The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
Parallel translations
- WEB The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh.
- KJV The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.
- NKJV The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the Lord.
- NASB The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the Lord.
- NLT We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall.
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
Even the casting of lots, seemingly random, is decided by the Lord. It matters because nothing is truly chance; God sovereignly governs every outcome.
Overview
Closing the chapter's theme of divine sovereignty, this proverb affirms that what appears random, the lot, is in fact determined by Yahweh. God rules over all events, even those beyond human control. This assures believers that their lives rest in the hands of a sovereign God (cf. Acts 1:24-26).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Prov 18:18Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates strong opponents.
- Acts 1:26Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
- Jonah 1:7“Come!” said the sailors to one another. “Let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity that is upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.
- Prov 29:26Many seek the ruler’s favor, but a man receives justice from the LORD.
- 1 Sam 14:41–42So Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Why have You not answered Your servant this day? If the fault is with me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim; but if the fault is with the men of Israel, respond with Thummim.” And Jonathan and Saul were selected, but the people were cleared of the charge.
- Neh 11:1Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in the holy city of Jerusalem, while the remaining nine were to dwell in their own towns.
- Josh 7:14In the morning you must present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe that the LORD selects shall come forward clan by clan, and the clan that the LORD selects shall come forward family by family, and the family that the LORD selects shall come forward man by man.
- Josh 18:5and divide the land into seven portions. Judah shall remain in their territory in the south, and the house of Joseph shall remain in their territory in the north.
- Num 26:55–65Indeed, the land must be divided by lot; they shall receive their inheritance according to the names of the tribes of their fathers.
- Josh 18:10And Joshua cast lots for them in the presence of the LORD at Shiloh, where he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their divisions.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 16:33 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.