the Hebrew for all of it, and right off discovered that we have a word in this verse that is unique...this is the only place Strong's H4633 maarak is used, although the root word from which it is derived, Strong's H6186, arak, is used several dozen times.. Maarak is noun; arak is a verb, meaning to arrange, set or put or lay in order; set in array; prepare, order, ordain, handle, furnish, esteem, equal, direct, compare. So it makes sense that the noun derived from this would be plan, counsel, arrangement,...and there is a note that indicates that Prov. 16:1 is a plural constructions, so...plans, counsels, arrangements.
My paraphrase is...The heart of man makes plans, but God has the final say. And that is absolutely a paraphrase, but it does make sense.
I should not have said I was 'making it easy on myself', lol. Moving on...
The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. -- Prov. 16:5: 'Heart' is H3820 again.
Again, an interesting verse. My first thought was that punishment is usually connected with the wicked, but here...it is the proud who are guaranteed punishment. And, in our current society, pride is not considered so terribly sinful. So I looked up the Hebrew here, too, and found that 'proud' is Strong's H1362, gaba - high, proud, haughty. I also found that 'be sure of this'...the phrase in the NIV...is actually 'hand joined in hand' in the Hebrew. Idiomatic speech? Or is it a reference to deal making...joining hands or, as we do now, shaking hands.
I dug through and came up with "All proud Hearted (are an) abomination (to) Yawheh, hand (to) hand be cut off not unpunished."
Suddenly I realized that 'hand to hand' does indicate a deal struck or an assurance that the proud hearted would be cut off and not unpunished. So that does make sense in an idiomatic way.
But it occurred to me that God is not the subject of the verb in the Hebrew..as in the NIV, which reads 'The LORD detests' (NIV); in Hebrew, the subject is the Proud... 'The proud in heart are an abomination to the LORD'. That's a pretty subtle difference, but I do think it is worth noting. I think we have a tendency to subconsciously blame God for the offense sin is to him. But I believe the nature of sin...whatever it is...is so opposite to the nature of God that it cannot come into his presence. Like...what happens if you try to bring darkness into light? It can't be done. The nature of light dispels darkness. The nature of God obliterates sin...and anything hanging on to it. And a proud heart, that refuses to heed/ submit/ consider God or his word...what hope has that heart of the necessary repentance? No wonder it it an abomination to God.
Whew. This is heavy stuff today...
Next...
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps -- Prov. 16:9; 'Heart' is H3820 again.
This is basically a repetition of the thought in the first verse...Man makes plans, but God in still in charge. Recovery after the workout, lol.
The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction. -- Prov. 16:21; once again, 'Heart' is H3820. There is a marginal reading noted in my NIV...pleasant words make a man persuasive. Seeing the notes; I'm going to go ahead and list the last verse for today as well..
A wise man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction -- Prov 16:23; heart is still H3820, and the marginal reading is ...heart guides his mouth, and makes his lips persuasive.
These two verses really say the same thing; wisdom resides in the heart and manifests in speech. The fine line between instruction and persuasion probably doesn't matter much here. One who listens to a wise person will receive the instruction and be persuaded to follow it.
A blessed Resurrection Sunday to all!
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