CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/21-1.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/13/20_Pro_21_01.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Proverbs 21:1 - The King's Heart" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="The king's heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/proverbs/21-1.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/proverbs/21-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/proverbs/">Proverbs</a> > <a href="/proverbs/21.htm">Chapter 21</a> > Verse 1</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/proverbs/20-30.htm" title="Proverbs 20:30">◄</a> Proverbs 21:1 <a href="/proverbs/21-2.htm" title="Proverbs 21:2">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/proverbs/21.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/proverbs/21.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />In the LORD&#8217s hand the king&#8217s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/proverbs/21.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/proverbs/21.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/proverbs/21.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/proverbs/21.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />The king's heart <i>is</i> in the hand of the LORD, <i>as</i> the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/proverbs/21.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />The king’s heart <i>is</i> in the hand of the LORD, <i>Like</i> the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/proverbs/21.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />The king’s heart is <i>like</i> channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He pleases.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/proverbs/21.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />The king&#8217s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/proverbs/21.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />The king’s heart is <i>like</i> channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/proverbs/21.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />The king’s heart is <i>like</i> channels of water in the hand of Yahweh; He turns it wherever He pleases.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/proverbs/21.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it whichever way He wishes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/proverbs/21.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />A king’s heart is like channeled water in the LORD’s hand: He directs it wherever he chooses.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/proverbs/21.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />A king&#8217s heart is like streams of water in the LORD&#8217s hand: He directs it wherever He chooses. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/proverbs/21.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />The king's heart is in the hand of Jehovah as the watercourses: He turneth it whithersoever he will.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/proverbs/21.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />The LORD controls rulers, just as he determines the course of rivers. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/proverbs/21.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD as the watercourses: he turneth it whithersoever he will.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/proverbs/21.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The king's heart is like streams of water. Both are under the LORD's control. He turns them in any direction he chooses.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/proverbs/21.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The LORD controls the mind of a king as easily as he directs the course of a stream. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/proverbs/21.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />A king's heart is a water stream that the LORD controls; he directs it wherever he pleases.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/proverbs/21.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />The king?s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/proverbs/21.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD like channels of water; he turns it wherever he wants. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/proverbs/21.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The king's heart is in the LORD's hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/proverbs/21.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/proverbs/21.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The king’s heart is in Yahweh’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/proverbs/21.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />The heart of a king [is] streams of waters in the hand of YHWH, "" He inclines it wherever He pleases.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/proverbs/21.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Rivulets of waters is the heart of a king in the hand of Jehovah, Wherever He pleaseth He inclineth it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/proverbs/21.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Steams of waters the heart of the king, in the hand of Jehovah: upon all which he shall delight in he will turn it.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/proverbs/21.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />As the divisions of waters, so the heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord: whithersoever he will he shall turn it. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/proverbs/21.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Just as with the dividing of the waters, so also is the heart of the king in the hand of the Lord. He shall bend it whichever way he wills.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/proverbs/21.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />A king’s heart is channeled water in the hand of the LORD; God directs it where he pleases. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/proverbs/21.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/proverbs/21.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />LIKE streams of water, so is the king's heart in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/proverbs/21.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />The heart of the King is like a stream of waters in the hands of God, and he turns it wherever he chooses.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/proverbs/21.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the watercourses: He turneth it whithersoever He will.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/proverbs/21.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />As a rush of water, so is the king's heart in God's hand: he turns it whithersoever he may desire to point out.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/proverbs/21-1.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kpUA5ZltBeQ?start=4149" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/proverbs/21.htm">The King's Heart</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">1</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/4428.htm" title="4428: me·leḵ (N-ms) -- King. From malak; a king.">The king’s</a> <a href="/hebrew/3820.htm" title="3820: leḇ- (N-msc) -- A form of lebab; the heart; also used very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything.">heart</a> <a href="/hebrew/6388.htm" title="6388: pal·ḡê- (N-mpc) -- A channel, canal. From palag; a rill.">is a waterway</a> <a href="/hebrew/4325.htm" title="4325: ma·yim (N-mp) -- Waters, water. Dual of a primitive noun; water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3027.htm" title="3027: bə·yaḏ- (Prep-b:: N-fsc) -- Hand (indicating power, means, direction, etc.)">in the hand</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">of the LORD;</a> <a href="/hebrew/5186.htm" title="5186: yaṭ·ṭen·nū (V-Hifil-Imperf-3ms:: 3mse) -- A primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away; used in a great variety of application.">He directs it</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">where</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: kāl- (N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every."></a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/2654.htm" title="2654: yaḥ·pōṣ (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- A primitive root; properly, to incline to; by implication to bend; figuratively, to be pleased with, desire.">He pleases.</a> </span><span class="reftext">2</span>All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/13-1.htm">Romans 13:1</a></span><br />Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/4-35.htm">Daniel 4:35</a></span><br />All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/10-23.htm">Jeremiah 10:23</a></span><br />I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not his own; no one who walks directs his own steps.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/46-10.htm">Isaiah 46:10</a></span><br />I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/33-10.htm">Psalm 33:10-11</a></span><br />The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples. / The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/12-23.htm">Job 12:23</a></span><br />He makes nations great and destroys them; He enlarges nations, then disperses them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezra/6-22.htm">Ezra 6:22</a></span><br />For seven days they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread with joy, because the LORD had made them joyful and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to strengthen their hands in the work on the house of the God of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/20-6.htm">2 Chronicles 20:6</a></span><br />and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/14-24.htm">Isaiah 14:24</a></span><br />The LORD of Hosts has sworn: “Surely, as I have planned, so will it be; as I have purposed, so will it stand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/115-3.htm">Psalm 115:3</a></span><br />Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/4-27.htm">Acts 4:27-28</a></span><br />In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed. / They carried out what Your hand and will had decided beforehand would happen.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/1-11.htm">Ephesians 1:11</a></span><br />In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/50-20.htm">Genesis 50:20</a></span><br />As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/9-16.htm">Exodus 9:16</a></span><br />But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power to you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/2-7.htm">1 Samuel 2:7-8</a></span><br />The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts. / He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s, and upon them He has set the world.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turns it wherever he will.</p><p class="hdg">as</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/74-15.htm">Psalm 74:15</a></b></br> Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/93-4.htm">Psalm 93:4</a></b></br> The LORD on high <i>is</i> mightier than the noise of many waters, <i>yea, than</i> the mighty waves of the sea.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/114-3.htm">Psalm 114:3,5</a></b></br> The sea saw <i>it</i>, and fled: Jordan was driven back… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/74-15.htm">Brooks</a> <a href="/psalms/18-15.htm">Channels</a> <a href="/proverbs/19-22.htm">Desires</a> <a href="/proverbs/11-14.htm">Direction</a> <a href="/proverbs/16-9.htm">Directs</a> <a href="/proverbs/19-24.htm">Hand</a> <a href="/proverbs/17-18.htm">Hands</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-30.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/proverbs/2-18.htm">Inclineth</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-2.htm">King's</a> <a href="/proverbs/15-8.htm">Pleases</a> <a href="/esther/8-8.htm">Pleaseth</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-2.htm">Pleasure</a> <a href="/proverbs/5-16.htm">Rivers</a> <a href="/proverbs/5-16.htm">Rivulets</a> <a href="/proverbs/19-28.htm">Stream</a> <a href="/proverbs/5-16.htm">Streams</a> <a href="/proverbs/19-27.