Bible Commentaries
Proverbs 20

Verse 1

Pro 20:1

Proverbs 20:1

"Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise."

Alcoholic beverages are today ruining America. It is not only unwise to err in the use of them, but it is sinful also. Yes, Jesus used wine. It had a 4 percent alcoholic content, and even then was, in all probability diluted. See pp. 102,103 in my commentary on Proverbs. The high-powered wine marketed today has up to 18 percent alcoholic content. Nothing is any more misleading than the allegation (true enough) that Jesus made eighty gallons of wine at the wedding in Cana; because that stuff which Gallo makes today is nearly five times as powerful.

Oh, but how about beer? The Anchor Bible renders this verse as: "Wine makes men insolent; beer makes them boisterous; no one who staggers drunkenly is wise.” The myth that the government cannot limit the use of this poison as a beverage is, of course, false. The Arabian countries can and do prohibit it.

The silliest thing that this writer has witnessed in his eighty-eight years of life is the hysterical efforts of the government to prohibit smoking, while at the same time actually encouraging the consumption of alcohol, which is a hundred times more dangerous. Yes, if a man smokes a pack of cigarettes every day for twenty years, he may get lung cancer; but, not long ago, in Houston, Texas, a teen-aged driver had a few beers at a party, loaded his car up with friends, hit a bridge column and killed five of them, not in twenty-years, but in one afternoon! Fifty thousand funerals a year, besides billions of dollars in damage, is too high a price to pay for the palaces of the liquor barons. God help America to wake up!

Let it be noted here that nothing is said about "excess drinking." It is drinking which is condemned. The very nature of alcohol is such that any consumption of it almost invariably leads to excess. Paul’s instructions to Timothy to, "Drink no longer water, but a little wine for thy stomach’s sake" (1 Timothy 5:23) did not mean that Timothy would never drink any more water, but that he would stop being a teetotaler. And regardless of what some social-drinking Christians think about it, the true and holy standard of Christian living is simply: "Don’t touch alcoholic beverages, except as a medicinal requirement." The apostle to the Gentiles made this perfectly clear.

Proverbs 20:1. “Wine” as used in the Bible is not always intoxicating, but in this instance it is (note its connection with “strong drink” and also with what the verse says about it). It is a “mocker”, mocking and making a fool out of its drinker with ridiculous and senseless conduct. Strong drink is a “brawler”, leading to many quarrels and fights. One who drinks the stuff “erreth”, is making a great mistake, sins, and he is “not wise.” One can hardly err worse or be more unwise than to take up with strong drink. Oh, the sorrows, griefs, hardships, miseries, and you-name-it that strong drink has brought to the drinker, to his family, and to those who have been injured and killed just so that he could drink! For other passages see Genesis 9:21-22; Proverbs 23:29-30; Isaiah 28:7; Hosea 4:4. Strong drink is surely not for kings (Proverbs 31:4-5), yet they have often been big drinkers. God was highly displeased at the drinking Belshazzar and his antics at the big party of Daniel 5. Every nation that has turned to wine has only weakened itself. A German saying: “More are drowned in the wine cup than in the ocean.” Note the New Testament teaching in Ephesians 5:18; Romans 14:21.

Verse 2

Pro 20:2

Proverbs 20:2

"The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life."

This is exactly the kind of proverb we should have expected from Solomon. See the comments on Proverbs 16:14-15. This proverb is parallel to the thought there.

Proverbs 20:2. Being a king, Solomon included numerous sayings involving kings. He especially liked those that showed the importance of having the king’s favor and avoiding his disfavor (Proverbs 16:16; Proverbs 19:12). 1 Kings 2 shows three men encountering Solomon’s wrath and suffering death: Adonijah, Job, and Shemei.

Verse 3

Pro 20:3

Proverbs 20:3

"It is honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarreling."

"It does men honor to keep clear of strife: a fool quarrels with everyone.” There is no greater damage to human personality than that which is accomplished by a quarrelsome disposition.

Proverbs 20:3. This verse shows that fools (not wise people) quarrel and engage in trouble while people of honor seek to avoid strife, “Follow peace with all men” (Hebrews 12:14); “If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men,” Romans 12:18); “Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, ”Genesis 13:8). This does not mean we are to compromise God’s Word in order to have peace. This is an altogether different field (Luke 14:31-33).

Verse 4

Pro 20:4

Proverbs 20:4

"The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing."

