God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 20:8
8A king who sits on his throne to judge sifts out every evil with his eyes.
Proverbs 20:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
- New International Version (NIV)When a king sits on his throne to judge, he winnows out all evil with his eyes.
- English Standard Version (ESV)A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.
- New King James Version (NKJV)A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters all evil with his eyes.
Context of Proverbs 20:8
6Many people declare themselves loyal, but who can find someone who is ⌞really⌟ trustworthy? 7A righteous person lives on the basis of his integrity. Blessed are his children after he is gone. A king who sits on his throne to judge sifts out every evil with his eyes. 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.
Read all of Proverbs 20Proverbs 20:8 word by word
מֶ֗לֶךְ יוֹשֵׁ֥ב עַל־כִּסֵּא־דִ֑ין מְזָרֶ֖ה בְעֵינָ֣יו כָּל־רָֽע׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 20:8
- Proverbs 20:26A wise king scatters the wicked and then runs them over.
- Proverbs 16:12Wrongdoing is disgusting to kings because a throne is established through righteousness.
- Proverbs 29:14When a king judges the poor with honesty, his throne will always be secure.
- 1 Samuel 23:3David’s men told him, “We’re afraid of staying here in Judah. How much more ⌞afraid do you think we’ll be⌟ if we go to Keilah against the Philistine army?”
- 2 Samuel 23:4He is like the morning light as the sun rises, like a morning without clouds, like the brightness after a rainstorm. The rain makes the grass grow from the earth.’
- Psalms 72:4May he grant justice to the people who are oppressed. May he save the children of needy people and crush their oppressor.
- Psalms 92:9Now look at your enemies, O Lord. Now look at your enemies. They disappear, and all troublemakers are scattered.
- Psalms 99:4The king’s strength is that he loves justice. You have established fairness. You have done what is fair and right for Jacob.
- Psalms 101:6My eyes will be watching the faithful people in the land so that they may live with me. The person who lives with integrity will serve me.
- Isaiah 32:1A king will rule with fairness, and officials will rule with justice.
Commentaries on Proverbs 20:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment - Kings should see to the administration of the laws, as well as of the state transactions, of their kingdom. In the British constitution there is a court for the king, called the King's Bench, where he should sit, and where he is always supposed to be sitting. The eyes - the presence, of the monarch in such a place, scatter evil - he sees into the case himself, and gives right judgment, for he can have no…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8Verse 8 If great men are good men, they may do much good, and prevent very much evil.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8The king should embody wisdom and fairness.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. As in Pr 14:35; 16:10, 15, this is the character of a good king, not of all kings.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 20:8
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
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