Proverbs 16:10

Proverbs 16:10 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
• New International Version (NIV)The lips of a king speak as an oracle, and his mouth does not betray justice.
• English Standard Version (ESV)An oracle is on the lips of a king; his mouth does not sin in judgment.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Divination is on the lips of the king; His mouth must not transgress in judgment.

Context of Proverbs 16:10

8Better is a little with righteousness Than great income [gained] with injustice. 9A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life], But the Lord directs his steps and establishes them. A divine decision [given by God] is on the lips of the king [as His representative]; His mouth should not be unfaithful or unjust in judgment. 11A just balance and [honest] scales are the Lord’s; All the weights of the bag are His concern [established by His eternal principles]. 12It is repulsive [to God and man] for kings to behave wickedly, For a throne is established on righteousness (right standing with God).

Proverbs 16:10 word by word

קֶ֤סֶם׀ עַֽל־שִׂפְתֵי־מֶ֑לֶךְ בְּ֝מִשְׁפָּ֗ט לֹ֣א יִמְעַל־פִּֽיו׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• A divine sentenceקֶ֫סֶםqesem · divinationH7081
• in the lipsשָׂפָהώâphâh ώepheth · lipsH8193
• of the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• his mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
• transgressethמָעַלmâ‛al · be unfaithfulH4603
• not in judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justice: judgementH4941

Cross-references for Proverbs 16:10

• Proverbs 16:12It is repulsive [to God and man] for kings to behave wickedly, For a throne is established on righteousness (right standing with God).
• Genesis 44:5Is this not my lord’s drinking cup and the one which he uses for divination? You have done [a great and unforgivable] wrong in doing this.’ ”
• Deuteronomy 17:18“Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.
• 2 Samuel 23:3The God of Israel, The Rock of Israel spoke to me, ‘He who rules over men righteously, Who rules in the fear of God,
• Psalms 45:6Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
• Psalms 72:1Give the king [knowledge of] Your judgments, O God, And [the spirit of] Your righteousness to the king’s son [to guide all his ways].
• Psalms 99:4The strength of the King loves justice and righteous judgment; You have established fairness; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob (Israel).
• Isaiah 32:1Behold, a King will reign in righteousness, And princes will rule with justice.
• Jeremiah 23:5“Behold (listen closely), the days are coming,” says the Lord, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as King and act wisely And will do [those things that accomplish] justice and righteousness in the land.
• Hosea 10:4They have spoken empty (disingenuous) words, Swearing falsely to make covenants [they intend to break]; Therefore, judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.
• Amos 5:7For those [shall be consumed] who turn justice into wormwood (bitterness) And cast righteousness down to the earth.”
• Amos 6:12Do horses run on rocks? Do men plow rocks with oxen? [Of course not!] Yet you have turned justice into poison And the fruit of righteousness into wormwood (bitterness),

Commentaries on Proverbs 16:10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10A divine sentence - קסם kesem, "divination," as the margin has it. Is the meaning as follows? Though divination were applied to a righteous king's lips, to induce him to punish the innocent and spare the guilty, yet would not his lips transgress in judgment; so firmly attached is he to God, and so much is he under the Divine care and influence. Whatever judgment such a one pronounces, it may be considered as a decision from God.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10A divine sentence - See the margin, i. e., “soothsaying” in its darker aspect as contrasted with prophecy. The true oracle is to be sought, not from soothsayers and diviners, but “at the lips of the king,” who is ideally the representative, the ́ prophētēs of Yahweh, in His government of mankind.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10Divine wisdom is guidance from a divine source that helps the king make decisions (for example, 1 Kings 3:28; see also Psalm 72:2).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. The last clause depends on the first, expressing the importance of equity in decisions, so authoritative.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 16:10

• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Chief
• Divine
• Haughty
• Lot
• Pride
• Whisperer
• Proverb
• Proverbs, the Book of

Commentaries on Proverbs 16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings