English Standard Version
Proverbs 8:15
15By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just;
Proverbs 8:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
- New International Version (NIV)By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just;
- New King James Version (NKJV)By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just decrees.
Context of Proverbs 8:15
13The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. 14I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength. By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; 16by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly. 17I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.
Read all of Proverbs 8Proverbs 8:15 word by word
בִּ֭י מְלָכִ֣ים יִמְלֹ֑כוּ וְ֝רוֹזְנִ֗ים יְחֹ֣קְקוּ צֶֽדֶק׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 8:15
- 1 Samuel 9:17When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, "Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people."
- 1 Samuel 16:1The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons."
- 1 Chronicles 28:5And of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons) he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.
- Jeremiah 27:5"It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me.
- Daniel 2:21He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;
- Daniel 4:25that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.
- Daniel 5:18O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty.
- Daniel 7:13"I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
- Matthew 28:18And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
- Romans 13:1Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
- Revelation 19:16On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
- 1 Kings 3:9Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?"
- 1 Kings 5:7As soon as Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, "Blessed be the Lord this day, who has given to David a wise son to be over this great people."
- 1 Kings 10:9Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord loved Israel forever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness."
- Psalms 72:1Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son!
- Psalms 99:4The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
Commentaries on Proverbs 8:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15By me kings reign - Every wise and prudent king is such through the influence of Divine wisdom. And just laws and their righteous administration come from this source. In this and the following verse five degrees of civil power and authority are mentioned. מלכים melachim, Kings. רזנים rozenim, Consuls. שרים sarim, Princes, Chiefs of the people. נדיבים nedibim, Nobles. And שפטים shophetim, Judges or Civil Magistrates All orders of government are from God…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15Not only the common life of common men, but the exercise of the highest sovereignty, must have this Wisdom as its ground. Compare with this passage Proverbs 8:15-21 the teaching of 1 Kings 3:5-14. The word rendered “princes” Proverbs 8:15 is different from that in Proverbs 8:16; the first might, perhaps, be rendered “rulers.”Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-21Verses 12-21 Wisdom, here is Christ, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; it is Christ in the word, and Christ in the heart; not only Christ revealed to us, but Christ revealed in us. All prudence and skill are from the Lord. Through the redemption of Christ's precious blood, the riches of his grace abound in all wisdom and prudence. Man found out many inventions for ruin; God found one for our recovery. He hates pride and arrogance…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-16The best rulers use wisdom to guide them (for example, 1 Kings 3:16–28).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-1615-16. of which a wisely conducted government is an example.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 8:15
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 8
- 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
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries