God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 8:15
15Through me kings reign, and rulers decree fair laws.
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;
- English Standard Version (ESV)By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just;
- New King James Version (NKJV)By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice.
Context of Proverbs 8:15
13To fear the Lord is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, evil behavior, and twisted speech. 14Advice and priceless wisdom are mine. I, Understanding, have strength. Through me kings reign, and rulers decree fair laws. 16Through me princes rule, so do nobles and all fair judges. 17I love those who love me. Those eagerly looking for me will 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 noticed Saul, the Lord told him, “There’s the man I told you about. This man will govern my people.”
- 1 Samuel 16:1The Lord asked Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul now that I have rejected him as king of Israel? Fill a flask with olive oil and go. I’m sending you to Jesse in Bethlehem because I’ve selected one of his sons to be king.”
- 1 Chronicles 28:5And of all my sons (the Lord has given me many sons) he chose my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the Lord’s kingdom to rule Israel.
- Jeremiah 27:5‘I used my great strength and my powerful arm to make the earth along with the people and the animals on it. I give it to anyone I please.
- Daniel 2:21He changes times and periods of history. He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to those who are wise and knowledge to those who have insight.
- Daniel 4:25You will be forced away from people and live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle. The dew from the sky will make you wet. And seven time periods will pass until you realize that the Most High has power over human kingdoms and that he gives them to whomever he wishes.
- Daniel 5:18“Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your grandfather Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, might, honor, and glory.
- Daniel 7:13In my visions during the night, I saw among the clouds in heaven someone like the Son of Man. He came to the Ancient One, who has lived for endless years, and was presented to him.
- Matthew 28:18When Jesus came near, he spoke to them. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
- Romans 13:1Every person should obey the government in power. No government would exist if it hadn’t been established by God. The governments which exist have been put in place by God.
- Revelation 19:16On his clothes and his thigh he has a name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
- 1 Kings 3:9Give me a heart that listens so that I can judge your people and tell the difference between good and evil. After all, who can judge this great people of yours?”
- 1 Kings 5:7Hiram was very glad to hear what Solomon had said. Hiram responded, “May the Lord be praised today. He has given David a wise son to rule this great nation.”
- 1 Kings 10:9Thank the Lord your God, who is pleased with you. He has put you on the throne of Israel. Because of your God’s eternal love for the people of Israel, he has made you king so that you would maintain justice and righteousness.”
- Psalms 72:1O God, give the king your justice and the king’s son your righteousness
- 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.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries