Proverbs 20:11

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 made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? 10Divers weights, divers measures, even both of them are abomination to Jehovah. Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. 12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them. 13Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

Proverbs 20:11 word by word

גַּ֣ם בְּ֭מַעֲלָלָיו יִתְנַכֶּר־נָ֑עַר אִם־זַ֖ךְ וְאִם־יָשָׁ֣ר פָּעֳלֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

• workפֹּ֫עַלpô‛al · workH6467
• pureזַךְzak · pureH2134
• rightיָשָׁרyâshâr · uprightH3477

Cross-references for Proverbs 20:11

• Proverbs 21:8Very crooked is the way of a guilty man; but as for the pure, his work is upright.
• Proverbs 22:15Folly is bound in the heart of a child; the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
• Psalms 51:5Behold, in iniquity was I brought forth, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
• Psalms 58:3The wicked go astray from the womb; they err as soon as they are born, speaking lies.
• Matthew 7:16By their fruits ye shall know them. Do [men] gather a bunch of grapes from thorns, or from thistles figs?
• Luke 1:15For he shall be great before [the] Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with [the] Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
• Luke 2:46And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers and hearing them and asking them questions.
• Luke 6:43For there is no good tree which produces corrupt fruit, nor a corrupt tree which produces 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

• Children

In the dictionaries

• Advice
• Cease
• Naught
• Obscure
• Proclaim
• Pure
• Purpose
• Wait
• Proverb
• Proverbs, the Book of

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