Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
Parallel translations
- WEB Sheol and Abaddon are before Yahweh — how much more then the hearts of the children of men!
- BSB Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD—how much more the hearts of men!
- NKJV Hell and Destruction are before the Lord; So how much more the hearts of the sons of men.
- NASB Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord, How much more the hearts of mankind!
- NLT Even Death and Destruction hold no secrets from the Lord. How much more does he know the human heart!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
If even Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD, how much more do human hearts. Nothing is hidden from God.
Overview
This proverb reasons from the greater to the lesser: if the realm of the dead is fully exposed to God, surely He sees every human heart. It magnifies God's omniscience, reaching even into the most hidden places. This truth humbles us before the God who searches and knows us completely (Psalm 139:1-4).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Ps 44:21Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
- Heb 4:13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
- Ps 139:8If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
- 2 Chr 6:30Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)
- Job 26:6Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.
- Rev 2:23And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
- Rev 1:18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
- 1 Sam 16:7But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
- Jer 17:10I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
- Prov 27:20Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
- Ps 7:9Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
- John 21:17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
- John 2:24–25But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 15:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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