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-26.htm">Turneth</a> <a href="/proverbs/17-8.htm">Turns</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-5.htm">Water</a> <a href="/job/38-25.htm">Watercourse</a> <a href="/psalms/126-4.htm">Watercourses</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-5.htm">Waters</a> <a href="/proverbs/17-8.htm">Wherever</a> <a href="/proverbs/17-8.htm">Whithersoever</a> <a href="/job/17-11.htm">Wishes</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/songs/5-12.htm">Brooks</a> <a href="/isaiah/8-7.htm">Channels</a> <a href="/proverbs/21-10.htm">Desires</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/10-2.htm">Direction</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/10-2.htm">Directs</a> <a href="/proverbs/26-6.htm">Hand</a> <a href="/proverbs/21-25.htm">Hands</a> <a href="/proverbs/21-2.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/genesis/49-15.htm">Inclineth</a> <a href="/proverbs/22-11.htm">King's</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/2-26.htm">Pleases</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-26.htm">Pleaseth</a> <a href="/proverbs/21-17.htm">Pleasure</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/1-7.htm">Rivers</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-48.htm">Rivulets</a> <a href="/proverbs/27-4.htm">Stream</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/1-7.htm">Streams</a> <a href="/proverbs/21-14.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/proverbs/22-6.htm">Turneth</a> <a href="/proverbs/26-14.htm">Turns</a> <a href="/proverbs/25-21.htm">Water</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/21-4.htm">Watercourse</a> <a href="/isaiah/30-25.htm">Watercourses</a> <a href="/proverbs/25-25.htm">Waters</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/11-3.htm">Wherever</a> <a href="/ezekiel/1-20.htm">Whithersoever</a> <a href="/matthew/5-40.htm">Wishes</a><div class="vheading2">Proverbs 21</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/21-1.htm">The king's heart in the hand of the Lord</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/proverbs/21.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/proverbs/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/proverbs/21.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD;</b><br>This phrase emphasizes the sovereignty of God over human rulers. In ancient Near Eastern culture, kings were seen as the ultimate authority, often believed to be divinely appointed. However, this proverb asserts that even the most powerful human leaders are subject to God's will. The imagery of a waterway suggests control and guidance, as waterways were essential for agriculture and life in ancient Israel, often requiring careful management. This reflects the biblical theme that God can guide and influence the decisions of rulers, as seen in the stories of Pharaoh in Exodus and King Cyrus in <a href="/isaiah/45.htm">Isaiah 45:1-4</a>, where God uses foreign kings to fulfill His purposes.<p><b>He directs it where He pleases.</b><br>This part of the verse highlights God's ultimate authority and purpose. The direction of the king's heart is not random but intentional, aligning with God's divine plan. This is consistent with the biblical narrative that God's will is accomplished through human history, as seen in <a href="/romans/13.htm">Romans 13:1</a>, which states that all authority is established by God. The phrase also suggests a sense of divine providence, where God's plans are fulfilled regardless of human intentions, as illustrated in the story of Joseph in <a href="/genesis/50-20.htm">Genesis 50:20</a>. This reflects the belief that God's purposes are ultimately for the good of His people and the fulfillment of His promises, pointing to the ultimate sovereignty of God over all creation.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_king.htm">The King</a></b><br>Represents those in positions of authority and power. In ancient Israel, the king was seen as God's appointed leader, responsible for governing the people according to God's laws.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD</a></b><br>Refers to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, who is sovereign over all creation and history.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/w/waterway.htm">Waterway</a></b><br>A metaphor for the king's heart, suggesting that just as water can be directed by channels, so can the heart of a ruler be directed by God.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_over_leaders.htm">God's Sovereignty Over Leaders</a></b><br>Recognize that God is ultimately in control of those in authority, and He can guide their decisions to fulfill His purposes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/prayer_for_leaders.htm">Prayer for Leaders</a></b><br>Encourage believers to pray for their leaders, trusting that God can influence their hearts and decisions for the good of His people.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_plan.htm">Trust in God's Plan</a></b><br>Even when leaders make decisions that seem contrary to God's will, trust that God is working behind the scenes to accomplish His divine plan.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/personal_application_of_god's_sovereignty.htm">Personal Application of God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>Just as God directs the hearts of kings, He can guide our hearts. Submit your plans and desires to Him, seeking His direction in all things.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_proverbs_21.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 21</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_can_god_direct_cruel_rulers'_hearts.htm">Proverbs 21:1: How can a king’s heart be completely directed by God if history is full of cruel rulers who appear to have acted against any divine morality? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_was_joan_of_arc.htm">Who was Joan of Arc?