God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 20:11
11Even a child makes himself known by his actions, whether his deeds are pure or right.
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’ve made my heart pure. I’m cleansed from my sin”? 10A double standard of weights and measures— both are disgusting to the Lord. Even a child makes himself known by his actions, whether his deeds are pure or right. 12The ear that hears, the eye that sees— the Lord made them both. 13Do not love sleep or you will end up poor. Keep your eyes open, and you will have plenty 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 21:8The way of a guilty person is crooked, but the behavior of those who are pure is moral.
- Proverbs 22:15Foolishness is firmly attached to a child’s heart. Spanking will remove it far from him.
- Psalms 51:5Indeed, I was born guilty. I was a sinner when my mother conceived me.
- Psalms 58:3⌞Even⌟ inside the womb wicked people are strangers ⌞to God⌟. From their birth liars go astray.
- Matthew 7:16You will know them by what they produce. “People don’t pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles, do they?
- Luke 1:15As far as the Lord is concerned, he will be a great man. He will never drink wine or any other liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.
- Luke 2:46Three days later, they found him in the temple courtyard. He was sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions.
- Luke 6:43“A good tree doesn’t produce rotten fruit, and a rotten 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries