The Meaning of Proverbs 5:21 Explained

Proverbs 5:21

KJV: For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.

YLT: For over-against the eyes of Jehovah are the ways of each, And all his paths He is pondering.

Darby: For the ways of man are before the eyes of Jehovah, and he pondereth all his paths.

ASV: For the ways of man are before the eyes of Jehovah; And he maketh level all his paths.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For the ways  of man  [are] before  the eyes  of the LORD,  and he pondereth  all his goings. 

What does Proverbs 5:21 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 5

1  Solomon exhorts to wisdom
3  He shows the mischief of unfaithfulness and riot
15  He exhorts to contentedness, generosity, and chastity
22  The wicked are overtaken with their own sins

What do the individual words in Proverbs 5:21 mean?

for [are] before the eyes of Yahweh the ways of man and all his paths He ponders
כִּ֤י נֹ֨כַח ׀ עֵינֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה דַּרְכֵי־ אִ֑ישׁ וְֽכָל־ מַעְגְּלֹתָ֥יו מְפַלֵּֽס

נֹ֨כַח ׀  [are]  before 
Parse: Preposition
Root: נׄכַח  
Sense: be in front of adv.
עֵינֵ֣י  the  eyes 
Parse: Noun, cdc
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
יְ֭הוָה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: Jehovah—used primarily in the combination ‘Lord Jehovah’.
דַּרְכֵי־  the  ways 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
אִ֑ישׁ  of  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
וְֽכָל־  and  all 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
מַעְגְּלֹתָ֥יו  his  paths 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מַעְגָּל 
Sense: entrenchment, track.
מְפַלֵּֽס  He  ponders 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: פָּלַס 
Sense: (Piel) to weigh, make level, balance.