The Meaning of Proverbs 20:5 Explained

Proverbs 20:5

KJV: Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

YLT: Counsel in the heart of a man is deep water, And a man of understanding draweth it up.

Darby: Counsel in the heart of man is deep water, and a man of understanding draweth it out.

ASV: Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Counsel  in the heart  of man  [is like] deep  water;  but a man  of understanding  will draw it out. 

What does Proverbs 20:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 20:1-15 - Sobriety Industry Honesty
Strong drink is the greatest of all foes to human happiness. It gains an influence over men by fair promises, but when once it is entrenched, it mocks at the misery of its abject slave. It promises strength for the arm, joy for the heart, brilliance for the mind; but those fair promises are not kept, and the end is impotence, misery, and imbecility. Let each reader of these words henceforth utterly abjure it!
The sluggard is depicted throughout this book to stir us to diligent industry. After all, it is not by great gifts but by patient persistence that men succeed. Indeed, the highest genius is left behind by the careful plodder, if the one lacks and the other possesses this invaluable quality. "Diligent in business, serving the Lord."
All our life lies open to the eye of God. He is closely acquainted with the transactions of the bank, the office, the ledger, and the weights in the store. No lapse from perfect honesty escapes his notice; and for every act of deception there is an inevitable Nemesis. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 20

1  Proper Living

What do the individual words in Proverbs 20:5 mean?

[is like] water deep Counsel in the heart of man but a man of understanding will draw it out
מַ֣יִם עֲ֭מֻקִּים עֵצָ֣ה בְלֶב־ אִ֑ישׁ וְאִ֖ישׁ תְּבוּנָ֣ה יִדְלֶֽנָּה

מַ֣יִם  [is  like]  water 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
עֲ֭מֻקִּים  deep 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: עָמֹק  
Sense: deep, mysterious, depths.
עֵצָ֣ה  Counsel 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵצָה 
Sense: counsel, advice, purpose.
בְלֶב־  in  the  heart 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
אִ֑ישׁ  of  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
וְאִ֖ישׁ  but  a  man 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
תְּבוּנָ֣ה  of  understanding 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: תְּבוּנָה 
Sense: understanding, intelligence.
יִדְלֶֽנָּה  will  draw  it  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: דָּלָה 
Sense: to draw, dangle.

What are the major concepts related to Proverbs 20:5?

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