Bible Strands
Proverbs 21:30
There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — A free-standing wisdom proverb with no named speaker, audience, or occasion. It is bracketed by two proverbs (21:29, 21:31) that both contrast human effort with divine sovereignty.
The words — לְנֶגֶד (le.neged, "before/against") is the operative preposition: human wisdom does not merely fail, it cannot stand in opposition to Yahweh. The triple negation (no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel) exhausts the categories of human intellectual capacity.
The thread — Proverbs 19:21 states the same principle in positive form: many plans in a man's heart, but the purpose of the LORD prevails. Acts 5:39 and Jeremiah 9:23 echo the subordination of human agency and boasting to God's will.
Why it lands — It removes the reader from the position of the one who thinks their way out of a situation God has already decided. The demand is to stop treating intellect as a weapon against God.
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
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.
Cross-references
- Acts 5:39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”
- Proverbs 19:21 Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
- Jeremiah 9:23 This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches.
- Isaiah 14:27 The LORD of Hosts has purposed, and who can thwart Him? His hand is outstretched, so who can turn it back?
- 1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”
- Isaiah 8:9 Huddle together, O peoples, and be shattered; pay attention, all you distant lands; prepare for battle, and be shattered; prepare for battle, and be shattered!
- Isaiah 46:10 I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
- Acts 4:27 In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed.
- Isaiah 7:5 For Aram, along with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has plotted your ruin, saying:
- 1 Peter 2:8 and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.