Proverbs 21:2

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(2) Every way of a man is right in his own eyes.—See above, on Proverbs 16:2.

Benson Commentary

Proverbs 21:2-3. Every way of a man, &c. — See on Proverbs 16:2, where this same thing was declared. To do justice and judgment — The conscientious performance of all our duties to men; is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice — Than the most costly outward services offered to God, joined with the neglect of religious and moral duties to God or men: see 1 Samuel 15:22; Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:7-8.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

21:1 The believer, perceiving that the Lord rules every heart as he sees fit, like the husbandman who turns the water through his grounds as he pleases, seeks to have his own heart, and the hearts of others, directed in his faith, fear, and love. 2. We are partial in judging ourselves and our actions. 3. Many deceive themselves with a conceit that outward devotions will excuse unrighteousness. 4. Sin is the pride, the ambition, the glory, the joy, and the business of wicked men. 5. The really diligent employ foresight as well as labour. 6. While men seek wealth by unlawful practices, they seek death. 7. Injustice will return upon the sinner, and will destroy him here and for ever. 8. The way of mankind by nature is froward and strange.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Rivers of water - See the Psalm 1:3 note. As the cultivator directs the stream into the channels where it is most wanted, so Yahweh directs the thoughts of the true king, that his favors may fall, not at random, but in harmony with a divine order.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

2. (Compare Pr 14:2; 16:2-25).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

This was said Proverbs 16:2, where it is explained, and is here repeated, either for the great importance and usefulness of it, or because he perceived that the Israelites were very prone to self-deceit.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,.... This is repeated, from Proverbs 16:2; for the confirmation of it; and that it might be observed and taken notice of, and men be brought under a conviction of it; which is not easily done, it being what affects all men: every man is conceited of himself and his own way, and is not easily persuaded off of it; his sinful ways are agreeable to him promising him pleasure, profit, or honour; and his self-righteous ways suit with the vain opinion he has of himself, whereby he promises himself eternal life and happiness. The Septuagint and Arabic versions render it to this sense,

"every man seems righteous to himself;''

but the Lord pondereth the hearts: weighs them in the balance of righteousness and truth; considers them, having a perfect knowledge of them, and all the springs of action in them; and knows that every way of man is not right, though they may seem so to him.

Geneva Study Bible

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

2. Repeated almost exactly from Proverbs 16:2.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 2. - This is similar to Proverbs 16:2 (where see note. Comp. also Proverbs 14:12; Proverbs 16:25; Proverbs 20:24). See here a warning against self-deception and that silly self-complacency which thinks its own ways the best. Septuagint, "Every man appears to himself righteous, but the Lord directs the hearts." Proverbs 21:2

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

The next group extends from Proverbs 21:2 to Proverbs 21:8, where it closes as it began.

2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes;

   But a weigher of hearts is Jahve.

A proverb similar to Proverbs 16:2 (where דּרכי, for דּרך, זך for ישׁר, רוּחות for לבּות). God is also, Proverbs 17:3, called a trier, בּחן, of hearts, as He is here called a weigher, תּכן. The proverb indirectly admonishes us of the duty of constant self-examination, according to the objective norm of the revealed will of God, and warns us against the self-complacency of the fool, of whom Proverbs 12:15 says (as Trimberg in "Renner"): "all fools live in the pleasant feeling that their life is the best," and against the self-deception which walks in the way of death and dreams of walking in the way of life, Proverbs 14:12 (Proverbs 16:25).