Proverbs 20 · Verse 5

Proverbs 20:5

Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

Proverbs 20:5, King James Version

Proverbs 20:5 in other translations

BSB	The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
WEB	Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
ASV	Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.
YLT	Counsel in the heart of a man is deep water, And a man of understanding draweth it up.
DARBY	Counsel in the heart of man is deep water, and a man of understanding draweth it out.
BBE	The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.
Webster	Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

What does Proverbs 20:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

5. Counsel ... water--that is, deeply hidden (Pr 18:4; Psa 13:2). The wise can discern well.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 5 Counsel in the heart of man - Men of the deepest and most comprehensive minds are rarely apt, unsolicited, to join in any discourse, in which they might appear even to the greatest advantage; but a man of understanding will elicit this, by questions framed for the purpose, and thus pump up the salubrious waters from the deep and capacious well. The metaphor is fine and expressive.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

Though many capable of giving wise counsel are silent, yet something may be drawn from them, which will reward those who obtain it.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 20:5 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

מַ֣יִםMa.yim[is] waterH4325

עֲ֭מֻקִּים'A.mu.kimdeepH6013

עֵצָ֣ה'e.Tzaha planH6098

בְלֶב\־ve.lev-in [the] heart ofH3820

אִ֑ישׁ'Isha personH376

וְאִ֖ישׁve.'Ishand a person ofH376

תְּבוּנָ֣הte.vu.NahunderstandingH8394

יִדְלֶֽנָּה\׃yid.Le.nahhe draws out itH1802

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 20:5

Proverbs 18:4
The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
1 Corinthians 2:11
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Psalms 64:6
They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

18:4; Ps 64:6; 1Co 2:11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Proverbs 20:4
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Proverbs 20:5
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Proverbs 20:6
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

Read all of Proverbs 20

Proverbs 20:5 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Como aguas profundas es el consejo en el corazón del hombre: mas el hombre entendido lo alcanzará.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Le conseil dans le cœur d’un homme est une eau profonde, et l’homme intelligent y puise.
German Elberfelder 1871	Tiefes Wasser ist der Ratschluß im Herzen des Mannes, aber ein verständiger Mann schöpft ihn heraus.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Sicut aqua profunda, sic consilium in corde viri; sed homo sapiens exhauriet illud.