King James Version
Proverbs 22:20
20Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
Proverbs 22:20 in other versions
- New International Version (NIV)Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge,
- English Standard Version (ESV)Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,
- New Living Translation (NLT)I have written thirty sayings for you, filled with advice and knowledge.
Context of Proverbs 22:20
18For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. 19That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? 22Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
Read all of Proverbs 22Proverbs 22:20 word by word
הֲלֹ֤א כָתַ֣בְתִּי לְ֭ךָ שָׁלִישִׁ֑ים בְּמ֖וֹעֵצֹ֣ת וָדָֽעַת׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Proverbs 22:20
- Proverbs 8:6Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
- Psalms 12:6The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
- Hosea 8:12I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.
- 2 Timothy 3:15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
- 2 Peter 1:19We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Commentaries on Proverbs 22:20
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Excellent things - A meaning of the word derived from “the third,” i. e., “the chief of three warriors in a chariot” (compare Exodus 14:7 note). Another reading of the Hebrew text gives “Have I not written to thee long ago?” and this would form a natural antithesis to “this day” of Proverbs 22:19. The rendering of the Septuagint is: “write them for thyself three times;” that of the Vulgate, “I have written it (i. e., my counsel) In threefold form;” the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-21Verses 17-21 To these words, to this knowledge, the ear must be bowed down, and the heart applied by faith and love. To live a life of delight in God and dependence on him, is the foundation of all practical religion. The way to know the certainty of the word of truth, is to make conscience of our duty.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20thirty sayings: Early scribes observed that the Hebrew word for thirty was written in an unusual form (shlshwm) instead of the usual form (shlyshym). All early translations of the Old Testament, such as the Greek Septuagint, Latin Vulgate, and Syriac Peshitta, interpret it as thirty. However, some choose to translate the word as excellent sayings.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. excellent things--or probably of former times. counsels and knowledge--both advice and instruction.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 22:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 22
- 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
King James Version — Public Domain except in the United Kingdom (Crown rights)
Commentaries