for they will add length to your days
This phrase emphasizes the promise of longevity as a reward for adhering to wisdom and understanding. In the biblical context, long life is often seen as a blessing from God, a sign of His favor and a reward for righteousness (Deuteronomy 5:33, Psalm 91:16). The ancient Israelites valued long life as it allowed for the continuation of family lineage and the fulfillment of God's promises to His people. This promise is not merely about physical longevity but also about a life filled with purpose and divine favor. The concept of long life is also connected to the idea of living in accordance with God's commandments, as seen in the Mosaic Law, which often links obedience with blessings (Exodus 20:12).

years and peace to your life
The addition of "years" suggests not just a long life but a life of quality and fulfillment. The term "peace" (Hebrew: "shalom") encompasses more than the absence of conflict; it implies wholeness, health, prosperity, and harmony with God and others. This peace is a central theme in the Bible, often associated with the presence of God (Isaiah 26:3, Philippians 4:7). In the cultural context of ancient Israel, peace was a highly valued state, reflecting God's covenantal blessings. The promise of peace is also prophetic, pointing to the ultimate peace brought by the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who is referred to as the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). This peace is not only temporal but eternal, offering believers a foretaste of the peace that will be fully realized in God's kingdom.

1. Solomon
Traditionally considered the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. He wrote Proverbs to impart wisdom and understanding.

2. Israel
The original audience of Proverbs, the people of Israel were to live according to God's laws and wisdom, which Solomon sought to impart through his writings.

3. Wisdom Literature
Proverbs is part of the wisdom literature in the Bible, which includes books like Job and Ecclesiastes, focusing on practical living and understanding.The Value of Wisdom
Wisdom is not just intellectual knowledge but practical application of God's truth in daily life. It leads to a life of peace and fulfillment.

Obedience Brings Blessings
Living according to God's commandments brings tangible benefits, including peace and longevity. This is a recurring theme in both the Old and New Testaments.

Peace as a Fruit of Righteousness
True peace is a result of living righteously. It is not merely the absence of conflict but a deep-seated tranquility that comes from aligning with God's will.

The Temporal and Eternal Perspective
While Proverbs 3:2 promises temporal blessings, it also points to the eternal peace and life found in Christ, encouraging believers to focus on both present and eternal rewards.

The Role of Discipline
Embracing discipline and correction is essential for gaining wisdom, which in turn leads to the blessings described in Proverbs 3:2.III.

(d) Fourth Discourse:--Exhortation to Various Virtues (Pro iii 1-18).

(2) Long life.--That is, a life worth living, fit to be called "life"; whereas" length of days" only implies extension of life, the reward promised for obedience to parents.

Verse 2. - Length of days (orek yamim); Vulgate, longitudo dierum. The expression is literally "extension of days," and signifies the prolongation of life, its duration to the appointed limit - a meaning which is brought out in the LXX. μῆκος βίου, "length of days," the Greek word βίος being used, not of existence, but of the time and course of life. It occurs again in ver. 16, and also in Job 12:12 and Psalm 21:4. "Length of days" is represented as a blessing in the Old Testament, depending, however, as in the present instance, on the fulfilment of certain conditions. Thus in the fifth commandment it is appended to the honouring of parents (Exodus 20:12), and it was promised to Solomon, at Gibeon, on the condition that he walked in the way, statutes, and commandments of God (1 Kings 3:14). The promise of prolongation of life is not to be pressed historically as applying to every individual case, but is to be taken as indicating the tendency of keeping the Divine precepts, which, as a rule, ensure preservation of health, and hence "length of days." Long life (vush'noth khayyim); literally, years of life; Targum Jonathan, Vulgate, Syriac, and Arabic, anni vitae; LXX., ἔτη ζωῆς. The Authorized Version scarcely serves to bring out the sense of the original, as there is practically no difference in meaning between "length of days" and "long life? The idea conveyed in the expression, "years of life," is that of material prosperity. The thought of an extended life is carried on from the preceding expression, but it is amplified and described. The years of life will be many, but they will be years of life in its truest sense, as one of true happiness and enjoyment, free from distracting cares, sickness, and other drawbacks. The Hebrew plural, khayyim, "lives," is equivalent to the Greek expression, βίος βιωτός, "a life worth while living" (cf. Plat., 'Apol.,' 38, A). To the Israelitish mind, the happiness of life consisted in "dwelling in the land" (Deuteronomy 4:40; Deuteronomy 5:30, etc.), and "abiding in the house of the Lord" (Psalm 15:1; Psalm 23:6; Psalm 27:3) (Zockler). The conjecture that the plural, khayyim, signifies the present and the future life, is unfounded. The scope of the promise before us is confined to the present stage of existence, and it is negatived also by the similar use of the plural in Proverbs 16:5, "In the light of the king's countenance is life (khayyim)," where khayyim cannot possibly refer to the future life. Khayyim stands for life in its fulness. "Godliness" has indeed, as St. Paul wrote to Timothy, "promise of the life that now is, aud of that which is to come" (1 Timothy 4:8). Peace (shalom). The verb shalam, from which the substantive shalom is derived, signifies "to be whole, sound, safe," and hence "peace" means internal and external contentment, and tran-quillity of mind arising from the sense of safety. In ver. 17 the ways of Wisdom are designated peace. While, on the one hand, peace is represented by the psalmist as the possession of those who love God's Law (Psalm 119:165), on the other, it is denied the wicked (Isaiah 48:22; Isaiah 57:21). Shall they add to thee; i.e. shall the precepts and commands bring (Zockler) or heap upon (Muffet) thee.

Parallel Commentaries ...


for
כִּ֤י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

they will add
יוֹסִ֥יפוּ (yō·w·sî·p̄ū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3254: To add, augment

length
אֹ֣רֶךְ (’ō·reḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 753: Length

to your
לָֽךְ׃ (lāḵ)
Preposition | second person feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew

days,
יָ֭מִים (yā·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

years
וּשְׁנ֣וֹת (ū·šə·nō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 8141: A year

and peace
וְ֝שָׁל֗וֹם (wə·šā·lō·wm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace

to your life.
חַיִּ֑ים (ḥay·yîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 3:2 For length of days and years (Prov. Pro Pr)