When a man’s ways please Yahweh, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Parallel translations
- KJV When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh 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.
- ESV When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be 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 quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- 1 Jn 3:22and whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.
- 2 Chr 17:10The fear of Yahweh fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.
- Col 1:10that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
- Jer 15:11Yahweh said, “Most certainly I will strengthen you for good. Most certainly I will cause the enemy to make supplication to you in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.
- Heb 13:21make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
- Gen 33:4Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, fell on his neck, kissed him, and they wept.
- Gen 32:28He said, “Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
- Col 3:20Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.
- Acts 9:19–20He took food and was strengthened. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus.
- Ps 69:31It will please Yahweh better than an ox, or a bull that has horns and hoofs.
- Phil 4:18But I have all things, and abound. I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, a sweet-smelling fragrance, an acceptable and well-pleasing sacrifice to God.
- Gen 32:6–7The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau. Not only that, but he comes to meet you, and four hundred men with him.”
- Gen 27:41Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him. Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand. Then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
- Acts 9:1–2But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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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.