The Meaning of Proverbs 3:16 Explained

Proverbs 3:16

KJV: Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

YLT: Length of days is in her right hand, In her left are wealth and honour.

Darby: Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand riches and honour.

ASV: Length of days is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Length  of days  [is] in her right hand;  [and] in her left hand  riches  and honour. 

What does Proverbs 3:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 3:13-26 - Wisdom's Ways Of Pleasantness
Wisdom is susceptible of cultivation. It is a mine that needs to be worked with patient toil. Compare Proverbs 3:13-15 with Job 28:18. It is comparable to a noble woman, who approaches us with full-handed beneficence, Proverbs 3:16-17. It may be described as a tree, requiring careful tendance and bearing fruit for the patient cultivator, Proverbs 3:18. And we may turn from our own little lives to see the mighty results of divine wisdom in Creation and Providence. We are made in the image of God, our minds are able to appreciate His mind, and we think over again, as Kepler said, the thoughts of God, Proverbs 3:19-20.
Learn the security of the life which is built on the eternal principles of this book. It has no fear. Its repose is unbroken by alarm. It is at peace with itself, with man, and with God. This is not the result of our calculating prudence, but because we exercise ourselves to have consciences void of offense toward God and man; and because the God of patience, of hope, and of peace is with us. See Romans 15:5; Romans 15:13; Romans 15:33. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 3

1  various exhortations
13  The gain of wisdom
27  Exhortation to goodness
33  the different state of the wicked and upright

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

Length of days [is] in her right hand in her left hand riches and honor
אֹ֣רֶךְ יָ֭מִים בִּֽימִינָ֑הּ בִּ֝שְׂמֹאולָ֗הּ עֹ֣שֶׁר וְכָבֽוֹד

אֹ֣רֶךְ  Length 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אֹרֶךְ  
Sense: length.
יָ֭מִים  of  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
בִּֽימִינָ֑הּ  [is]  in  her  right  hand 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: יָמִין  
Sense: right, right hand, right side.
בִּ֝שְׂמֹאולָ֗הּ  in  her  left  hand 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: שְׂמֹאל  
Sense: the left, the left hand, the left side.
עֹ֣שֶׁר  riches 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹשֶׁר  
Sense: wealth, riches.
וְכָבֽוֹד  and  honor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כָּבֹוד  
Sense: glory, honour, glorious, abundance.