This proverb repeats the teaching of the old Aesop’s fable of the grasshopper and the ant. Provision for one’s future needs must be made at the expense of working at inconvenient times and under unfavorable circumstances.

Proverbs 20:4. The lazy, indolent person can always find an excuse for not working. It may be the cold weather (as in this verse), or it may be “too hot”, “rainy,” “it’s too hard,” “I don’t know how,” “I’m not feeling good,” “somebody else will do it,” “it’s not important,” “I’ll do it later,” etc. This is why some people have nothing.

Verse 5

Pro 20:5

Proverbs 20:5

"Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out."

"There is no moral content in this proverb. A man’s real purpose may be hard to fathom. The allusion is to men’s disposition to conceal their plans. A clever man will try to discover them by shrewd inquiries and guesses.” `Deep water,’ as already noted, is an idiom for things mysterious or difficult to find out.

Proverbs 20:5. “Counsel” in this verse stands for deep wisdom (like water of a deep well). But “counsel” is no good unless you can get it from its possessor. People with little to offer us are generally free with their advice, but people who really have knowledge tend to be more conservative with giving unsolicited advice. In fact, sometimes it takes just the right person who goes at the right time and approaches the subject in just the right way to get such valuable counsel. This verse shows that where there’s a will, a man of understanding will find the way to get it.

Verse 6

Pro 20:6

Proverbs 20:6

"Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?"

"Many a man protests his loyalty, but where will you find one to keep faith.” The thought here is similar to Paul’s remark that, "There is none righteous, no not one" (Romans 3:9).

Proverbs 20:6. The tendency of humanity is to tell those things that are personally commendable and to forget those things that are derogatory. As such we tell only a part of the story. A “faithful” man (one who tells it exactly as it is concerning himself) is almost impossible to find, according to the implication of this verse. There is much food for thought here for each of us.

Verse 7

Pro 20:7

Proverbs 20:7

"A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him."

"He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.” There is no inheritance which a man can leave his children that is any more desirable than a good name. In this also, this writer, and also his wife, have rejoiced for a lifetime in the true and noble character of godly Christian parents, honored by their contemporaries as true and worthy saints of God. That is the greatest inheritance that any one can receive.

Proverbs 20:7. Everybody is blessed when a man lives right, but especially himself and his family. Since influence and environment are such strong factors in life, those who are the closest to a righteous person are the ones who receive the greatest blessings from their influence. “Integrity” is honesty, uprightness. Other passages showing that one’s offspring is blessed by his righteousness and because of his righteousness: Psalms 37:25-26; Psalms 112:2.

Verse 8

Pro 20:8

Proverbs 20:8

"A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes."

The truth of this proverb hinges upon the character of the king. What is said here is true only of a wise and righteous monarch. "When a king sits on his throne to judge, he winnows out all evil with his eyes.”

Proverbs 20:8. Not just any king, for some kings (like Ahab) have been the source and the multiplication of evil. But a good king is one who rules with a righteous sceptre, and his government praises the good and punishes the evil (1 Peter 2:13-14; Romans 13:3).

Verse 9

Pro 20:9

Proverbs 20:9

"Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?"

This is a plaintive note indeed. The implied response here is negative. Under the Old Dispensation, there was no such thing as the forgiveness of sins. "There was a remembrance of sins year by year" (Hebrews 10:3). Thus, there is an unspoken plea here for that Atonement that came only in the blood of Christ.

Proverbs 20:9. The implied answer is “nobody”. We can make our hearts corrupt and our lives sinful, but we cannot dispel the guilt nor cleanse away our sin apart from God’s mercy. Let us re-say it: Man cannot direct his own way successfully (Jeremiah 10:23), nor can he save himself by his own righteousness (Titus 3:5), nor can he cleanse himself from a single sin (this verse). Notice how this is brought out in song: “Nothing in my hand I bring; simply to thy cross I cling; Naked, come to Thee for dress; helpless, look to Thee for grace; Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me, Saviour, or I die.”

Verse 10

Pro 20:10

Proverbs 20:10

"Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah."

We have already studied several proverbs in this same line of thought. The diversity of the weights and measures was a device used by dishonest traders who used one set of standards when buying, another when selling. The simple meaning of the proverb is that God hates dishonest traders.

