Proverbs 30:22

Proverbs 30:22 in other versions

• 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,
• New Living Translation (NLT)a slave who becomes a king, an overbearing fool who prospers,

Context of Proverbs 30:22

20Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness. 21For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat; 23For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress. 24There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:

Proverbs 30:22 word by word

תַּֽחַת־עֶ֭בֶד כִּ֣י יִמְל֑וֹךְ וְ֝נָבָ֗ל כִּ֣י יִֽשְׂבַּֽע־לָֽחֶם׃Read the interlinear

• For a servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• when he reignethמָלַךְmâlak · to reignH4427
• and a foolנָבָלnâbâl · foolishH5036
• when he is filledשָׂבֵעַώâba‛ ώâbêa‛ · to satisfyH7646
• with meatלֶ֫חֶםlechem · foodH3899

Cross-references for Proverbs 30:22

• Proverbs 19:10Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
• Proverbs 28:3A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
• Ecclesiastes 10:7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
• Isaiah 3:4And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.
• 1 Samuel 25:3Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.
• 1 Samuel 30:16And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of 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

• Gluttony
• Riddle
• Rulers
• Servant
• Wife
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Agur
• Convenient
• Folk
• Food
• Massa
• Proverbs, the Book of
• Zoology

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