Proverbs 3:2
For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
Original Language Analysis
כִּ֤י
H3588
כִּ֤י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 8
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יָ֭מִים
of days
H3117
יָ֭מִים
of days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
3 of 8
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
חַיִּ֑ים
life
H2416
חַיִּ֑ים
life
Strong's:
H2416
Word #:
5 of 8
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
וְ֝שָׁל֗וֹם
and peace
H7965
וְ֝שָׁל֗וֹם
and peace
Strong's:
H7965
Word #:
6 of 8
safe, i.e., (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e., health, prosperity, peace
Cross References
Proverbs 4:10Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.Proverbs 9:11For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.Psalms 91:16With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.Romans 15:13Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.Psalms 119:165Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.Psalms 128:6Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.Proverbs 10:27The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.Psalms 21:4He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.Romans 5:1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:1 Timothy 4:8For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
Historical Context
The Deuteronomic covenant promised longevity and prosperity for obedience (Deuteronomy 5:33, 30:20). While these promises had national/temporal focus in the Mosaic economy, wisdom literature personalizes them as general principles: wise living tends toward flourishing. Job and Ecclesiastes later nuance this, showing that suffering can befall the righteous, yet the general principle remains valid.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you balance God's promises of blessing with the reality that godly people sometimes suffer?
- What kinds of 'long life' and 'peace' can you identify in your own life as fruits of following God's wisdom?
- How might pursuing peace (shalom) in God's way differ from pursuing comfort in worldly ways?
Analysis & Commentary
Length of days and peace are promised to those who keep God's wisdom. The Hebrew 'shalom' encompasses not merely absence of conflict but positive flourishing - health, prosperity, right relationships, spiritual wholeness. This verse teaches that obedience to divine wisdom produces qualitative and quantitative life enhancement. Reformed theology doesn't view this as prosperity gospel but recognizes God's general providence - godly living generally produces better outcomes than foolish living, though exceptions exist in our fallen world.