Proverbs 20:10. Proverbs 20:23 reads similarly. Man employs such means to gain personal advantage even though its disadvantage to his fellowmen equals the advantage that it is to himself. It is unscrupulous gain. It is plain and intentional dishonesty. And it is abomination to God. See Deuteronomy 25:13-16 and Proverbs 11:1 also.

Verse 11

Pro 20:11

Proverbs 20:11

"Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right."

"By his actions a youth makes it clear whether what he is doing is honest and upright.” "Even a child is known by what he does, as he behaves well or as he doesn’t. James Moffatt’s Translation is preferable here. A well-disciplined, well-behaved child is already far along on the road to becoming an honorable and upright person.

Proverbs 20:11. The Bible says we can know what a person really is by what he does (Matthew 7:16; Matthew 12:35; 1 John 3:10; 1 John 2:29). This verse shows that people begin to take notice of one’s behavior and to form an opinion concerning him even when he is a young child.

Verse 12

Pro 20:12

Proverbs 20:12

"The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them."

What an incredible marvel, really, is either one of these? Take hearing. One answers the telephone and hears a voice that he has not heard in ten years and recognizes it instantly! Or, one may detect delicate variations in colors with uncanny accuracy. This writer purchased a turquoise necklace from the Jordanian exhibit at the New York World’s Fair in 1966; and then, without that necklace in his possession, he selected a perfect match for it from a Chinese collection that exhibited over five hundred different colors. Only God could have endowed men with such wonderful instruments of sight and hearing.

Proverbs 20:12. Psalms 94:9 and Exodus 4:11 also affirm that God has made our equipment for seeing and hearing, and when one studies the intricacies of these valuable parts of our bodies, who else but God could make them? The theory of evolution is so inadequate to account for the origin of such sensitive, such intricate, such functional, parts of the human body. This is applicable not only to the eyes and ears but to all the body. R. G. Lee: “The most wonderful camera in all the world is the human eye. The most perfect telephone is the human ear. The most perfect violin is the human larynx. The most perfect telegraph system is the human nerves. The most wonderful chemical laboratories is the intestinal tract. The most wonderful thatch is the human hair. The most perfect filter is the human lung. The most perfect screen is the human eyelid. The most perfect pump is the human heart.”

Verse 13

Pro 20:13

Proverbs 20:13

"Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread."

"If you spend your time sleeping, you will be poor. Keep busy and you will have plenty to eat.” "What is stated in the first line here is elaborated in Proverbs 6:9-11.” See the comments on those verses.

Proverbs 20:13. We know that a person can sleep too little for good health. But we can also sleep too much to get the necessary things done. Clark: “Sleep...is an indescribable blessing; but how often is it turned into a curse! It is like food: a certain measure of it restores and invigorates exhausted nature; more than that oppresses and destroys life.” See Proverbs 6:9-11; Proverbs 19:15 also.

Verse 14

Pro 20:14

Proverbs 20:14

"It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he goeth his way, he boasteth."

This describes another trick of the dishonest trader. He belittles and downgrades what is offered for sale; and then, when he is able to purchase it for less than it is worth, he brags about his cleverness. Even as a child, this writer learned the ways of dishonest traders that falsely graded the cotton they bought.

Proverbs 20:14. If there is something wrong with an object one is seeking to buy, it is not out of place for the buyer to take that into consideration with the seller when making the purchase and agreeing upon the price, but this verse knows human nature all too well: to “knock” the product mercilessly and unrighteously as if it were no good, but when the purchase has been made at a small price, oh how the purchaser does brag to his friends of the deal he made! Beware, traders and buyers!

Verse 15

Pro 20:15

Proverbs 20:15

"There is gold, and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel."

"There is indeed gold, and many pearls; but a precious treasure are lips full of knowledge.” The implication here, as often stated in Proverbs, is that knowledge is far better than gold, or other such treasures.

Proverbs 20:15. Speaking of wisdom, Job 28:16-19 says, “It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. Gold and glass cannot equal it, neither shall it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal: yea, the price of wisdom is above rubies. The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.” See Proverbs 3:15; Proverbs 8:11 for similar comparisons. This verse is not speaking of wisdom and knowledge held for oneself but shared with others.

Verse 16

Pro 20:16

Proverbs 20:16

"Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge that is surety for foreigners."

This rendition seems to catch the idea here: "Anyone stupid enough to promise to be responsible for a stranger’s debts ought to have his own property held to guarantee payment.”

