New English Translation
Proverbs 20:12
12The ear that hears and the eye that sees – the Lord has made them both.
Proverbs 20:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.
- New International Version (NIV)Ears that hear and eyes that see— the Lord has made them both.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The Lord has made them both.
Context of Proverbs 20:12
10Diverse weights and diverse measures – the Lord abhors both of them. 11Even a young man is known by his actions, whether his activity is pure and whether it is right. The 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. 14“It’s worthless! It’s worthless!” says the buyer, but when he goes on his way, he boasts.
Read all of Proverbs 20Proverbs 20:12 word by word
אֹ֣זֶן שֹׁ֭מַעַת וְעַ֣יִן רֹאָ֑ה יְ֝הוָ֗ה עָשָׂ֥ה גַם־שְׁנֵיהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 20:12
- Exodus 4:11The Lord said to him, “Who gave a mouth to man, or who makes a person mute or deaf or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?
- Psalms 94:9Does the one who makes the human ear not hear? Does the one who forms the human eye not see?
- Psalms 119:18Open my eyes so I can truly see the marvelous things in your law!
- Matthew 13:13For this reason I speak to them in parables: Although they see they do not see, and although they hear they do not hear nor do they understand.
- Acts 26:18to open their eyes so that they turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
- Ephesians 1:17I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in your growing knowledge of him,
Commentaries on Proverbs 20:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12The hearing ear and the seeing eye - Every good we possess comes from God; and we should neither use our eyes, nor our ears, nor any thing we possess, but in strict subserviency to his will.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12Not only do we owe the gifts of sight and hearing to Yahweh, but He, being the giver, will also call us to account for them (compare Psalm 94:9).Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12Verse 12 All our powers and faculties are from God, and are to be employed for him.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12The ability to watch and learn from experience is a special gift.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Hence, of course, God will know all you do (Psa 94:9).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 20:12
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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries