He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
This phrase emphasizes God's provision of wisdom as a treasure reserved for those who live righteously. In biblical context, "sound wisdom" refers to practical insight and understanding that leads to a successful and godly life. The concept of storing up suggests that this wisdom is abundant and preserved for those who seek it earnestly. The upright are those who align their lives with God's commandments, reflecting a heart committed to His ways. This aligns with James 1:5, which promises that God gives wisdom generously to those who ask. The imagery of storing wisdom can be likened to the ancient practice of storing grain, a valuable resource, indicating that wisdom is essential for spiritual sustenance and growth.

He is a shield to those who walk with integrity,
Here, God is depicted as a protector, offering safety and defense to those who live with integrity. In ancient times, a shield was a crucial part of a warrior's armor, symbolizing protection and security. This metaphor indicates that God actively guards those who maintain moral and ethical uprightness. Walking with integrity involves consistent adherence to truth and righteousness, reflecting a life that is transparent and honest before God and others. This concept is echoed in Psalm 84:11, where God is described as a sun and shield, bestowing favor and honor. The promise of divine protection for the righteous is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, underscoring the covenant relationship between God and His people.

1. The Upright
Refers to those who live in accordance with God's laws and principles, demonstrating moral integrity and righteousness.

2. God
The source of wisdom and protection, who provides guidance and security to those who follow His ways.

3. The Path of Integrity
Represents the lifestyle and choices of those who adhere to God's commandments and live truthfully.The Value of Wisdom
God treasures wisdom and makes it available to those who live righteously. Pursue wisdom as a precious gift from God.

Integrity as a Lifestyle
Walking with integrity is not just about avoiding sin but actively choosing to live in truth and righteousness. Evaluate your daily decisions to ensure they align with God's standards.

God's Protection
Just as a shield protects a warrior, God offers protection to those who live with integrity. Trust in His protection in all areas of life.

Seeking God's Wisdom
Actively seek God's wisdom through prayer and study of His Word. Make it a daily practice to ask for His guidance in your life.

The Relationship Between Wisdom and Integrity
Understand that wisdom and integrity are interconnected. True wisdom leads to a life of integrity, and a life of integrity opens the door to greater wisdom.(7) Sound wisdom.--Literally, furtherance, advancement (Comp. "Whosoever hath, unto him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance," Matthew 13:12.)

Verse 7. - Wisdom which is the foundation of security and safety, and hence is sound wisdom, is that which God treasures up for the righteous. The teacher passes to another phase of the Divine character. God is not only the Source of wisdom; he is also the Ensurer of safety, the Source of salvation to those who act uprightly. It will be noted that the use of the word is confined to the Proverbs and Job, with the exception of the two passages in Isaiah and Micah. Buckler. Besides storing up the treasures of sound wisdom, which the righteous may use and so obtain security in their uprightness, God is himself a Buckler, or Shield (מָגֵן, magen), to those who walk in innocence. This aspect of God's directly protecting power is met with in other parts of Scripture. In Genesis 15:1 he encourages Abram with the assurance, "I am thy Shield." In Psalm 33:20; Psalm 84:11; Psalm 89:18; Psalm 144:2, Jehovah is called a Shield to his saints. He renders them security against the assaults of their enemies, and especially against the fiery darts of the wicked one. Again, in Proverbs 30:5, it is said, "God is a Shield (magen) up to them that walk uprightly." It is incorrect to take מָגֵן (magen) either as an accusative after the verb or in apposition with "sound wisdom." To them that walk uprightly; literally, to the walkers in innocence (לְחֹלֵכֵי תֹם, l'khol'key thom). תֹם (thom) is "integrity of mind," "moral faultlessness," "innocence." "To walk uprightly" is to maintain a course of life regulated by right principles, and directed to right ends. He "walks uprightly who lives with the fear of God as his principle, the Word of God as his rule, and the glory of God as his end" (Wardlaw). The completeness of the moral and religious character is involved in the expression which is found also in Proverbs 10:9 and Psalm 84:11. The Vulgate translates the latter clause of the verse, proteget gradientes simpliciter, "he will protect those who walk in simplicity;" cf. 2 Corinthians 1:12 in illustration of the phrase. He layeth up; i.e. he treasures up (LXX., θησαυρίζειν), or preserves and protects (custodire, Vulgate), as a person does "treasure or jewel, that it may not be stolen" (Zockler). The majority of commentators read the Keri (יִצפֹן, "he will treasure up," future of צָפַן) in preference to the Khetib (צָפַן, perfect of same verb, with prefix וְ, "and he treasured up"), and this is the; reading adopted in the Authorized Version. The Keri implies that God does treasure up sound wisdom, while the Khetib, as Delitzsch observes, has the force of the aorist, and so represents the treasuring up as an accomplished fact. The same verb occurs in Proverbs 2:1, where it is translated in the Authorized Version by "hide," and also in Proverbs 7:1 and Proverbs 10:14 by "lay up." The laying up, or treasuring, points to the preciousness of that which is treasured, "sound wisdom." Sound wisdom. A great variety of opinions exists as to the true meaning of the word in the original, תְוּשִׁיָה (tvushiyyah), of which "sound wisdom" is an interpretation. Zockler explains it as "wisdom, reflection;" Delitzsch, as "advancement and promotion;" Dathe, as "solid fortune;" Gesenius, as "aid." The proper meaning of the word seems to he "substance," from the root יָשָׁה, "to be, to exist, to be firm." Professor Lee remarks on the word, "From the places in which it occurs, either wealth, thought, or some such sense it manifestly requires. It occurs in Job 6:13, in parallelism with 'help;' in Proverbs 2:7, with a 'shield;' in Job 1:6, with 'wisdom;' in Job 12:16, with 'strength;' in Proverbs 3:21, with 'discretion;' in Proverbs 8:14, with 'counsel' and 'understanding;' in Isaiah 28:29, with 'counsel;' and so in Job 26:3. In Job 30:22 and Micah 6:9, 'entirely' or the like seems to suit the context; see also Proverbs 18:1, and generally 'excess,' or 'abundance,' taken either in a good or bad sense, and varied by other considerations, seems to prevail in every case in which this word is used" (see Professor Lee, on Job 5:12). The parallelism of the passage before us seems to require that it should be understood in the sense of security; and transferring the idea to wisdom as the means of security. This idea is reproduced in the LXX. σωτήρια, the Vulgate salus, and the Targum incolumitas.

Parallel Commentaries ...


He stores up
יִצְפֹּ֣ן (yiṣ·pōn)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6845: To hide, to hoard, reserve, to deny, to protect, to lurk

sound wisdom
תּוּשִׁיָּ֑ה (tū·šî·yāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8454: Support, ability, help, an undertaking, understanding

for the upright;
לַ֭יְשָׁרִים (lay·šā·rîm)
Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 3477: Straight, right

He is a shield
מָ֝גֵ֗ן (mā·ḡên)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 4043: A shield, a protector, the scaly hide of the crocodile

to those who walk
לְהֹ֣לְכֵי (lə·hō·lə·ḵê)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

with integrity,
תֹֽם׃ (ṯōm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8537: Completeness, integrity, also part of the high priest's breastplate


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 2:7 He lays up sound wisdom (Prov. Pro Pr)