The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
Parallel translations
- WEB The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble.
- BSB The fear of the LORD leads to life, that one may rest content, without visitation from harm.
- NKJV The fear of the Lord leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.
- NASB The fear of the Lord leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.
- NLT Fear of the Lord leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm.
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
Reverent fear of the LORD leads to life, contentment, and security. Walking in the fear of God brings true rest.
Overview
This proverb teaches that the fear of Yahweh leads to life and satisfying contentment, so that one rests untouched by harm. It does not promise freedom from all trouble but a settled security in God for those who reverence Him. This deep rest is fulfilled in the gospel, where Christ gives life and peace, inviting the weary to find rest for their souls in Him (Matt. 11:28-29).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 23
- Matt 5:6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
- Prov 14:26–27In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
- Isa 58:10–11And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day:
- Prov 12:21There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.
- 1 Tim 4:8For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
- Heb 13:5–6Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
- Ps 90:14O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
- Phil 4:11–12Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
- Prov 10:27The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
- Mal 3:16–17Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
- Ps 103:17But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;
- Ps 85:9Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
- Ps 145:18–20The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
- Ps 33:18–19Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
- 1 Tim 6:6–9But godliness with contentment is great gain.
- Ps 34:9–11O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
- Rom 8:28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
- Mal 4:2But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
- Ps 91:16With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
- Ps 19:9The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
- Ps 25:13His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.
- 2 Tim 4:18And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
- Acts 9:31Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
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 19:23 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.