Proverbs 21:1

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

The king's heart is in the hand of Jehovah as the watercourses: {H4325} He turneth it whithersoever he will.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

פַּלְגֵי־מַ֣יִם לֶב־מֶ֭לֶךְ בְּיַד־יְהוָ֑ה עַֽל־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֖ר יַחְפֹּ֣ץ יַטֶּֽנּוּ

Transliteration

palgê-mayim lêḇ-meleḵ in-yad-YHWH upon-all-which yaḥpōṣ yaṭṭennû

Grammar Details

*palgê*: construct plural noun - streams/channels/divisions of
*mayim*: plural noun - waters
*lêḇ*: construct singular noun - heart of
*meleḵ*: singular noun - king
*yad*: construct singular noun - hand of
*YHWH*: divine name - LORD
*yaḥpōṣ*: 3rd person masculine singular imperfect - he desires/wills
*yaṭṭennû*: 3rd person masculine singular imperfect + 3rd person masculine singular suffix - he will turn/direct it

Word Meanings

*palgê*: streams/channels/divisions/rivulets
*lêḇ*: heart/mind/inner being
*yaḥpōṣ*: desires/wills/takes pleasure in
*yaṭṭennû*: turns/directs/inclines/diverts it

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Prov 16:9 : 9 A man's heart deviseth his way; But Jehovah directeth his steps.
Prov 20:24 : 24 A man's goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way?
Ezra 6:22 : 22 and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for Jehovah had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
Acts 7:10 : 10 and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
Dan 4:35 : 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
Ps 106:46 : 46 He made them also to be pitied Of all those that carried them captive.
Prov 16:1 : 1 The plans of the heart belong to man; But the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah.
Ezra 7:27-28 : 27 Blessed be Jehovah, the God of our fathers, who hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of Jehovah which is in Jerusalem; 28 and hath extended lovingkindness unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened according to the hand of Jehovah my God upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
Neh 1:11 : 11 O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who delight to fear thy name; and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was cupbearer to the king.
Ps 105:25 : 25 He turned their heart to hate his people, To deal subtly with his servants.
Neh 2:4 : 4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Ps 74:15 : 15 Thou didst cleave fountain and flood: Thou driedst up mighty rivers.
Ps 93:4 : 4 Above the voices of many waters, The mighty breakers of the sea, Jehovah on high is mighty.
Isa 44:27 : 27 that saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers;

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Prov 21:2
81%
2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the hearts.
Prov 16:9-10
2 verses
77%
9A man's heart deviseth his way; But Jehovah directeth his steps.
10A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; His mouth shall not transgress in judgment.
Eccl 8:3-4
2 verses
75%
3Be not hasty to go out of his presence; persist not in an evil thing: for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.
4For the king's word [hath] power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
Prov 16:1-3
3 verses
74%
1The plans of the heart belong to man; But the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah.
2All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the spirits.
3Commit thy works unto Jehovah, And thy purposes shall be established.
Prov 19:21
74%
21There are many devices in a man's heart; But the counsel of Jehovah, that shall stand.
Job 37:12-13
2 verses
74%
12And it is turned round about by his guidance, That they may do whatsoever he commandeth them Upon the face of the habitable world,
13Whether it be for correction, or for his land, Or for lovingkindness, that he cause it to come.
Ps 33:15
73%
15He that fashioneth the hearts of them all, That considereth all their works.
Job 23:13
72%
13But he is in one [mind], and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
Prov 16:33
72%
33The lot is cast into the lap; But the whole disposing thereof is of Jehovah.
Jer 17:9-10
2 verses
72%
9The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it?
10I, Jehovah, search the mind, I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.
Ps 22:28
71%
28For the kingdom is Jehovah's; And he is the ruler over the nations.
Ps 21:7
71%
7For the king trusteth in Jehovah; And through the lovingkindness of the Most High he shall not be moved.
Ps 135:6
71%
6Whatsoever Jehovah pleased, that hath he done, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps;
Prov 17:3
71%
3The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But Jehovah trieth the hearts.
Prov 20:24
71%
24A man's goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way?
2 Chr 30:12
71%
12Also upon Judah came the hand of God to give them one heart, to do the commandment of the king and of the princes by the word of Jehovah.
Prov 29:26
71%
26Many seek the ruler's favor; But a man's judgment [cometh] from Jehovah.
Prov 25:3
71%
3As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.
Prov 5:21
70%
21For the ways of man are before the eyes of Jehovah; And he maketh level all his paths.
Job 12:24
70%
24He taketh away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, And causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
1 Chr 29:12
70%
12Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou rulest over all; and in thy hand is power and might; and in thy hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
Job 12:15
70%
15Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; Again, he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
Prov 21:29-30
2 verses
70%
29A wicked man hardeneth his face; But as for the upright, he establisheth his ways.
30There is no wisdom nor understanding Nor counsel against Jehovah.
Dan 2:21
70%
21And he changeth the times and the seasons; he removeth kings, and setteth up kings; he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that have understanding;
Ps 107:33
70%
33He turneth rivers into a wilderness, And watersprings into a thirsty ground;
Ps 75:7-8
2 verses
70%
7But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and lifteth up another.
8For in the hand of Jehovah there is a cup, and the wine foameth; It is full of mixture, and he poureth out of the same: Surely the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall drain them, and drink them.
Ps 33:11
70%
11The counsel of Jehovah standeth fast for ever, The thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Eccl 9:1
70%
1For all this I laid to my heart, even to explore all this: that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; whether it be love or hatred, man knoweth it not; all is before them.
Prov 20:5
70%
5Counsel in the heart of man is [like] deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.
Prov 15:3
70%
3The eyes of Jehovah are in every place, Keeping watch upon the evil and the good.
Prov 19:3
69%
3The foolishness of man subverteth his way; And his heart fretteth against Jehovah.
Jas 3:4
69%
4Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither {G302} the impulse of the steersman None willeth.
Prov 16:14-15
2 verses
69%
14The wrath of a king is [as] messengers of death; But a wise man will pacify it.
15In the light of the king's countenance is life; And his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.
Dan 4:35
69%
35And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
Jer 4:9
69%
9And it shall come to pass at that day, saith Jehovah, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder.
Ps 21:1
69%
1For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. The king shall joy in thy strength, O Jehovah; And in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
Jer 10:23
69%
23O Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
Isa 32:1
69%
1Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in justice.
Ps 37:23
69%
23A man's goings are established of Jehovah; And he delighteth in his way.
Job 34:21
69%
21For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, And he seeth all his goings.
Ps 7:9
68%
9O let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish thou the righteous: For the righteous God trieth the minds and hearts.