Proverbs 3 · Verse 16

Proverbs 3:16

Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
Proverbs 3:16, King James Version

Proverbs 3:16 in other translations

BSBLong life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
WEBLength of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.
ASVLength of days is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.
YLTLength of days is in her right hand, In her left are wealth and honour.
DARBYLength of days is in her right hand; in her left hand riches and honour.
BBELong life is in her right hand, and in her left are wealth and honour.
WebsterLength of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honor.

What does Proverbs 3:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 3:16-17
16-17. Wisdom personified as bringing the best blessings (compare Mt 6:33; 1Ti 4:8).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 Length of days is in her right hand - A wicked man shortens his days by excesses; a righteous man prolongs his by temperance. In her left hand riches and honor - That is, her hands are full of the choicest benefits. There is nothing to be understood here by the right hand in preference to the left.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 3:13-20

No precious jewels or earthly treasures are worthy to be compared with true wisdom, whether the concerns of time or eternity be considered. We must make wisdom our business; we must venture all in it, and be willing to part with all for it. This Wisdom is the Lord Jesus Christ and his salvation, sought and obtained by faith and prayer. Were it not for unbelief, remaining sinfulness, and carelessness, we should find…

Read the full comment on Proverbs 3:13-20 →

Proverbs 3:16 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.

אֹ֣רֶךְ'O.rekhlength ofH753
יָ֭מִיםYa.mimdaysH3117
בִּֽימִינָ֑הּbi.mi.Nah[is] in right [hand] herH3225
בִּ֝שְׂמֹאולָ֗הּbis.mo.Lah[are] in left [hand] herH8040
עֹ֣שֶׁר'O.sherwealthH6239
וְכָבֽוֹד\׃ve.kha.Vodand honorH3519

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

Cross references for Proverbs 3:16

  • Proverbs 3:2

    For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

  • 2 Corinthians 6:10

    As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

  • Proverbs 22:4

    By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.

  • 1 Kings 3:13

    And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

  • 1 Timothy 4:8

    For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

  • Mark 10:30

    But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

  • Proverbs 8:18-21

    Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:21-23

    Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

  • Psalms 21:4

    He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.

  • Proverbs 4:6-10

    Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. …

  • Psalms 71:9

    Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Length.
2; 4:10; Ps 21:4; 71:9; 1Ti 4:8
and.
4:6-9; 8:18-21; 1Ki 3:13; Mr 10:30; 1Co 3:21-23; 2Co 6:10

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

Context

  • Proverbs 3:15

    She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

  • Proverbs 3:16

    Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

  • Proverbs 3:17

    Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

Read all of Proverbs 3

Proverbs 3:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Largura de días está en su mano derecha; en su izquierda riquezas y honra.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
longueur de jours est dans sa droite, dans sa gauche richesse et honneur;
German
Elberfelder 1871
Länge des Lebens ist in ihrer Rechten, in ihrer Linken Reichtum und Ehre.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Longitudo dierum in dextera ejus, et in sinistra illius divitiæ et gloria.