Above all else
This phrase emphasizes the supreme importance of the instruction that follows. In the Hebrew text, the word used is "mikkol," which means "from all" or "above all." It sets a priority, indicating that what is about to be said should be regarded as the utmost concern in one's life. In the context of Proverbs, a book filled with wisdom for living, this phrase underscores the necessity of prioritizing the heart's condition over all other pursuits or concerns.

guard your heart
The Hebrew word for "heart" is "lev," which in ancient Hebrew culture represented the center of one's being, encompassing mind, will, emotions, and understanding. To "guard" (Hebrew: "natsar") implies a vigilant, protective stance, akin to a watchman over a city. This suggests an active, ongoing responsibility to protect one's inner life from influences that could lead one astray. The heart is seen as the wellspring of life, and thus, its protection is crucial for maintaining spiritual and moral integrity.

for everything you do
This phrase highlights the comprehensive impact of the heart on one's life. The Hebrew text uses "kol," meaning "all" or "everything," to indicate that the heart influences every aspect of one's actions and decisions. This reflects the biblical understanding that the internal state of a person directly affects their external behavior. It is a reminder that the heart's condition is not isolated but interconnected with all facets of life.

flows from it
The imagery here is of a spring or fountain, with the Hebrew word "totsa'ot" suggesting "issues" or "outgoings." This metaphor illustrates the heart as the source from which life emanates, much like water flows from a spring. In ancient times, a spring was a vital source of life and sustenance, and similarly, the heart is depicted as the source of spiritual and moral vitality. This underscores the necessity of maintaining a pure and guarded heart to ensure that what flows from it is life-giving and aligned with God's wisdom.

(23) Keep thy heart with all diligence.--Rather, above all things that are to be guarded.

For out of it are the issues of life.--That is, from it comes life (and also death). From it proceed "all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works," signs of the life with God within the soul; or, "evil thoughts, murders," &c. (Matthew 15:19), "the end of which things is death" (Romans 6:21).

Verse 23 - Keep thy heart with all diligence; properly, above all things that have to be guarded, keep or guard thy heart. So Mercerus, Gescnius, Delitzsch, Zockler. This seems to be the right meaning of the phrase, mikkol-mish'mar, rendered in the Authorized Version "with all diligence," mish'mar, from shamar, "to guard," being the object of guarding; that which is to be guarded. It is as if the teacher said, "Guard riches, property, health, body, everything, in short, in which you have a legitimate interest, or which is advantageous; but before and above everything else, keep a guard on your heart." The rabbins Jarehi, Ben Ezra, Rashi, however, give a different rendering, "From everything which is to be avoided (ab omni re cavenda) guard thy heart;" but the objection to this is that it ignores the radical meaning of the verb shamar, from which mish'mar is derived, as stated above, which is not that of avoiding, but of guarding. A third rendering is," Keep thy heart with all keeping;" so the Vulgate, omni custodia serva cor tuum; and the LXX., πασὴ φυλακῇ τήρει σὴν καρδίαν; on which the Authorized Version seems to be based. Another rendering, similar to the first, except that it gives mish'mar the active signification of guarding instead of the passive one of being kept or guarded, is, "Keep thy heart more than any other keeping (prae omni custodia)." Origen, 'Hex.;' Field. Again, Aquila and Theodotion render, "Keep thy heart by reason of every commandment (ἀπὸ παντὸς φυλάγματος)," thus bringing into prominence the occasion and the obligation of keeping the heart, which is that we are so commanded. Heart (lev); here the affections and the moral consciousness. For out of it are the issues of life. The conjunction "for" introduces the reason. The fact here stated is that the moral conduct of life, its actions and proceedings, are determined by the condition of the heart. If the heart is pure, the life will be pure; if the heart is corrupt, the life will be corrupt. The heart is here compared with a fountain. The same idea which is affixed to it in its physical sense is also assigned to it in its ethical or moral sense. Physically, it is the central organ of the body; morally, it is the seat of the affections and the centre of the moral consciousness. From this moral centre flow forth "the issues of life;" i.e. the currents of the moral life take their rise in and flow forth from it, just as from the heart, physically considered, the blood is propelled and flows forth into the arterial system, by which it is conveyed to the remotest extremities of the body. And as the bodily health depends on the healthy action of the heart, so the moral health depends on and is influenced by the state in which this spring of all action is preserved. Issues; tots'aoth, from yatsar, "to go forth," are the place from which anything goes forth, and hence a fountain. For "the issues of life," the LXX. reads, ἔξοδοι ζωῆς, the Vulgate., exitus vitae. With this passage compare our Lord's teaching (Matthew 15:19; Mark 7:21-23; Luke 6:43-45).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Guard
נְצֹ֣ר (nə·ṣōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5341: To watch, guard, keep

your heart
לִבֶּ֑ךָ (lib·be·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

with all
מִֽכָּל־ (mik·kāl)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

diligence,
מִ֭שְׁמָר (miš·mār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4929: Place of confinement, jail, prison, guard, watch, observance

for
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

from it
מִ֝מֶּ֗נּוּ (mim·men·nū)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

flow
תּוֹצְא֥וֹת (tō·wṣ·’ō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 8444: An outgoing, extremity, perhaps source, escape

springs of life.
חַיִּֽים׃ (ḥay·yîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence (Prov. Pro Pr)