A man's own way looks right to him, but the LORD applies a true measure to the heart he would prefer to evaluate himself.
Solomon turns next to the gap between human self-assessment and God’s judgment in Proverbs 21:2: Every man's way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts (v. 2). The verse is a near-twin of Proverbs 16:2 andProverbs 16:25.
Self-justification is the default state of the human heart. Almost no one looks at their own conduct and calls it wrong. The LORD does not work from the man's self-assessment; He weighs the hearts. The verb is the same one used for the merchant's scale—the LORD applies a true measure to what the man would prefer to evaluate himself.
This is a sobering recognition for the student of Proverbs and a useful one. It guards him from the smug certainty that his way is right merely because it feels that way.
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Proverbs 21:2 meaning
Solomon turns next to the gap between human self-assessment and God’s judgment in Proverbs 21:2: Every man's way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts (v. 2). The verse is a near-twin of Proverbs 16:2 and Proverbs 16:25.
Self-justification is the default state of the human heart. Almost no one looks at their own conduct and calls it wrong. The LORD does not work from the man's self-assessment; He weighs the hearts. The verb is the same one used for the merchant's scale—the LORD applies a true measure to what the man would prefer to evaluate himself.
This is a sobering recognition for the student of Proverbs and a useful one. It guards him from the smug certainty that his way is right merely because it feels that way.