Meaning, commentary and cross references
Proverbs 21:1
“The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
he turns it wherever he will.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
NIV · New International Version
In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.
WEB · World English Bible
The king’s heart is in the LORD’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
What does Proverbs 21:1 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Proverbs 21:1
The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water,.... The heart of every king, and all that is in it, his thoughts, counsels, purposes, and designs; the hearts of bad kings, as Pharaoh, whom the Lord hardened and softened at pleasure; the antichristian kings, into whose hearts he put it to give their kingdoms to the beast, Revelation 17:17; the hearts of good kings, as David, Solomon, Cyrus, and others: and if the hearts of kings are in the hands of the Lord, which are full of things of the greatest importance with respect to the government of the world; and which are generally more untractable and unmanageable; and who are more resolute and positive, and will have their…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Proverbs 21:1
Note, 1. Even the hearts of men are in God's hand, and not only their goings, as he had said, Pro 20:24. God can change men's minds, can, by a powerful insensible operation under their spirits, turn them from that which they seemed most intent upon, and incline them to that which they seemed most averse to, as the husbandman, by canals and gutters, turns the water through his grounds as he pleases, which does not alter the nature of the water, nor put any force upon it, any more than God's providence does upon the native freedom of man's will, but directs the course of it to serve his own purpose. 2. Even kings' hearts are so, notwithstanding their powers and prerogatives, as much as the…
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Proverbs 21:1–4 (WEB)
1The king’s heart is in the LORD’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires. 2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts. 3To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. 4A high look and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
Cross references
- Proverbs 16:9
A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.
- Ezra 6:22
and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy; because the LORD had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of God, the God of Israel’s house.
- Proverbs 20:24
A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
- Acts 7:10
and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
- Proverbs 16:1
The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
- Ezra 7:27–28
Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the LORD’s house which is in Jerusalem;
- Daniel 4:35
All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and no one can stop his hand, or ask him, “What are you doing?”
- Psalms 106:46