Proverbs 30:5
“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Part of the words of Agur in chapter 30, this saying exalts the purity and reliability of God's word, immediately followed by a warning not to add to it.
What Does Proverbs 30:5 Mean?
Proverbs 30:5 affirms that every word God speaks is pure and trustworthy, and that He shields all who take refuge in Him. The first line, "Every word of God is pure," uses the image of refined metal. The word translated "pure" describes gold or silver that has been tested in fire and proven free of impurity. God's words are like that -- tried, reliable, and without flaw, able to be fully trusted because they have been proven true.
The second line draws a beautiful conclusion: "he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him." Because God's word is dependable, God Himself becomes a protective shield to those who rely on Him. The connection matters: trusting God's reliable word leads to taking refuge in God, and God meets that trust with protection. The shield is a picture of defense in battle -- God surrounds and guards those who lean on Him. This verse joins together two great themes: the trustworthiness of what God says and the safety found in the One who says it. For the reader, it is an invitation to rest the full weight of their life on God's proven words, confident that the One whose every word is pure will also be a shield in every danger.
In the Original Language
The word "pure" is "tsaruph," meaning refined or tried in fire. "Shield" is "magen," a protective shield, and "trust" is "chasah," to seek refuge or take shelter in someone.
Cross References
“The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.”
- Psalm 12:6
“the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.”
- Psalm 18:30
“The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”
- Proverbs 18:10
Application
Rest the weight of your life on God's proven, reliable word, and take refuge in Him, trusting that the One whose every word is pure will also be your shield.