New English Translation
Proverbs 24:21
21Fear the Lord, my child, as well as the king, and do not associate with rebels,
Proverbs 24:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
- New International Version (NIV)Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with rebellious officials,
- English Standard Version (ESV)My son, fear the Lord and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise,
- New King James Version (NKJV)My son, fear the Lord and the king; Do not associate with those given to change;
Context of Proverbs 24:21
19Do not fret because of evil people or be envious of wicked people, 20for the evil person has no future, and the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished. Fear the Lord, my child, as well as the king, and do not associate with rebels, 22for suddenly their destruction will overtake them, and who knows the ruinous judgment both the Lord and the king can bring? 23These sayings also are from the wise: To show partiality in judgment is terrible:
Read all of Proverbs 24Proverbs 24:21 word by word
יְרָֽא־אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה בְּנִ֣י וָמֶ֑לֶךְ עִם־שׁ֝וֹנִ֗ים אַל־תִּתְעָרָֽב׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 24:21
- Exodus 14:31When Israel saw the great power that the Lord had exercised over the Egyptians, they feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.
- 1 Samuel 24:6He said to his men, “May the Lord keep me far away from doing such a thing to my lord, who is the Lord’s chosen one, by extending my hand against him. After all, he is the Lord’s chosen one.”
- Ecclesiastes 8:2Obey the king’s command, because you took an oath before God to be loyal to him.
- Matthew 22:21They replied, “Caesar’s.” He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
- Romans 13:1Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God’s appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God.
- 1 Peter 2:13Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme
- Numbers 16:1Now Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, who were Reubenites, took men
- 1 Samuel 8:5They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons don’t follow your ways. So now appoint over us a king to lead us, just like all the other nations have.”
- 1 Samuel 12:12“When you saw that King Nahash of the Ammonites was advancing against you, you said to me, ‘No! A king will rule over us’ – even though the Lord your God is your king!
- 2 Samuel 15:13Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The men of Israel are loyal to Absalom!”
- 1 Kings 12:16When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, the people answered the king, “We have no portion in David, no share in the son of Jesse! Return to your homes, O Israel! Now, look after your own dynasty, O David!” So Israel returned to their homes.
Commentaries on Proverbs 24:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21My son, fear thou the Lord and the king - Pay to each the homage due: to the Lord, Divine honor and adoration; to the king, civil respect, civil honor, and political obedience. Meddle not with them that are given to change - תתערב אל שונים עם im shonim al titharab : "And with the changelings mingle not thyself." The innovators; those who are always for making experiments on modes of government, forms of religion, etc. The most dangerous spirit that can…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Them that are given to change - Those that seek to set aside the worship of the true God, or the authority of the true king, who represents Him.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-22Verses 21-22 The godly in the land, will be quiet in the land. There may be cause to change for the better, but have nothing to do with them that are given change.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21-22Saying 30: The king is linked to the Lord, showing his power and rule on earth (see 1 Samuel 12; Psalm 2).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 21-2221-22. A warning against impiety and resistance to lawful rule (Ro 13:1-7; 1Pe 2:17). meddle ... change--(Compare Margin), literally, "mingle not yourself," avoid the society of restless persons.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 24:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 24
- 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
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