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/could_nehemiah's_prayer_sway_persia's_rulers.htm">Could the concise prayer in Nehemiah 1:8–11 realistically influence Persian imperial decisions, given the empire’s political structures?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_darius_called_'king_of_assyria'.htm">Why is Darius called “king of Assyria” in Ezra 6:22 when he was actually ruler of the Persian Empire?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/proverbs/21.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div><span class= "bld">XXI.</span><p>(1) <span class= "bld">As the rivers of water.--</span>Channels for irrigation (comp. <a href="/psalms/1-3.htm" title="And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.">Psalm 1:3</a>). He turns the heart of the king, whose favour is as the latter rain (<a href="/proverbs/16-15.htm" title="In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.">Proverbs 16:15</a>) and dew (<a href="/proverbs/19-12.htm" title="The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favor is as dew on the grass.">Proverbs 19:12</a>), now towards one suppliant and now towards another, as He thinks fit, for "the hearts of kings are in His rule and governance."<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/proverbs/21.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 1.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water.</span> We are to think of the little channels used for irrigation. As these are altogether under the gardener's control, so the heart of the king, who might seem to have no superior, is directed by God. <span class="cmt_word">He turneth it whithersoever he will.</span> By hidden influences and providential arrangements God disposes the monarch to order his government so as to carry out his designs, to spread around joy and plenty. The system of irrigation signified in this passage is still to be seen in Eastern lands. "Flower beds and gardens of herbs are always made at a little lower level than the surrounding ground, and are divided into small squares, a slight edging of earth banking the whole round on each side. Water is then let in, and floods the entire surface till the soil is thoroughly saturated; after which the moisture is turned off to another bed, by simply closing the opening in the one under water, by a turn of the bare foot of the gardener, and making another in the same way with the foot, in the next bed, and thus the whole garden is in due course watered .... Only, in this case, the hand is supposed to make the gap in the clay bank of the streamlet, and divert the current" (Geikie, 'Holy Land and Bible,' 1:9). So in Virgil we find ('Ecl.,' 3:111) - <p><span class="foreign">"Claudite jam rivos, pueri; sat prata biberunt."</span> <p><span class="accented">"Now close the cuts; enough the meads have drunk."</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/proverbs/21-1.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">The king’s</span><br /><span class="heb">מֶ֭לֶךְ</span> <span class="translit">(me·leḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4428.htm">Strong's 4428: </a> </span><span class="str2">A king</span><br /><br /><span class="word">heart</span><br /><span class="heb">לֶב־</span> <span class="translit">(leḇ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3820.htm">Strong's 3820: </a> </span><span class="str2">The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is a waterway</span><br /><span class="heb">פַּלְגֵי־</span> <span class="translit">(pal·ḡê-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6388.htm">Strong's 6388: </a> </span><span class="str2">A channel, canal</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in the hand</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּיַד־</span> <span class="translit">(bə·yaḏ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3027.htm">Strong's 3027: </a> </span><span class="str2">A hand</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the LORD;</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">He directs it</span><br /><span class="heb">יַטֶּֽנּוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(yaṭ·ṭen·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5186.htm">Strong's 5186: </a> </span><span class="str2">To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend</span><br /><br /><span class="word">where</span><br /><span class="heb">עַֽל־</span> <span class="translit">(‘al-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">He pleases.</span><br /><span class="heb">יַחְפֹּ֣ץ</span> <span class="translit">(yaḥ·pōṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2654.htm">Strong's 2654: </a> </span><span class="str2">To incline to, to bend, to be pleased with, desire</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/proverbs/21-1.htm">Proverbs 21:1 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/proverbs/21-1.htm">Proverbs 21:1 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/proverbs/21-1.htm">Proverbs 21:1 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/proverbs/21-1.htm">Proverbs 21:1 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/proverbs/21-1.htm">Proverbs 21:1 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/proverbs/21-1.htm">Proverbs 21:1 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/proverbs/21-1.htm">Proverbs 21:1 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/proverbs/21-1.htm">Proverbs 21:1 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/proverbs/21-1.htm">Proverbs 21:1 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/proverbs/21-1.htm">Proverbs 21:1 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/proverbs/21-1.htm">OT Poetry: Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in Yahweh's hand (Prov. Pro Pr) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/proverbs/20-30.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Proverbs 20:30"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Proverbs 20:30" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/proverbs/21-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Proverbs 21:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Proverbs 21:2" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>