Proverbs 22:3
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Original Language Analysis
רָאָ֣ה
man foreseeth
H7200
רָאָ֣ה
man foreseeth
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
2 of 7
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
וְיִסְתָּ֑ר
and hideth
H5641
וְיִסְתָּ֑ר
and hideth
Strong's:
H5641
Word #:
4 of 7
to hide (by covering), literally or figuratively
Cross References
Proverbs 27:12A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.Proverbs 14:16A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.Proverbs 29:1He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.Hebrews 11:7By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.Proverbs 7:7And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,Hebrews 6:18That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Historical Context
In ancient times, failure to prepare for known dangers (approaching armies, storms, wild animals) could be fatal. Prudence distinguished the wise from the foolish and often meant the difference between survival and death.
Questions for Reflection
- Do you exercise prudent foresight in financial, relational, and spiritual matters?
- In what areas might you be 'simple,' ignoring warning signs and heading toward punishment?
- How do you balance trusting God's providence with exercising personal prudence?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The 'prudent' (Hebrew 'arum'—shrewd, sensible) foresees danger and hides, while the 'simple' (Hebrew 'pethi'—naive) pass on and are punished. Wisdom involves anticipating consequences and taking preventive action. The simple lack foresight and suffer accordingly. Reformed theology values prudence as a virtue—using God-given reason to assess risks and act accordingly. This isn't fatalism but stewardship. While trusting God's sovereignty, we're responsible to exercise wisdom in avoiding foreseeable harm.