English Standard Version
Proverbs 20:11
11Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct 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?
- New King James Version (NKJV)Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.
Context of Proverbs 20:11
9Who can say, "I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin"? 10Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the Lord. Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright. 12The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both. 13Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.
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 21:8The way of the guilty is crooked, but the conduct of the pure is upright.
- Proverbs 22:15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
- Psalms 51:5Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
- Psalms 58:3The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.
- Matthew 7:16You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
- Luke 1:15for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from 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"For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries