Bible Strands
Proverbs 22:12
The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge, but He frustrates the words of the faithless.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The wisdom writer addresses a learner in the book of Proverbs, positioning this declaration between a promise of royal favor for integrity and a rebuke of cowardly excuses. The words — נָצְרוּ (Na.tze.ru) means they preserve or keep watch, while יְסַלֵּף (ye.sa.lef) means he subverts or frustrates. The thread — The motif of divine oversight appears in 2 Chronicles 16:9, where Yahweh’s eyes roam the earth to strengthen the faithful, while 2 Timothy 3:8 and Acts 13:8 record human opposition to truth that ultimately fails. Why it lands — The text states that God protects genuine understanding and defeats deceptive speech, demanding the reader choose integrity over treachery and trust divine oversight rather than human manipulation.
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
The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
Cross-references
- 2 Timothy 3:8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and disqualified from the faith.
- 2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”
- Acts 13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.
- Job 5:12 He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success.
- Acts 12:23 Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival.
- Isaiah 59:19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD where the sun sets, and His glory where it rises. For He will come like a raging flood, driven by the breath of the LORD.
- Matthew 16:16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
- 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.”
- Acts 8:9 Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great,