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Proverbs 16:3 meaning

When our deeds are surrendered to God, our steps are guided by His perfect wisdom and are placed on a firm foundation.

Solomon, the son of King David who reigned from about 970 to 931 BC, offers wisdom in the Book of Proverbs. The verse states, “Commit your works to the LORD And your plans will be established” (v.3). The Hebrew word behind “commit” can convey the sense of placing something fully into another’s hands. Here, it suggests placing each task, goal, or endeavor under God’s guidance, recognizing that His sovereignty aligns our efforts with His purposes when we trust Him wholeheartedly.

When Solomon says, “Commit your works” (v.3), he stresses genuine dependence on God for all our obligations. In other passages, such as Psalm 37:5, the writer encourages believers to “commit” their ways to the Lord, reinforcing the theme of total surrender that runs throughout scripture. This is not a promise for automatic material success, but an assurance that God’s purposes will flourish in our lives when we pursue His ways diligently, seeking to honor Him with each decision and action.

The phrase, “And your plans will be established” (v.3), indicates that God shapes and confirms the path of those who entrust themselves to Him. Jesus echoes this principle when He teaches, in Matthew 6:33, to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness,” because God ultimately directs and blesses the plans of those who fix their hearts on Him, making His will their chief concern.

Proverbs 16:3