Proverbs 21:30

“[There is] no wisdom nor understanding, nor counsel against the Lord.] No human schemes whatever, formed with the greatest wisdom and prudence, can ever prevail against God, or set aside or hinder the execution of any design of his; nothing that is pointed against his church, his cause, and interest, his truths and ordinances, in the issue shall succeed; all that are found fighters against him shall not prosper, let them be men of ever so much sagacity and wisdom; though there may be ever so many devices in a man’s heart, and these ever so well planned, they shall never defeat the counsel of the Lord; see (<201921>Proverbs 19:21). The Targum is, “there is no wisdom, etc. as God’s;” and so…”

“Men's best devices and reliances are vain compared with God's, or without His aid (Pro 19:21; Psa 20:7; Psa 33:17). Next: Proverbs Chapter 22”

“Two companion proverbs. Nothing avails against, nothing without, God. The horse is the type of warlike strength, used chiefly or exclusively in battle. 1Ki 4:26; 1 Kings 10:26-28, may be thought of as having given occasion to the latter of the two proverbs. return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliographical Information Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on Proverbs 21". "Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnb/proverbs-21.html. 1870. StudyLight.org &copy;&#160;2001-2026 Powered by Lightspeed Technology”

“21:30-31 Human wisdom is impotent if it stands against the Lord (see 16:1, 3, 9, 33). Similarly, military power (represented by the horse) is impotent without the Lord’s blessing.”

“Pro 19:21; Isa 7:5-7, Isa 8:9, Isa 8:10, Isa 14:27, Isa 46:10, Isa 46:11; Jer 9:23; Jon 1:13; Act 4:27, Act 4:28, Act 5:39; Pe1 2:8 Proverbs 21:31”

“If we further seek for the boundaries, the proverbs regarding the rich and the poor, Pro 22:2, Pro 22:7, Pro 22:16, present themselves as such, and this the more surely as Pro 22:16 is without contradiction the terminus. Thus we take first together 21:30-22:2. Pro 21:30 30 No wisdom and no understanding, And no counsel is there against Jahve. The expression might also be 'לפני ה; but the predominating sense would then be, that no wisdom appears to God as such, that He values none as such. With לנגד the proverb is more objective: there is no wisdom which, compared with His, can be regarded as such (cf. Co1 3:19), none which can boast itself against Him, or can at all avail against Him (לנגד,…”