Proverbs 3:18

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: And happy is every one that retaineth her.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

עֵץ־חַיִּ֣ים הִ֭יא לַמַּחֲזִיקִ֣ים בָּ֑הּ וְֽתֹמְכֶ֥יהָ מְאֻשָּֽׁר׃

Transliteration

ʿēṣ-ḥayyîm hîʾ to-the ones-maḥăzîqîm in-her and-tōməkehā məʾuššār

Grammar Details

*ʿēṣ*: noun, masculine singular construct - tree of
*ḥayyîm*: noun, masculine plural - life
*hîʾ*: pronoun, 3rd person feminine singular - she
*maḥăzîqîm*: verb, hiphil participle masculine plural - holding fast/seizing
*tōməkehā*: verb, qal participle masculine plural construct with 3rd person feminine singular suffix - those supporting her
*məʾuššār*: verb, pual participle masculine singular - blessed/made happy

Word Meanings

*ʿēṣ*: tree/wood
*ḥayyîm*: life/living
*maḥăzîqîm*: holding fast/seizing/grasping
*tōməkehā*: supporters/upholders/those who grasp
*məʾuššār*: blessed/happy/fortunate

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

🔄 Compare with

ESVNIVCSBNLTNASBNET

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Gen 2:9 : 9 And out of the ground made Jehovah God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Prov 11:30 : 30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that is wise winneth souls.
Prov 13:12 : 12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; But when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
Gen 3:22 : 22 And Jehovah God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever—
Rev 2:7 : 7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the {G3319} Paradise of God.
Rev 22:2 : 2 in the midst of the street thereof. And on this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve [manner of] fruits, yielding its fruit {G1520} {G1538} every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Prov 15:4 : 4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.

Similar Verses (AI)

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

Prov 3:13-17
5 verses
87%
13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding.
14For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, And the profit thereof than fine gold.
15She is more precious than rubies: And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her.
16Length of days is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.
17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace.
Prov 4:6-10
5 verses
76%
6Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; Love her, and she will keep thee.
7Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [Therefore] get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding.
8Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her.
9She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; A crown of beauty will she deliver to thee.
10Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; And the years of thy life shall be many.
Prov 8:34-35
2 verses
75%
34Blessed is the man that heareth me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.
35For whoso findeth me findeth life, And shall obtain favor of Jehovah.
Prov 4:13
75%
13Take fast hold of instruction; Let her not go: Keep her; For she is thy life.
Prov 4:22
74%
22For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh.
Prov 2:18-20
3 verses
73%
18For her house inclineth unto death, And her paths unto the dead;
19None that go unto her return again, Neither do they attain unto the paths of life:
20That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, And keep the paths of the righteous.
Prov 11:30
73%
30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that is wise winneth souls.
Prov 18:21-22
2 verses
73%
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
22Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, And obtaineth favor of Jehovah.
Prov 31:31
72%
31Give her of the fruit of her hands; And let her works praise her in the gates.
Prov 22:18
72%
18For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, If they be established together upon thy lips.
Prov 11:16
72%
16A gracious woman obtaineth honor; And violent men obtain riches.
Prov 8:2
72%
2On the top of high places by the way, Where the paths meet, she standeth;
Prov 19:8
72%
8He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: He that keepeth understanding shall find good.
Prov 3:2
72%
2For length of days, and years of life, And peace, will they add to thee.
Prov 31:25-26
2 verses
72%
25Strength and dignity are her clothing; And she laugheth at the time to come.
26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And the law of kindness is on her tongue.
Prov 5:18-19
2 verses
72%
18Let thy fountain be blessed; And rejoice in the wife of thy youth.
19[ As] a loving hind and a pleasant doe, Let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; And be thou ravished always with her love.
Ps 128:3
72%
3Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, In the innermost parts of thy house; Thy children like olive plants, Round about thy table.
Eccl 7:26
71%
26And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, [and] whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
Prov 16:20
71%
20He that giveth heed unto the word shall find good; And whoso trusteth in Jehovah, happy is he.
Prov 9:16
71%
16Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; And as for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,
Prov 31:28
71%
28Her children rise up, and call her blessed; Her husband [also], and he praiseth her, [saying]:
Prov 5:6
71%
6So that she findeth not the level path of life: Her ways are unstable, [and] she knoweth [it] not.
Prov 7:25
71%
25Let not thy heart decline to her ways; Go not astray in her paths.
Prov 3:22
71%
22So shall they be life unto thy soul, And grace to thy neck.
Prov 8:18
71%
18Riches and honor are with me; [Yea], durable wealth and righteousness.
Prov 3:19
70%
19Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he established the heavens.
Prov 21:21
70%
21He that followeth after righteousness and kindness Findeth life, righteousness, and honor.
Prov 9:4
70%
4Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: As for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,
Prov 2:10
70%
10For wisdom shall enter into thy heart, And knowledge shall be pleasant unto thy soul;
Prov 31:16
70%
16She considereth a field, and buyeth it; With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
Prov 14:1
70%
1Every wise woman buildeth her house; But the foolish plucketh it down with her own hands.
Prov 1:9
70%
9For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, And chains about thy neck.
Prov 3:8
69%
8It will be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones.
Prov 7:12
69%
12Now she is in the streets, now in the broad places, And lieth in wait at every corner.)