God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 30:22
22a slave when he becomes king, a godless fool when he is filled with food,
Proverbs 30:22 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;
- New International Version (NIV)a servant who becomes king, a godless fool who gets plenty to eat,
- English Standard Version (ESV)a slave when he becomes king, and a fool when he is filled with food;
- New King James Version (NKJV)For a servant when he reigns, A fool when he is filled with food,
Context of Proverbs 30:22
20This 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: a slave when he becomes king, a godless fool when he is filled with food, 23a woman who is unloved when she gets married, a maid when she replaces her mistress. 24Four things on earth are small, yet they are very wise:
Read all of Proverbs 30Proverbs 30:22 word by word
תַּֽחַת־עֶ֭בֶד כִּ֣י יִמְל֑וֹךְ וְ֝נָבָ֗ל כִּ֣י יִֽשְׂבַּֽע־לָֽחֶם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 30:22
- Proverbs 19:10Luxury does not fit a fool, much less a slave ruling princes.
- Proverbs 28:3A poor person who oppresses poorer people is like a driving rain that leaves no food.
- Ecclesiastes 10:7I have seen slaves sitting on horses and influential people going on foot like slaves.
- Isaiah 3:4“I will make boys their leaders. Children will govern them.”
- 1 Samuel 25:3This man’s name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was sensible and beautiful, but he was harsh and mean. He was a descendant of Caleb.
- 1 Samuel 30:16The Egyptian led him ⌞to them⌟. They were spread out all over the land, eating, and drinking. They were celebrating because they had taken so much loot from Philistine territory and from the land of Judah.
Commentaries on Proverbs 30:22
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-23Verses 21-23 Four sorts of persons are very troublesome. Men of low origin and base spirit, who, getting authority, become tyrants. Foolish and violent men indulging in excesses. A woman of a contentious spirit and vicious habits. A servant who has obtained undue influence. Let those whom Providence has advanced from low beginnings, carefully watch against that sin which most easily besets them.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21-23This proverb lists four things that make the earth tremble because they disrupt the natural order. who is filled with food: In the ancient Near East, as in many non-industrialized parts of the world today, having enough food was a sign of prosperity.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 21-2321-23. Pride and cruelty, the undue exaltation of those unfit to hold power, produce those vices which disquiet society (compare Pr 19:10; 28:3).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 30:22
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
Commentaries