Proverbs 20:27

Proverbs 20:27 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
• New International Version (NIV)The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord that sheds light on one’s inmost being.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, Searching all the inner depths of his heart.

Context of Proverbs 20:27

25It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows. 26A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them. The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being. 28Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne. 29The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old.

Proverbs 20:27 word by word

נֵ֣ר יְ֭הוָה נִשְׁמַ֣ת אָדָ֑ם חֹ֝פֵ֗שׂ כָּל־חַדְרֵי־בָֽטֶן׃Read the interlinear

• The spiritנְשָׁמָהneshâmâh · breathH5397
• of a manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• the lampנֵרnîyr nir nêyr nêr nêrâh · lampH5216
• of the LORDיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• searching outחָפַשׂchâphaώ · to searchH2664
• searching outכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• his inmost beingחֶ֫דֶרcheder · chamberH2315
• his inmost beingבֶּ֫טֶןbeţen · belly: abdomenH990

Cross-references for Proverbs 20:27

• Genesis 2:7Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.
• Job 32:8But there is a spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.
• Romans 2:15So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them
• 1 Corinthians 2:11For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
• 2 Corinthians 4:2Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
• 1 John 3:19And by this we will know that we belong to the truth, and will assure our hearts in His presence:
• Proverbs 20:20Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.
• Proverbs 20:30Lashes and wounds scour evil, and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.
• Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Commentaries on Proverbs 20:27

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 27The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord - God has given to every man a mind, which he so enlightens by his own Spirit, that the man knows how to distinguish good from evil; and conscience, which springs from this, searches the inmost recesses of the soul.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 27The spirit of man - The “breath” of Genesis 2:7, the higher life, above that which he has in common with lower animals, coming to him direct from God. Such a life, with all its powers of insight, consciousness, reflection, is as a lamp which God has lighted, throwing its rays into the darkest recesses of the heart. A still higher truth is proclaimed in the Prologue of John‘s Gospel. The candle, or lamp of Yahweh, derives its light from “the Light that…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 27Verse 27 The rational soul and conscience are as a lamp within us, which should be used in examining our dispositions and motives with the revealed will of God.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 27The Lord's light reaches the human spirit, and God sees deep into people's hearts (see Proverbs 16:2).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2727. The spirit ... Lord--Men's minds are God's gifts, and thus able to search one another (compare Pr 20:5; Pr 18:8, 17; 1Co 2:11).Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 20:27

• Belly
• Man

In the dictionaries

• Advice
• Belly
• Candle
• Cease
• Counsel
• Naught
• Obscure
• Proclaim
• Pure
• Purpose

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