There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
Parallel translations
- WEB There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Yahweh.
- KJV There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
- ESV No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD.
- NKJV There is no wisdom or understanding Or counsel against the Lord.
- NASB There is no wisdom, no understanding, And no plan against the Lord.
- NLT No human wisdom or understanding or plan can stand against the Lord.
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
No wisdom, understanding, or counsel can stand against the Lord. It matters because God's purposes ultimately overrule all human schemes.
Overview
Every human plan and strategy is powerless to thwart God's sovereign will (Isaiah 14:27; Acts 5:38-39). The verse declares the supremacy of God over all created wisdom. It calls us to humble trust, for the Lord's counsel alone stands forever (Proverbs 19:21).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Acts 5:39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”
- Prov 19:21Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
- Jer 9:23This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches.
- Isa 14:27The LORD of Hosts has purposed, and who can thwart Him? His hand is outstretched, so who can turn it back?
- 1 Cor 3:19–20For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”
- Isa 8:9–10Huddle together, O peoples, and be shattered; pay attention, all you distant lands; prepare for battle, and be shattered; prepare for battle, and be shattered!
- Isa 46:10–11I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
- Acts 4:27–28In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed.
- Isa 7:5–7For Aram, along with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has plotted your ruin, saying:
- 1 Pet 2:8and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.
- Jonah 1:13Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea was raging against them more and more.
Resources, by level
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 21:30 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.