He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
Parallel translations
- WEB He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die.
- BSB He who keeps a commandment preserves his soul, but he who is careless in his ways will die.
- NKJV He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of his ways will die.
- NASB One who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But one who is careless of conduct will die.
- NLT Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death.
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
Keeping God's commandment guards one's life, but carelessness leads to death. Obedience is the path of life.
Overview
This proverb teaches that the one who keeps the commandment keeps his own soul, while the one who despises God's ways will die. It binds obedience to life and contempt for God's instruction to destruction. The principle finds its fulfillment in the gospel, where eternal life comes through Christ, who perfectly kept God's law and gives life to all who trust and follow Him (John 14:21).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 23
- Luke 10:28And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
- Prov 13:13Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
- 1 Jn 5:3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
- Luke 11:28But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
- Prov 16:17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
- Prov 21:23Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
- Matt 16:26For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
- Rev 22:14Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
- Prov 29:18Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
- Eccl 8:5Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment.
- 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.
- Prov 3:1My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
- 1 Cor 7:19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
- Prov 22:5Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
- John 15:10–14If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
- Eccl 12:13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
- Ezek 33:5He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
- Jer 7:23But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
- Prov 15:32He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
- John 14:21–23He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
- 1 Jn 2:3–4And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
- John 14:15If ye love me, keep my commandments.
- Ps 103:18To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
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 19:16 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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