Proverbs 3:34

“If he scoffs at the scoffers, then to the humble he gives favor.”
Proverbs 3:34 · direct translation from the Hebrew

God gives favor to the humbleHumility and Service

With the Hebrew beneath

Ifאִםheהוּאscoffsיָלִיץat the scoffers,לַלֵּצִיםthenוְto the humbleלַעֲנָוִיםhe givesיִתֶּןfavor.חֵן

Quotation · James 4:6

Proverbs 3:34 is quoted. The Hebrew says “He mocks the mockers, but to the humble he gives grace”; here it reads “God opposes the proud.”

Formula: διὸ λέγει “therefore it says” (James 4:6)

See the original texts

Greek of the New Testament: μείζονα δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν διὸ λέγει Ὁ θεὸς ὑπερηφάνοις ἀντιτάσσεται ταπεινοῖς δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν

Hebrew (Masoretic text): אִם לַלֵּצִים הוּא יָלִיץ וְלַעֲנָוִים יִתֶּן חֵן

Septuagint (Proverbs 3:34 in the Septuagint numbering): Κύριος ὑπερηφάνοις ἀντιτάσσεται, ταπεινοῖς δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν.

The Greek of the NT matches the Septuagint word for word in 6 consecutive words: “ὑπερηφάνοις ἀντιτάσσεται ταπεινοῖς δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν.”

Septuagint, Swete’s text, First1KGreek transcription (with reading errors), CC BY-SA 4.0

Quotation · 1 Peter 5:5

Go to 1 Peter 5:5

Proverbs 3:34 is quoted. The Hebrew says “He mocks the mockers, but to the humble he gives grace”; here it reads “God opposes the proud.”

See the original texts

Greek of the New Testament: ὁμοίως νεώτεροι ὑποτάγητε πρεσβυτέροις πάντες δὲ ἀλλήλοις τὴν ταπεινοφροσύνην ἐγκομβώσασθε ὅτι Ὁ θεὸς ὑπερηφάνοις ἀντιτάσσεται ταπεινοῖς δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν

Hebrew (Masoretic text): אִם לַלֵּצִים הוּא יָלִיץ וְלַעֲנָוִים יִתֶּן חֵן

Septuagint (Proverbs 3:34 in the Septuagint numbering): Κύριος ὑπερηφάνοις ἀντιτάσσεται, ταπεινοῖς δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν.

The Greek of the NT matches the Septuagint word for word in 6 consecutive words: “ὑπερηφάνοις ἀντιτάσσεται ταπεινοῖς δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν.”

Septuagint, Swete’s text, First1KGreek transcription (with reading errors), CC BY-SA 4.0

Proverbs 3:34, word by word

scoffsיָלִיץyalits

scoff

To laugh at what is serious with contempt; the scoffer rejects correction.

Where else “yalits” appears

to the humbleעֲנָוִיםanavim

humble, afflicted

Humble, afflicted: one who is low, by his condition or by his attitude; meek.

Where else “anavim” appears

he givesיִתֶּןyiten

give

To hand something over to someone: a gift, a payment, a charge or a land.

Where else “yiten” appears

favorחֵןchen

favor

Someone's goodwill toward another: looking on them kindly.

Where else “chen” appears

Translation note

James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5 quote this verse thus: “The Lord resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Parallel passages

Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.

Quotation · James 4:6

Proverbs 3:34 is quoted. The Hebrew says “He mocks the mockers, but to the humble he gives grace”; here it reads “God opposes the proud.”

See them side by side

Proverbs 3:34

³⁴If he scoffs at the scoffers, then to the humble he gives favor.

James 4:6

⁶But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Quotation · 1 Peter 5:5

Proverbs 3:34 is quoted. The Hebrew says “He mocks the mockers, but to the humble he gives grace”; here it reads “God opposes the proud.”

See them side by side

Proverbs 3:34

³⁴If he scoffs at the scoffers, then to the humble he gives favor.

1 Peter 5:5

⁵Likewise, you younger, submit to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

The context

33The curse of YHWH is on the house of the wicked, but the dwelling of the righteous he blesses.

34 · This verse (above)

35The wise will inherit honor, but the senseless carry off disgrace.

Read all of Proverbs 3

How to use it