Proverbs 3:22

Authorized King James Version

So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְיִֽהְי֣וּ
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#2
חַיִּ֣ים
So shall they be life
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
#3
לְנַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ
unto thy soul
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
#4
וְ֝חֵ֗ן
and grace
graciousness, i.e., subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty)
#5
לְגַרְגְּרֹתֶֽיךָ׃
to thy neck
the throat (as used in rumination)

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing grace relates to the doctrine of soteriology and God's unmerited favor in salvation and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Proverbs Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes grace in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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