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

16If someone promises to pay the debts of a stranger, take his coat as a guarantee that he will pay. 17If you cheat someone to get food to eat, it may seem good when you taste it. But soon it will be like sand in your mouth. Things will go well if you receive good advice. If you want to fight a war, ask wise people to be your advisors. 19Keep away from people who talk too much. They will tell everybody about your secrets. 20If you insult your parents, your life will quickly finish, like a lamp that suddenly goes out and leaves you in complete 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 good advice, your ideas will never happen. But you will do well if you have many advisors.
• Proverbs 24:6If you receive good advice before you fight a battle, you will win against your enemy.
• Proverbs 25:8If you see something bad happen, do not quickly go and tell a judge. Your neighbour may show that you are wrong. Then you will be ashamed. You will not know what to do.
• Judges 1:1After Joshua had died, the Israelites asked the Lord, ‘Which of our tribes should be the first to attack the Canaanites?’
• Judges 9:29If I were the leader of these people, I would remove Abimelech as king. I would say to him, “Make your army strong and try to fight against us!” ’
• Judges 20:7So now all you people of Israel must decide what you will do about it.’
• 2 Samuel 2:26Abner shouted to Joab, ‘We should stop fighting. We do not want to continue killing one another for ever. In the end, we would all be very sad. Please tell your men to stop chasing after their brothers.’
• 2 Chronicles 25:17Then King Amaziah of Judah met with his advisors. Then he sent a message to King Jehoash of Israel. He was the son of Jehoahaz and the grandson of Jehu. King Amaziah's message said, ‘Come here and meet me!’
• Luke 14:31Then Jesus gave them another example. ‘Perhaps a king wants to fight a war against another king. But before he goes to fight, he sits down. He thinks to himself. “Can I win this war? My army is large, with 10,000 men. But the other king has twice as many soldiers in his army.

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