Proverbs 4:23

Proverbs 4:23

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

a. NLT: Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

b. NIV: Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

c. YLT: Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it are the outgoings of life.

d. Amplified Bible Classic:  Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.

e. Septuagint: Keep thine heart with the utmost care; for out of these are the issues of life.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: More than you guard anything, safeguard your heart, for from it are the sources of life.

1. “Keep thy heart with all diligence…”

a. keep [Strong: 5341 natsar naw-tsar' a primitive root; to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal, etc.):-- besieged, hidden thing, keep(-er, -ing), monument, observe, preserve(-r), subtil, watcher(-man).] [Gesenius:  to guard, watch, watch over, keep,  to preserve, guard from dangers , observe, guard with fidelity…]

1). The mind is the door to the spirit.

a). 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2). We guard our hearts, our spirits by controlling our thought life.

a). 2 Corinthians 10:3-5  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

b. thy heart [Strong: 3820 leb labe a form of 3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything:--+ care for, comfortably, consent, X considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart((-ed)), X heed, X I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), X regard((-ed)), X themselves, X unawares, understanding, X well, willingly, wisdom.] [Gesenius: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding…]

1). The Old Testament definition of the makeup of man is not as defined as the New Testament, the New Testament is given to us as spirit, soul and body.

a). 1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

c. with all [Strong: 3605 kol kole or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever).]

d. diligence [Strong: 4929 mishmar mish-mawr' from 8104; a guard (the man, the post or the prison); a deposit (fig.); also (as observed) a usage (abstr.), or an example (concr.):--diligence, guard, office, prison, ward, watch.   [Gesenius:  place of confinement, prison, guard, jail, guard post, watch, observance, jail, prison, guard-house,  guard, guard post, act of guarding.]

2. “…for out of it are the issues of life.”

a. for [Strong: 3588 kiy kee a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet.]

b. out of it are the issues [Strong: 8444 towtsa'ah to-tsaw-aw' or totsaah {to-tsaw-aw'}; from 3318; (only in plural collective) exit, i.e. (geographical) boundary, or (figuratively) deliverance, (actively) source:--border(-s), going(-s) forth (out), issues, outgoings.]

c. of life [Strong: 2416 chay khah'-ee from 2421; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively:--+ age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, + merry, multitude, + (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.]

1). Pulpit Commentary: The fact here stated is that the moral conduct of life, its actions and proceedings, are determined by the condition of the heart.

a). Matthew 15:18, 19 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

2). Likewise it is out of the spirit of man that the power of the life of God comes out of.

a). Galatians 5:22-24 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.