Proverbs 15:11

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Proverbs 15:11 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Sheol and Abaddon are before Jehovah: How much more then the hearts of the children of men!” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Sheol and Abaddon are before Jehovah: How much more then the hearts of the children of men!
Proverbs 15:11 — American Standard Version

Context — Proverbs 15

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
11Sheol and Abaddon are before Jehovah: How much more then the hearts of the children of men!

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Hell and destruction [are] before the Lord, etc.] Or “the grave”f435, which is the pit of destruction; where bodies being put, putrefy, and are destroyed by worms: this is known by the Lord, even the grave of everyone from the beginning; the graves of Adam, Abel, Abraham; he knows where their dust lies, and will raise it up again at the last day. Hades, or the invisible state of the departed, as the Septuagint has it, is manifest before him; he knows where departed spirits are; what their condition and employment be; and so the place and state of the damned, known by the name of “hell”; and may be called “destruction”, where soul and body are destroyed by the Lord with an everlasting…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Hell-- (Psa 16:10). destruction--or, "Abaddon," the place of the destroyer. All the unseen world is open to God, much more men's hearts.”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Destruction - The place of destruction, of which men know nothing but by Divine revelation. Proverbs 15:14”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“15:11 Death and Destruction (Hebrew Sheol and Abaddon) personify the destiny of the dead. Sheol is the abode of the dead; Abaddon is a synonym for Sheol that has an added implication of punishment. • God knows all secrets (see Ps 139:1-12).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Hell: Pro 27:20; Job 26:6; Psa 139:8; Rev 1:18 the hearts: Ch2 6:30; Psa 7:9, Psa 44:21; Jer 17:10; Joh 2:24, Joh 2:25, Joh 21:17; Heb 4:13; Rev 2:23 Proverbs 15:12”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification