What Does Proverbs 3:34 Mean?

God shows scorn to the scornful but he gives favor to those who are humble. His response to a person matches the posture that they have taken toward him. The scoffer who mocks wisdom's call finds that their arrogance is met with divine opposition. This is the moral structure of the world working itself out in the response of the Creator. On the other hand the person who has remained humble and willing to be taught receives the grace (chen) and favor of God. Humility is the necessary condition for receiving anything from him.

The humble person is the opposite of the scoffer because they are willing to accept correction and instruction. While the scoffer considers their own judgment to be the highest authority the humble person knows they need guidance from outside themselves. [Proverbs 11:2] notes that wisdom is found with the humble while pride only leads to disgrace. This correlation is a core principle because wisdom requires the student to first admit that they do not have all the answers. Pride is a barrier that prevents a person from ever becoming wise.

[James 4:6] quotes this verse directly when he says that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. [1 Peter 5:5] uses the same quotation to urge believers to clothe themselves with humility toward one another. Both apostles teach that the favor of God is distributed based on this posture of the heart. What the father taught his son in Proverbs 3 is what governs the life of the church today. The only way to receive the gifts of God is to come to him with the humility of a learner.