Bible Strands
Proverbs 20:18
Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The author addresses a general reader within the wisdom tradition, placing this instruction between warnings against deceitful gain and harmful gossip.
The words — תִכּ֑וֹן (ti.Kon) means it is established, and מִלְחָמָֽה (mil.cha.Mah) denotes war, anchoring the verse’s focus on deliberate preparation.
The thread — This theme of consultation before action appears in Proverbs 15:22, Proverbs 24:6, and Luke 14:31.
Why it lands — The text commands readers to establish decisions through discussion and approach conflict with verified advice rather than independent impulse.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 15:22 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
- Proverbs 24:6 Only with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.
- Luke 14:31 Or what king on his way to war with another king will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with ten thousand men the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
- Judges 1:1 After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the LORD, “Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?”
- Proverbs 11:14 For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance.
- Judges 20:18 The Israelites set out, went up to Bethel, and inquired of God, “Who of us shall go up first to fight against the Benjamites?” “Judah will be first,” the LORD replied.
- Judges 20:7 Behold, all you Israelites, give your advice and verdict here and now.”
- 2 Samuel 2:26 Then Abner called out to Joab: “Must the sword devour forever? Do you not realize that this will only end in bitterness? How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers?”
- Judges 9:29 If only this people were under my authority, I would remove Abimelech; I would say to him, ‘Muster your army and come out!’”
- Judges 20:26 Then the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel, where they sat weeping before the LORD. That day they fasted until evening and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD.