Proverbs 20:18

Proverbs 20:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
• New International Version (NIV)Plans are established by seeking advice; so if you wage war, obtain guidance.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war.

Context of Proverbs 20:18

16[The judge tells the creditor], “Take the clothes of one who is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge [when he guarantees a loan] for foreigners.” 17Food gained by deceit is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel [just as sin may be sweet at first, but later its consequences bring despair]. Plans are established by counsel; So make war [only] with wise guidance. 19He who goes about as a gossip reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with a gossip [who talks freely or flatters]. 20Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp [of life] will be extinguished in time of darkness.

Proverbs 20:18 word by word

מַ֭חֲשָׁבוֹת בְּעֵצָ֣ה תִכּ֑וֹן וּ֝בְתַחְבֻּל֗וֹת עֲשֵׂ֣ה מִלְחָמָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• purposeמַחֲשָׁבָהmachăshâbâh machăshebeth · plotH4284
• is establishedכּוּןkûn · to establish: establishH3559
• by counselעֵצָה‛êtsâh · counselH6098
• and with good adviceתַּחְבֻּלָהtachbûlâh tachbûlâh · counselH8458
• makeעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213
• warמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421

Cross-references for Proverbs 20:18

• Proverbs 15:22Without consultation and wise advice, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they are established and succeed.
• Proverbs 24:6For by wise guidance you can wage your war, And in an abundance of [wise] counselors there is victory and safety.
• Proverbs 25:8Do not rush out to argue your case [before magistrates or judges]; Otherwise what will you do in the end [when your case is lost and] When your neighbor (opponent) humiliates you?
• Judges 1:1Now it came about after the death of Joshua, that the sons (descendants) of Israel (Jacob) asked the Lord, “Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?”
• Judges 9:29If only this people were under my authority! Then I would remove Abimelech and say to him, ‘Increase [the size of] your army and come out [to fight].’ ”
• Judges 20:7Now then, all you sons of Israel, all of you, give your advice and counsel here [regarding what should be done].”
• 2 Samuel 2:26Then Abner called to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the end? How long [will it be] before you tell the people to stop pursuing their brothers?”
• 2 Chronicles 25:17Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent word to Joash the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come [to battle], let us face each other.”
• Luke 14:31Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one who is coming against him with twenty thousand?

Commentaries on Proverbs 20:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18With good advice make war, - Perhaps there is not a precept in this whole book so little regarded as this. Most of the wars that are undertaken are wars of injustice, ambition, aggrandizement, and caprice, which can have had no previous good counsel. A minister, who is perhaps neither a good nor a great man, counsels his king to make war; the cabinet must be brought into it, and a sufficient number out of the states of the kingdom gained over to support…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18Verse 18 Especially we need advice in spiritual warfare. The word and Spirit of God are the best counsellors in every point.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. (Compare Pr 15:22). Be careful and considerate in important plans.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 20:18

• Counsel
• Prudence
• War
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Advice
• Cease
• Counsel
• Naught
• Obscure
• Proclaim
• Pure
• Purpose
• Wait
• Proverb

Commentaries on Proverbs 20

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings