Proverbs 3:18 (YLT)

Passage

A tree of life she <FI>is<Fi> to those laying hold on her, And whoso is retaining her <FI>is<Fi> happy.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 3:16 Length of days <FI>is<Fi> in her right hand, In her left <FI>are<Fi> wealth and honour.

Proverbs 3:17 Her ways <FI>are<Fi> ways of pleasantness, And all her paths <FI>are<Fi> peace.

Proverbs 3:18 A tree of life she <FI>is<Fi> to those laying hold on her, And whoso is retaining her <FI>is<Fi> happy.

Proverbs 3:19 Jehovah by wisdom did found the earth, He prepared the heavens by understanding.

Proverbs 3:20 By His knowledge depths have been rent, And clouds do drop dew.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "tree", "life", "laying", "hold", "whoso", "retaining", and "happy". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "tree" and "life", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 17's "Her ways FI are Fi ways of..." into verse 19's "Jehovah by wisdom did found the earth...", so "tree" and "life" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "tree" and "life" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.