Bible Strands
Proverbs 3:7
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — A father instructs his son within the extended address of Proverbs 1–9, positioned between the command to acknowledge Yahweh in all ways (3:6) and the promise of bodily healing (3:8).
The words — חָכָם (cha.Kham, "wise") is the same root as the book's title-word חָכְמָה (chokhmah, "wisdom"); the verse warns against a self-referential version of the very thing it teaches. יְרָ֥א (ye.Ra', "fear") is the positive counterweight — reverence directed outward rather than inward.
The thread — Job 28:28 defines the fear of the Lord as wisdom and turning from evil as understanding; Proverbs 26:12 repeats the "wise in his own eyes" phrase with a sharper verdict.
Why it lands — It asks the reader to stop treating their own judgment as the final authority and to submit to a standard that is not self-generated.
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
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
Cross-references
- Job 28:28 And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
- Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited.
- Proverbs 26:12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
- Proverbs 16:6 By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.
- Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And this man was blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
- Psalms 34:11 Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
- Isaiah 5:21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.
- Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.
- Romans 11:25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.