What does proverbs chapter 3 verse 4 mean?

Answer 1

A:Proverbs 3:10: "So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine."

For a substantially rural population, these are signs of prosperity. This passage dates from a time before Judaism had adopted the concept of heaven as a reward for righteousness, so rewards and punishments had to be meted out here on earth. Just as Proverbs 2:22 talks of being cut off from the earth as the only punishment God can impose on the wicked, so prosperity is the reward God is able to provide for the righteous.

Answer:

Proverbs 3:10 is a "physical side-effect" of "fearing and obeying our Creator's Commandments" -- which is of a "spiritual nature."

It should be taken in context with what's being said in the rest of the chapter... beginning with "spiritual instruction" of the first verses:

"My son, forget not My law; but let thine heart keep My Commandments..." (Prov.3:1).

This is what yields the blessings of "filled barns" and "bursting winepresses."

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel [bring health to your body - NIV], and marrow [nourishment - NIV] to thy bones." (verses 5-8)

God made man "physical" [flesh and blood]... and knows what makes for a happy, joyous physical existence. "Creature comforts" are important to man... the physical gratification of the natural five physical senses. Full bellies and happy times... family gatherings are good things. But all things come at a price.

And according to our Creator... true happiness begins with "a man's fear of Him"... and "obedience" -- the "keeping of His Commandments."

"...for this is the whole duty of man." (Eccle.12:13)

Filled barns and new wine make for a full satisfied belly and a light and merry heart.

"Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart..." (Eccle.9:7).

But they are earned and temporarily satisfying "physical blessings" that come from willing obedience to God's laws... as the "proverb" returns from the physical result of obedience to God, to deeper spiritual fulfillment:

"Happy is the man that findeth Wisdom, and the man that getteth Understanding." (verse 13)

Proverbs reveals that God's Divinely revealed Wisdom and Understanding is the foundation of True happiness... much greater than the temporary physical rewards [full barns and bursting winepresses] of our passing lives.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning [foundation] of Wisdom: and the Knowledge of the Holy [from God's revealed Word] is Understanding." (Prov.9:10)

Full barns and bursting winepresses isn't an end in itself in this proverb. It speaks to a correlation between man's fear and obedience to his Creator's Commandments [loving God and one another]... and the resulting joyous physical blessings and rewards that go with it.

Proverbs 3 is part of God's timeless Word... that speaks to more than ancient dead rural populations. God's Wisdom and Understanding transcends generations. The correlation between man's obedience to his Creator and physical blessings is still valid, today.

Our once-blessed nation's rejection of God... and its spiritual lack of His Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding has yielded the opposite of Proverbs 3:10.

"My people are destroyed for lack of Knowledge: because thou hast rejected Knowledge, I will also reject thee..." (Hosea 4:6).

Our barns are less than half full... and our winepresses are barely dripping.

Full barns and bursting winepresses pass with the seasons... as do men... but God's Wisdom and Understanding is Eternal.

Proverbs 3 informs the Wise across the generations, that the physical blessing of full barns and bursting winepresses is a direct result of acknowledging and acting upon God's spiritual Wisdom and Understanding.

"The LORD's curse is one the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the Righteous... The Wise inherit Honor, but fools He holds up to shame." (Prov.3:35 NIV)

Answer 2

I've added the previous verses (3:1-3) so that the context will be clear. The verses are talking about the importance and the results of following the Torah's teachings and are pretty self-explanatory.

Quote:

My son, do not forget my teaching; but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days, and years of life, and peace, they will add to you.

Let not kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck, write them upon the tablet of your heart; so shall you find grace and good favor in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely upon your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and depart from evil;

it shall be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones.