Proverbs 10:29 Commentary and Bible Study

The word translated ‘strength’ means ‘place of protection’, ‘stronghold’, or ‘fortress’. The idea is not so much that the believer receives strength from walking in the way, as that the way of the Lord is itself a protection to him, nevertheless the result is that we too are made strong . Since conversion the believer has put the breastplate of God’s righteous standards in place, and is committed to walking in obedience to the Lord all the days of his life. This commitment to God’s standards is a stronghold to him, a place of safety and protection, for God protects every one of his children while they strive against sin, but when they yield to sin they expose themselves to further attacks from the devil. Are we inclined to rest a while and say, ‘I will gather my strength for a while by not participating in the Christian warfare’? This is a serious mistake, for our strength does not come from rest but from activity; there is no better policy and no easier journey through life than for us to be putting forth our constant and utmost effort into following the way of the Lord. The proverb has no verb as is common in Hebrew, and the verb ‘to be’ clearly needs to be supplied to the first half, ‘The way of the Lord is …’, but the KJV also adds ‘shall be’ to the second half, making destruction the subject. However the Hebrew suggests that ‘The way of the Lord’ is the subject of both halves, and while it is strength to the upright, it is destruction to the workers of iniquity. Can then workers of iniquity walk in the way of the Lord? They may attempt to do so, but the end result will be destruction, for they cannot follow the way of the Lord which is not simply an outward profession, but an inward conformity.