The Meaning of Proverbs 16:3 Explained

Proverbs 16:3

KJV: Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

YLT: Roll unto Jehovah thy works, And established are thy purposes,

Darby: Commit thy works unto Jehovah, and thy thoughts shall be established.

ASV: Commit thy works unto Jehovah, And thy purposes shall be established.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Commit  thy works  unto the LORD,  and thy thoughts  shall be established. 

What does Proverbs 16:3 Mean?

Verse Meaning

When we cast (lit. roll) our cares on God ( 1 Peter 5:7), He will arrange our plans. The AV and RV have "thoughts" for "plans," but the idea is the same. This proverb stresses the importance of depending on the Lord.
"The admonition commit to (gol "el, lit. "roll to/upon"; cf. Genesis 29:3; Genesis 29:8; Genesis 29:10; Psalm 22:8 9], Psalm 37:5) connotes a sense of finality; roll it unto the LORD and leave it there." [1]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 16

1  The Plans of the heart

What do the individual words in Proverbs 16:3 mean?

Commit to Yahweh your works and will be established your thoughts
גֹּ֣ל אֶל־ יְהוָ֣ה מַעֲשֶׂ֑יךָ וְ֝יִכֹּ֗נוּ מַחְשְׁבֹתֶֽיךָ

גֹּ֣ל  Commit 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: גָּלַל 
Sense: to roll, roll away, roll down, roll together.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מַעֲשֶׂ֑יךָ  your  works 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: מַעֲשֶׂה  
Sense: deed, work.
וְ֝יִכֹּ֗נוּ  and  will  be  established 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: כּוּן 
Sense: to be firm, be stable, be established.
מַחְשְׁבֹתֶֽיךָ  your  thoughts 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: מַחֲשָׁבָה  
Sense: thought, device.