New English Translation
Proverbs 20:11
11Even a young man is known by his actions, whether his activity is pure and whether it is right.
Proverbs 20:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
- New International Version (NIV)Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright?
- English Standard Version (ESV)Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right.
Context of Proverbs 20:11
9Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am pure from my sin”? 10Diverse weights and diverse measures – the Lord abhors both of them. Even a young man is known by his actions, whether his activity is pure and whether it is right. 12The ear that hears and the eye that sees – the Lord has made them both. 13Do not love sleep, lest you become impoverished; open your eyes so that you might be satisfied with food.
Read all of Proverbs 20Proverbs 20:11 word by word
גַּ֣ם בְּ֭מַעֲלָלָיו יִתְנַכֶּר־נָ֑עַר אִם־זַ֖ךְ וְאִם־יָשָׁ֣ר פָּעֳלֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 20:11
- Proverbs 21:8The way of the guilty person is devious, but as for the pure, his way is upright.
- Proverbs 22:15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.
- Psalms 51:5Look, I was guilty of sin from birth, a sinner the moment my mother conceived me.
- Psalms 58:3The wicked turn aside from birth; liars go astray as soon as they are born.
- Matthew 7:16You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes are not gathered from thorns or figs from thistles, are they?
- Luke 1:15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.
- Luke 2:46After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
- Luke 6:43“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit,
Commentaries on Proverbs 20:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Even a child is known by his doings - That is, in general terms, the effect shows the nature of the cause. "A childe is known by his conversation," says Coverdale. A child is easily detected when he has done evil; he immediately begins to excuse and vindicate himself, and profess his innocence, almost before accusation takes place. Some think the words should be understood, every child will dissemble; this amounts nearly to the meaning given above, But…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11The graces or the faults of children are not trifles. “The child is father of the man;” and the earliest actions are prophecies of the future, whether it will be pure and right, or unclean and evil.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11Verse 11 Parents should observe their children, that they may manage them accordingly.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. The conduct of children even is the best test of principle (compare Mt 7:16).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 20:11
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 20
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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Commentaries