Proverbs 2:20-22 meaning

After uplifting the benefits of wisdom and warning against the lies of temptation, Solomon ends chapter 2 by summing up the difference between the life of the wise and the life of the foolish.

The transition from the previous section, which warns against the path of temptation, is an exhortation to walk in the way of good men.

The phrase so you will literally means “heed”, “thus,” or “because of.” It is a statement of purpose and intent. Solomon has told how wisdom will protect us from the way of evil. If we recognize this, it will spur us to walk in the way of good men. Our comprehension of the true, destructive nature of evil will also lead us to keep the paths of the righteous. We will stay on course, keeping to the way of reality. We will live according to the way things actually are. We will acknowledge God rather than trying to be God. We will forsake trying to control things we can’t control. We will not give in to perversion. Instead, we will listen in obedience and practice wisdom. Stay true to the path of righteousness. This is because we recognize reality, that evil leads to death and wisdom to life.

Solomon concludes Chapter 2 with more references to the prosperity of wisdom.

The upright will live in the land. This phrase likely has a double meaning. First, the word for land is also the word for “earth”, literally the planet. The promise being that those who are upright or blameless will live the life that is truly life— they will have discovered the key to existing successfully on this planet.

The other meaning of this phrase is a reference to God’s promises to the Old Testament fathers. God granted The Promised land to Abraham and his descendants as a perpetual possession (Genesis 15:8-21). God made this grant to Abraham as a reward for his obedience. But even though the land was granted, Israel was required to live in righteousness before God in order to enjoy the benefits of dwelling in the land (Deuteronomy 30:15-20).

So, those who walk in the way of the good will be included in blessings promised to God’s people, heirs to the promises to Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, and the rest. The blameless will remain in it, that is in the land. God had promised that if Israel would choose the path of life, they would be blessed and continue to dwell in the land.

There is a corollary to modern believers. Just as God granted righteousness to Abraham based on his faith (Acts 7:2; Genesis 15:6), so He does to believers in Jesus Christ (John 3:14-16). But obedience is necessary in order to enjoy the benefits of that great gift of eternal life. When we walk in God’s ways, the ways of wisdom, we will find the path of acknowledging reality, experiencing our best self-interest, and living the principles of God’s Kingdom. His Kingdom will be our “land,” because we are living its principles. Unlike the poor foundation of the strange woman’s house, we will live in stability. Unlike the destructive consequences of chasing passions, we will experience familial harmony and prosperity within our communities.

On the other hand, the wicked will be cut off from the land. They will be like the infamous ancestors of Solomon’s audience who missed out on the Promised Land because they did not have sufficient faith to take the land. The treacherous will be cut off from the land—they will be like orphans on this planet, lacking purpose and a home. They will be alone and confused, lacking community and the security of intimacy with God. After taking the land, a future generation of Israelites will experience exile to Babylon as a result of living unfaithfully (1 Chronicles 9:1).

All of this is within the context of a “father” teaching a “son”, beckoning the younger to acknowledge the reality of the world and to make wise decisions that align him with that reality rather than against it. Solomon is imploring his audience to hear what is at stake, how much it matters, and how significant it is.

Biblical Text

So you will walk in the way of good men
And keep to the paths of the righteous.

21 For the upright will live in the land
And the blameless will remain in it;

22 But the wicked will be cut off from the land
And the treacherous will be uprooted from it.

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Additional Resources

Book Theme

These are the proverbs of Solomon, one of the most renowned kings in the history of Israel. The word translated “proverb” is the Hebrew word “mashal.” The root of the word contains the idea of “compare”—it is translated throughout Scripture as “parable” just as often as “proverb.”

This gives us some insight into the nature of these sayings. Proverbs are not prescriptions. It is not about a formula for how to manipulate circumstances and bend them to our will. That might be wishful thinking, but doesn’t work in reality. The proverbs are, in a sense, “comparing” our human perceptions to the reality of God’s world; trying to connect the two by providing principles that shape our perspective and inform our choices such that we live constructively—that is to say, wisely.

Like parables, the proverbs are meant to guide us “to wisdom”, that is, into a way of living. A way of thinking and perceiving. It is about molding and shaping our perceptions, values, and character into something that is consistently in tune with God, not just as a rule-follower but as someone who understands and practices the essence of the divine. One who sees the world through God’s eyes, and acts accordingly.

Ecclesiastes might be thought of as a philosophical foundation for wisdom. It shows the way to properly view the many aspects of life we cannot control, the “hebel” or vaporous nature of all that surrounds us. The main thing Ecclesiastes shows us is the importance of choosing to trust God, and make good choices based on that trust.

Proverbs will reiterate the philosophical foundations of Ecclesiastes, then zoom in and expand upon the practical application of trusting God and choosing a true perspective within certain areas of life. Proverbs leads us to choose a true perspective in all areas of life, and creates a foundation from which we can choose actions that are constructive, beneficial, and fulfilling.

There are only three things we control in life: who we trust, our perspective, and what we do—our actions. Ecclesiastes makes this reality abundantly clear. Trying to control what we cannot leads to complete futility. Trusting God, however, provides a foundation for constructive living. Proverbs teaches us how best to steward the choices we have—how to trust God, how to choose His perspective, and the key actions to take that lead us to the path of wisdom.

Chapter Context

Chapter 2 is an extension of Solomon’s introduction to The Book of Proverbs. In it, he continues to establish the intrinsic value of wisdom. Wisdom is the key to living life well. The opposing force to wisdom is evil. The destructive power of wickedness undermines reality and truth (the pillars of wisdom). Foolishness is the first step toward wickedness, the gateway into evil.

Chapter 2 is a poem in two parts. The first part focuses on the benefits of wisdom and the second on the dangers of wickedness, with a summary conclusion in the final two verses.

Solomon continues to explore the paradox of pursuing wisdom. The knowledge of how to live wisely begins with admitting we are incapable of knowing reality apart from faith. Without faith, the “hebel” (the vaporous reality Solomon speaks of in Ecclesiastes) cannot be made sense of. All efforts to do so will lead to futility.

The resolution of this paradox requires letting go of the illusion that we can gain comprehensive understanding on our own. We must receive wisdom solely as a gift from God. It is a gift received by faith. Yet, once we receive wisdom, we must be good stewards of it, which requires making good choices. In the latter vein, Solomon calls us to take ownership over implementing the principles of wisdom in our lives. To act on the perspectives we are urged to believe, and make good choices. Wisdom comes from a pattern of consistently good choices, just like walking a path requires a series of effective steps.

The way (or path) of wisdom is the alignment of our single, significant life with the cosmic, eternal design of all things. Wickedness is not a natural adversary, an equal but negative force; it is simply a perversion. Evil cannot create; it can only derail the created order. And it tries to do that very thing insistently by preying upon our thoughts and perceptions, leading to self-destructive choices.

Clinging to wisdom is a process of receiving truth from God and deciding to steward it intentionally, rather than giving in to the seductions of wickedness and the falsity of a perverted course.

Proverbs 2:20-22 meaning

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Additional Resources

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The Bible Project - Proverbs Summary

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