Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.
Parallel translations
- WEB Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.
- KJV Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
- BSB Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.
- NASB “Blessed is the person who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my doorposts.
- NLT Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home!
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
Blessed is the one who watches daily at wisdom's gates, eager to listen. Persistent, attentive seeking of wisdom brings blessing.
Overview
The image of waiting daily at the doorposts conveys eager, habitual devotion to wisdom, like a servant attending faithfully at his master's house. Blessing belongs to those who make seeking wisdom a daily discipline rather than an occasional interest. Such watchful attentiveness mirrors the believer's call to abide in Christ and meditate on his word continually (John 15:4-7).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Luke 11:28But he said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it.”
- Matt 7:24“Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock.
- Prov 3:13Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
- Acts 2:42They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.
- Luke 10:39She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
- Ps 27:4One thing I have asked of Yahweh, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in Yahweh’s house all the days of my life, to see Yahweh’s beauty, and to inquire in his temple.
- Acts 17:11–12Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
- Ps 84:10For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
- Prov 3:18She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.
- Prov 2:3–4Yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding;
- Luke 1:6They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
- Ps 92:13They are planted in Yahweh’s house. They will flourish in our God’s courts.
- Prov 1:21She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
- Jas 1:22–25But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.
- John 8:31–32Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples.
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 8:34 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.