Limitless Word
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
Proverbs 2:7 · New King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB He lays up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk in integrity;
  • KJV He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
  • BSB He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk with integrity,
  • NASB He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
  • NLT He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.

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

God stores up sound wisdom for the upright and shields those of integrity. It matters because it shows God protects and provides for the godly.

Overview

The Lord lays up wisdom as a reserve for the righteous and acts as their shield. Godly character and divine protection are joined together. This picture of God guarding His people finds its deepest fulfillment in Christ, who keeps His own securely (John 10:28).

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 15

  • Jas 3:15–17This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.
  • Prov 30:5“Every word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
  • Ps 84:11For Yahweh God is a sun and a shield. Yahweh will give grace and glory. He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly.
  • 1 Cor 3:18–19Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise.
  • 1 Cor 1:19For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing.”
  • 2 Tim 3:15–17From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus.
  • 1 Cor 1:30Because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:
  • Prov 28:18Whoever walks blamelessly is kept safe; but one with perverse ways will fall suddenly.
  • Col 2:3in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.
  • 1 Cor 2:6–7We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown; yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing.
  • Prov 14:8The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.
  • Ps 144:2my loving kindness, my fortress, my high tower, my deliverer, my shield, and he in whom I take refuge; who subdues my people under me.
  • Prov 8:14Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.
  • 1 Cor 1:24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
  • Job 28:8The proud animals have not trodden it, nor has the fierce lion passed by there.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (4)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Proverbs videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Proverbs 2:7YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ProverbsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    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 2:7 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.