When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Parallel translations
- WEB When a man’s ways please Yahweh, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
- BSB When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.
- NKJV When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
- NASB When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He causes even his enemies to make peace with him.
- NLT When people’s lives please the Lord, even their enemies are at peace with them.
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
When someone's life pleases God, even enemies may be brought to peace. It matters because godly living is under God's care, who can turn hostility toward reconciliation.
Overview
This proverb expresses confidence that God superintends the lives of those who please Him, even subduing enemies. It is a general principle of God's providential favor, not an absolute promise that the faithful never face opposition. It encourages believers to pursue God-pleasing lives and to leave outcomes, including enemies, in His hands (cf. Romans 12:18-19).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Rom 8:31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
- 1 Jn 3:22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
- 2 Chr 17:10And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.
- Col 1:10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
- Jer 15:11The LORD said, Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.
- Heb 13:21Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
- Gen 33:4And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.
- Gen 32:28And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
- Col 3:20Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
- Acts 9:19–20And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
- Ps 69:31This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
- Phil 4:18But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
- Gen 32:6–7And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.
- Gen 27:41And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.
- Acts 9:1–2And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 16:7 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.