Proverbs 20:16. Proverbs 27:13 is very similar. This is exactly what happens when one has made himself surety for another’s debts who cannot pay. Proverbs 22:26-27 warns against suretyship as do Proverbs 6:1-2; Proverbs 11:15; Proverbs 17:18.

Verse 17

Pro 20:17

Proverbs 20:17

"Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterward his mouth shall be filled with gravel."

"A man may delight in making his living dishonestly, but after a time his mouth shall be filled with gravel.” This, of course, is a warning against dishonesty.

Proverbs 20:17. The pleasures of sin seem great at the moment, but they can lead to very sorrowful consequences, and in the end to divine punishment in the lake of fire. Achan enjoyed much more the stealing of the forbidden from the spoils of Jericho than he did the “afterwards” (Joshua 7:20-25). It seemed “sweet” to Joseph’s brothers to sell him and get rid of him, but the “afterwards” of it was not good (Genesis 42:21-22). The philosophy of the evil woman of Proverbs 9:17 is that “stolen waters of sweet”, but the man who drinks “knoweth not that the dead are there; That her guests are in the depths of Sheol” (Proverbs 9:18). Look beyond the momentary pleasure derived from sin to the fearful consequences to which it leads (Hebrews 10:31).

Verse 18

Pro 20:18

Proverbs 20:18

"Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war."

This, and a number of other proverbs, are oriented toward the decisions that would have been required of a monarch, such as Solomon. Christ might have had this in mind when he said, "What king, when he goeth to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand" (Luke 14:31)?

Proverbs 20:18. This saying was given for those days when God had an earthly nation (Israel) and when their wars with the idolatrous was a part of God’s plan (a 1500 year period—from Moses onward). Other verses on the same subject and for the same period: Proverbs 15:22; Proverbs 24:6; Luke 14:31. Absalom was not wise in accepting Hushai’s false counsel in preference to Ahitho-phel’s wise counsel from his standpoint (2 Samuel 17:1-14; 2 Samuel 18:6-15). Just as they looked to “counsel” in their warfare, even so should we seek out good advice in pursuing major proposals.

Verse 19

Pro 20:19

Proverbs 20:19

"He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets; Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips."

Similar proverbs are Proverbs 11:13 and Proverbs 18:8. See comments there. The meaning here is simple enough. "The talebearer will not keep confidences, so do not associate with him.”

Proverbs 20:19. The first statement is found also in Proverbs 11:13. A talebearer revealeth secrets wherever he goes. But be assured as he tells you the secrets of others that he in turn will reveal your secrets to the next ones to whom he talks. “Therefore company not with him,” says this verse’s conclusion, and a good conclusion it is! Proverbs has nothing good to say about the “talebearer” and the “whisperer”, and what a poor way to live! Surely there is something far higher to live for than to be a talebearer and a gossip.

Verse 20

Pro 20:20

Proverbs 20:20

"Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness."

Cursing father or mother was a capital offense under the law of Moses (Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9; Matthew 15:4); and there is an obvious reference to that in this proverb. In America today, a teen-ager may murder his parents, claim child-abuse as an excuse, and get off with ten years probation and a year of psychiatric counseling at the state’s expense. When will we ever learn?

Proverbs 20:20. Other Scriptures about cursing and belittling one’s parents: Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9; Matthew 15:4. Other passages on one’s lamp being put out: Proverbs 24:20; Job 18:5-6. They always kept a small light burning in their houses at night, for utter darkness was one of the things they feared the most. The “lamp” of one’s life, one’s household, one’s future lineage, would be cut off if he cursed his parents.

Verse 21

Pro 20:21

Proverbs 20:21

"An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed."

As it stands, this is ambiguous. Toy understood it to say that, "The heir does not wait to receive his inheritance in the due course of nature, obtaining it prematurely by foul means; no blessing, the proverb declares will attend property so acquired.” Deane applied it also to, "The prodigal in the parable who demanded and received his inheritance,” squandered it in the far country and at last could hear the grunting of the swine in both ears!

Our personal view is that the proverb suggests the inability of the heirs of rich men to continue the successful operations of their father. Rehoboam is the classical illustration of this from the Bible. In Houston, Texas, the heir of the great merchant prince, Simon Sakowitz, soon lost his empire.

Proverbs 20:21. Sometimes an inheritance immediately places into a person’s hands more money than he has ever had in his possession at any one time. He didn’t work for it; he didn’t save it; but now all at once it is his. If the person is wise, it can be a great blessing as he thankfully receives it, as he carefully invests or uses it, and as he realizes the value of it. But “come easy, go easy” is so often the rule, and a short time of luxurious living (while it lasts; can make it a curse to him as he gets himself into a standard of living that he cannot maintain by his own earnings after the inheritance money is blown. A common laborer went through an inheritance of $200,000 in six months. He didn’t want to go back to working, so he and a woman teamed up and kidnapped a rich man’s son, killed him, and collected the ransom money. They were executed by the state of Missouri. Others, like the Prodigal Son, get involved in sinful, indulgent living that they had never known before.

Verse 22

Pro 20:22

Proverbs 20:22

"Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee."

One who presumes to take vengeance upon another is usurping a prerogative that belongs to God alone. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament thunder the warning: "Thus saith the Lord, Vengeance is mine, and recompense" (Deuteronomy 32:35); "Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord" (Romans 12:19).

Proverbs 20:22. Proverbs 24:29 also forbids one saying he will take vengeance. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 and 1 Peter 3:9 also forbid our vengeance-taking and teaches us to render good for their evil. Deuteronomy 32:35-36 promises that God will take care of executing vengeance on the wrongdoer, saving us the trouble, keeping us from making some mistakes, and being sure the wrongdoer will get just what he should receive. Paul reminds us of this in Romans 12:19-20, promising that by our doing good to them, some of them will be turned from enmity to friendship (Proverbs 20:21). Abigail believed this and persuaded David (1 Samuel 25:9-34), and thereafter David appeared to be completely convinced of the rightness of this procedure (1 Samuel 26:7-10; 2 Samuel 16:5-12).

Verse 23

Pro 20:23

Proverbs 20:23

"Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And a false balance is not good."

This is parallel with Proverbs 20:10. See the comment there.

Proverbs 20:23. Similar to Proverbs 20:10. God’s great displeasure with crooked dishonest dealings with one’s fellowmen is again expressed.

Verse 24

Pro 20:24

Proverbs 20:24

"A man’s goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way?"

"The steps of a man are guided by the Lord. But who is the man that can understand his own way.” Although the freedom of the human will and the individual responsibility of every mortal are continually affirmed throughout Proverbs, "This verse stresses the absolute sovereignty of God.” There is indeed a sublime mystery in every life. "The order of a man’s life is a mystery even to himself. He knows not whither he is going, or for what God is educating him.” Toy, it seems to us, had a better grasp of what is taught here. "No man can comprehend fully the meaning of his own experiences; and the suggestion here is that man must throw himself on God, acknowledge, obey and trust Him; and then his life will be rationally and successfully directed.” The Anchor Bible also carries the same understanding. "It is by the Lord that a man’s steps are directed; how (then) could a human being know which way to take"?

Proverbs 20:24. That Jehovah leads in our lives, see Proverbs 16:9 and Psalms 37:23. Since we cannot successfully direct our own ways (Jeremiah 10:23), we should ask God to do it for us (Proverbs 3:6; Psalms 37:4-5). At the time we may not see the hand of the Lord at work as we will see it later (consider Genesis 50:20). Paul and Silas must have had this faith, for in answering the Macedonian call of Acts 16:9, they were soon in jail in Macedonia, but we see no complaining in them but praying and singing praises to God (Acts 16:25), and great good came out of their actual imprisonment (Acts 16:26-34).

Verse 25

Pro 20:25

Proverbs 20:25

"It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy, And after vows to make inquiry."

Again, we have a proverb in which the Hebrew text, "Is not clear.” The `inquiry’ mentioned in the second line apparently refers to a situation in which a man, after making a rash and vow, begins to seek some loophole, "So as to escape payment.”

Sometimes, people, under a sudden impulse will make pledges for benevolent or religious purposes, which are really beyond their means; and this proverb is a warning against such behavior. "It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider his vow.” "Jephthah is a startling example of one falling into the snare that is mentioned here (Judges 11:34-40).” Jonah’s mention in his prayer from the fish’s belly that he would pay his vows is a strong indication that he also had made some rash vows (Jonah 2:9). "The Pharisees developed a casuistry regarding gifts to the Temple that Jesus condemned (Matthew 23:16-22).”

Proverbs 20:25. We should always think before acting, and when vowing before God this verse shows that one should be sure he is going to carry through before promising. And so agrees Ecclesiastes 5:4-5. We should work to get people to make sacred decisions, but we do not want to pressure them into saying something that they will not have the faith, reverence, and determination to carry out. Many a persuasive, out-going, personality-man has gotten people baptized who were not really ready on their own to live the Christ-directed life.

Verse 26

Pro 20:26

Proverbs 20:26

"A wise king winnoweth the wicked, And bringeth the threshing-wheel over them."

Commentators usually try to soften the words here, suggesting that, "The words may be figurative.” James Moffatt accepted that theory in his rendition: "A wise king scatters wicked men; he drives hard over them.” However, the mention of threshing instruments here brings to mind Amos 1:3, where it is said that God brought judgment upon Damascus, "Because they threshed Gilead with threshing-instruments of iron." Toy also agreed that, "There is here the implication of destructive or serious punishment.” Atrocities of this kind were common in ancient warfare; and even King David was guilty of such destruction (2 Samuel 12:31).

Proverbs 20:26. “Winnoweth” and “threshingwheel” refer to their threshing the grain and by rough-handling their separating the grain from the rest. Whippings (punishments) have often been referred to by the word “threshing”. Solomon (and God who inspired his including this statement in the Proverbs) knew that the wicked should be dealt with as such, and so should every ruler of any level (parent, judge, school principal, church leader, etc.). Put “ruler” for “king”, and this statement makes sense in an extended way to every realm of leadership.

Verse 27

Pro 20:27

Proverbs 20:27

"The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching all his innermost parts."

"The word `spirit’ here is from the literal Hebrew word `breath’; and it refers to that "breath of life" which God breathed into mankind in the person of Adam (Genesis 2:7).” It is that which distinguishes man from an animal. "It is the equivalent of conscience, God’s lamp, that searches out the innermost recesses of a man’s heart.” This is a very important verse. "It stands alone in the Old Testament in its affirmation that the Divine element in human life is the conscience.”

No matter how wicked a man may be, there is still within him that conscience which came from God; and which, regardless of his sins, bears witness, in some degree, to what he should be instead of what he is. There is no way by which any man can utterly destroy that inner witness of God. Some radical commentators such as James Moffatt and Toy omitted this verse; but it is significant that it still stands in the RSV. Satan himself is unable to take it out of the Bible.

Proverbs 20:27. 1 Corinthians 2:11 speaks of this “spirit of man”: “Who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him?” That which man has from Jehovah that animals are not credited with having and that searches out one’s innermost thoughts is the conscience. Man has this important facility within him because God wanted him to have it. When one’s conscience operates, his thoughts either “accuse” or “excuse” him for his actions (Romans 2:15), depending upon whether he has violated or carried out what he understands to be right. The conscience is a “Siamese twin” of one’s intellect: whatever one’s intellect tells him is right or wrong, his conscience accepts the same position and works accordingly (Acts 26:9-11; Acts 23:1).

Verse 28

Pro 20:28

Proverbs 20:28

"Kindness and truth preserve the king; And his throne is upholden by kindness."

True as this proverb is, the quality of kindness was seldom found in the Oriental monarchs of ancient times, not even in Israel. "A king’s guards are loyalty and good faith; his throne is upheld by righteousness.” "Loyalty (that is, loyalty to the sacred covenant) and faithfulness are here marks of the ideal king,” and are not intended as a description of the kings that the ancient world often endured.

Proverbs 20:28. There have been many unkind kings; in fact, it has been common for man to abuse his place of power. Except for David’s unkindness to Uriah, he was a living model of a king who wanted to be kind and good to his subjects, to his men, and to his repentant enemies, and who sought to rule with the absolute truth in mind. Note the similar promise in Proverbs 29:14. Such a king, though, is not looked upon as “kind” by those who do wrong (Proverbs 20:26).

Verse 29

Pro 20:29

Proverbs 20:29

"The glory of young men is their strength; And the beauty of old men is the hoary head."

"Youth is not better than old age, nor is old age better than youth. Each has a glory of its own; and each has its handicaps and temptations, also its triumphs and discouragements in a well-ordered life.” Nothing is any more ridiculous that an old person pretending to be young again! It also should be remembered that "the hoary head" is the glory of old age, only if it be found "in the way of righteousness."

Proverbs 20:29. It is natural for young men to glory in their strength. Their bodies are young, healthy, working, nimble, capable, etc., and because of this, competitive athletics are common for that age. They wrestle, lift weights, run, play football and other types of ball, etc. And because of this strength sometimes they forget that life can be taken from them without a warning, and sometimes they abuse their bodies to the undoing of their comfort in older years. But in time that strength will naturally be replaced with the gray and then the white hair of old age, which is said by this verse to be beautiful. It symbolizes length of days, rich experiences, knowledge and wisdom, and many years of usefulness, all of which add up to a respect that is normally forthcoming (Proverbs 16:31).

Verse 30

Pro 20:30

Proverbs 20:30

"Stripes that wound cleanse away evil; And strokes reach the innermost parts."

"Sharp blows purify the wicked; and stripes the innermost being.” The unmerciful use of corporal punishment in ancient times is emphasized by the terrible beatings and scourgings suffered by the apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 11:23-26). Such public scourgings were inflicted upon criminals during colonial times in America; and public reaction against such punishments has led to a near-abandonment of the very principle of punishment as something deserved by the guilty, and absolutely required for the well-being of society.

No society should reject the punishment of criminals as a cardinal principle of public safety, especially to the extent that it has been rejected in America today. It is still true that the fear of punishment, justly and promptly inflicted upon the guilty, is the greatest single deterrent to wickedness that the world has ever known. This proverb endorses it, and in effect, commands it, regardless of the actual nature of the punishment.

It is an absolute must that any punishment of convicted criminals should be something utterly distasteful to the criminal. Incarceration in one of our modern air-conditioned jails, where no work is required, where a color TV set is provided, and a good bed at night, three square meals a day served free of charge to the occupants, medical treatments, dental work, and medicines, etc., all at taxpayers’ expense - all of this actually provides a safer and better living for convicted criminals than that which many honest and hard-working citizens are able to provide even for themselves, despite the fact that their taxes pay for all those benefits for the convicts. To call such behavior on the part of any society stupid is an unjustified compliment! It is criminal!

Proverbs 20:30. “Stripes” and “strokes” have to do with correcting and punishing those who have done evil. This verse presents the following parallels: “stripes” and “strokes” go together as do “cleanse away evil” and “reach the innermost parts”. When such are applied severely enough (“wound”), they do reach the seat of evil (The “innermost parts”). Words of instruction should always precede the wounds of discipline, but words are too weak to reach some people; the only language that some people can get anything out of at all is that of severe discipline. When a congregation no longer deals with the evil committed within it; when a home does not discipline its disobedient children; and when a government does not punish the wrongdoer, it is bad for everybody; the individual himself, the church, the home, and society.

Proverbs of Solomon - Proverbs 20:1-30

Open It

1. When have you made a commitment or purchase you later regretted?

2. How have you found it easier to understand other people than to understand yourself?

Explore It

3. What is one hazard in drinking? (Proverbs 20:1)

4. What topics do these proverbs discuss, and how are they related to one another? (Proverbs 20:1-30)

5. What is it an honor to avoid? (Proverbs 20:3)

6. What are the consequences of being a sluggard? (Proverbs 20:4)

7. What did Solomon say concerning the purposes of a person’s heart? (Proverbs 20:5)

8. What kind of life does a righteous person lead? (Proverbs 20:7)

9. By what is even a child known? (Proverbs 20:11)

10. What should we not love? Why? (Proverbs 20:13)

11. What is in rare supply? (Proverbs 20:15)

12. How should we make plans? (Proverbs 20:18)

13. What kind of person should we avoid? (Proverbs 20:19)

14. How does God affect our life? (Proverbs 20:24)

15. How should we be careful about vows? (Proverbs 20:25)

16. What does the Lord search? (Proverbs 20:27)

17. How do love and faithfulness help? (Proverbs 20:28)

18. What is the glory of young men and old men? (Proverbs 20:29)

Get It

19. How is wine a mocker and beer a brawler?

20.What sort of things should we do to avoid strife?

21. Why is it hard to understand the deep purposes that motivate our thoughts and actions?

22. How is a person of understanding able to draw out the deep purposes of a person’s heart?

23. What does it mean to live a blameless life?

24. By what actions are you known?

25. When is sleep a good thing, and when is it a bad thing?

26. Why is it important to get advice when making important decisions?

27. From what kind of people should we seek advice?

28. Under what circumstances do you talk more than you should?

Apply It

29. Beginning today, what simple plan can you make to avoid making rash decisions?

30. In what specific situation or relationship will you strive to avoid strife this week?

31. What action can you take to gain a better understanding of the purposes that motivate and guide your life?