Proverbs 20:27

Proverbs 20:27 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, Searching all the inner depths of his heart.
• New Living Translation (NLT)The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.

Context of Proverbs 20:27

25It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one’s vows. 26A wise king winnows out the wicked; he drives the threshing wheel over them. The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord that sheds light on one’s inmost being. 28Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure. 29The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.

Proverbs 20:27 word by word

נֵ֣ר יְ֭הוָה נִשְׁמַ֣ת אָדָ֑ם חֹ֝פֵ֗שׂ כָּל־חַדְרֵי־בָֽטֶן׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The spiritנְשָׁמָהneshâmâh · breathH5397
• of manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• the candleנֵרnîyr nir nêyr nêr nêrâh · lampH5216
• of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• searchingחָפַשׂchâphaώ · to searchH2664
• all the inward partsחֶ֫דֶרcheder · chamberH2315
• of the bellyבֶּ֫טֶןbeţen · belly: abdomenH990

Cross-references for Proverbs 20:27

• Genesis 2:7Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
• Job 32:8But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.
• Romans 2:15They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)
• 1 Corinthians 2:11For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
• 2 Corinthians 4:2Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
• 1 John 3:19This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence:
• Proverbs 20:20If someone curses their father or mother, their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.
• Proverbs 20:30Blows and wounds scrub away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being.
• Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Commentaries on Proverbs 20:27

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 27The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord - God has given to every man a mind, which he so enlightens by his own Spirit, that the man knows how to distinguish good from evil; and conscience, which springs from this, searches the inmost recesses of the soul.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 27The spirit of man - The “breath” of Genesis 2:7, the higher life, above that which he has in common with lower animals, coming to him direct from God. Such a life, with all its powers of insight, consciousness, reflection, is as a lamp which God has lighted, throwing its rays into the darkest recesses of the heart. A still higher truth is proclaimed in the Prologue of John‘s Gospel. The candle, or lamp of Yahweh, derives its light from “the Light that…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 27Verse 27 The rational soul and conscience are as a lamp within us, which should be used in examining our dispositions and motives with the revealed will of God.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 27The Lord's light reaches the human spirit, and God sees deep into people's hearts (see Proverbs 16:2).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2727. The spirit ... Lord--Men's minds are God's gifts, and thus able to search one another (compare Pr 20:5; Pr 18:8, 17; 1Co 2:11).Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 20:27

• Belly
• Man

In the dictionaries

• Advice
• Belly
• Candle
• Cease
• Counsel
• Naught
• Obscure
• Proclaim
• Pure
• Purpose

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