New International Version
Proverbs 24:21
21Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with rebellious officials,
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:
- 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;
- New Living Translation (NLT)My child, fear the Lord and the king. Don’t associate with rebels,
Context of Proverbs 24:21
19Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked, 20for the evildoer has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out. Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with rebellious officials, 22for those two will send sudden destruction on them, and who knows what calamities they can bring? 23These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judging is not good:
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 14:31And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.
- 1 Samuel 24:6He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.”
- Ecclesiastes 8:2Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God.
- Matthew 22:21“Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
- Romans 13:1Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
- 1 Peter 2:13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority,
- Numbers 16:1Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent
- 1 Samuel 8:5They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”
- 1 Samuel 12:12“But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we want a king to rule over us’—even though the Lord your God was your king.
- 2 Samuel 15:13A messenger came and told David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.”
- 1 Kings 12:16When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What share do we have in David, what part in Jesse’s son? To your tents, Israel! Look after your own house, David!” So the Israelites went home.
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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