God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 30:20
20This is the way of a woman who commits adultery: She eats, wipes her mouth, and says, “I haven’t done anything wrong!”
Proverbs 30:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
- New International Version (NIV)“This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’
- English Standard Version (ESV)This is the way of an adulteress: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, "I have done no wrong."
- New King James Version (NKJV)This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, And says, “I have done no wickedness.”
Context of Proverbs 30:20
18Three things are too amazing to me, even four that I cannot understand: 19an eagle making its way through the sky, a snake making its way over a rock, a ship making its way through high seas, a man making his way with a virgin. This is the way of a woman who commits adultery: She eats, wipes her mouth, and says, “I haven’t done anything wrong!” 21Three things cause the earth to tremble, even four it cannot bear up under: 22a slave when he becomes king, a godless fool when he is filled with food,
Read all of Proverbs 30Proverbs 30:20 word by word
כֵּ֤ן׀ דֶּ֥רֶךְ אִשָּׁ֗ה מְנָ֫אָ֥פֶת אָ֭כְלָה וּמָ֣חֲתָה פִ֑יהָ וְ֝אָמְרָ֗ה לֹֽא־פָעַ֥לְתִּי אָֽוֶן׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
- of an adulterousנָאַףnâ'aph · to commit adulteryH5003
- womanאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
- she eatethאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- and wipethמָחָהmâchâh · to wipeH4229
- her mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
- and saithאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- I have doneפָּעַלpâ‛al · to workH6466
- no wickednessאָ֫וֶן'âven · evil: wickednessH205
Cross-references for Proverbs 30:20
Commentaries on Proverbs 30:20
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18-20Verses 18-20 Another enigma. The four things of Proverbs 30:16 agreed in the common point of insatiableness; the four now mentioned agree in this, that they leave no trace behind them. Proverbs 30:19 The way of a man with a maid - The act of sin leaves no outward mark upon the sinners.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-20Verses 18-20 Four things cannot be fully known. The kingdom of nature is full of marvels. The fourth is a mystery of iniquity; the cursed arts by which a vile seducer gains the affections of a female; and the arts which a vile woman uses to conceal her wickedness.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20The writer is shocked by sex outside of marriage.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-2018-20. Hypocrisy is illustrated by four examples of the concealment of all methods or traces of action, and a pertinent example of double dealing in actual vice is added, that is, the adulterous woman.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 30:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 30
- 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
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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