Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 20:11
11Even a young man is known by his actions — by whether his behavior is pure and upright.
Proverbs 20:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
- New International Version (NIV)Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright?
- English Standard Version (ESV)Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right.
Context of Proverbs 20:11
9Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”? 10Differing weights and varying measures — both are detestable to the Lord. Even a young man is known by his actions — by whether his behavior is pure and upright. 12The hearing ear and the seeing eye — the Lord made them both. 13Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor; open your eyes, and you’ll have enough to eat.
Read all of Proverbs 20Proverbs 20:11 word by word
גַּ֣ם בְּ֭מַעֲלָלָיו יִתְנַכֶּר־נָ֑עַר אִם־זַ֖ךְ וְאִם־יָשָׁ֣ר פָּעֳלֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 20:11
- Proverbs 21:8A guilty one’s conduct is crooked, but the behavior of the innocent is upright.
- Proverbs 22:15Foolishness is bound to the heart of a youth; a rod of discipline will separate it from him.
- Psalms 51:5Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
- Psalms 58:3The wicked go astray from the womb; liars wander about from birth.
- Matthew 7:16You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
- Luke 1:15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb.
- Luke 2:46After three days, they found him in the temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
- Luke 6:43“A good tree doesn’t produce bad fruit; on the other hand, a bad tree doesn’t produce good fruit.
Commentaries on Proverbs 20:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Even a child is known by his doings - That is, in general terms, the effect shows the nature of the cause. "A childe is known by his conversation," says Coverdale. A child is easily detected when he has done evil; he immediately begins to excuse and vindicate himself, and profess his innocence, almost before accusation takes place. Some think the words should be understood, every child will dissemble; this amounts nearly to the meaning given above, But…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11The graces or the faults of children are not trifles. “The child is father of the man;” and the earliest actions are prophecies of the future, whether it will be pure and right, or unclean and evil.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11Verse 11 Parents should observe their children, that they may manage them accordingly.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. The conduct of children even is the best test of principle (compare Mt 7:16).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 20:11
In the dictionaries
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
Christian Standard Bible — © 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Commentaries