Proverbs 30:22

Proverbs 30:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;
• English Standard Version (ESV)a slave when he becomes king, and a fool when he is filled with food;
• New King James Version (NKJV)For a servant when he reigns, A fool when he is filled with food,
• New Living Translation (NLT)a slave who becomes a king, an overbearing fool who prospers,

Context of Proverbs 30:22

20“This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’ 21“Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up: a servant who becomes king, a godless fool who gets plenty to eat, 23a contemptible woman who gets married, and a servant who displaces her mistress. 24“Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise:

Proverbs 30:22 word by word

תַּֽחַת־עֶ֭בֶד כִּ֣י יִמְל֑וֹךְ וְ֝נָבָ֗ל כִּ֣י יִֽשְׂבַּֽע־לָֽחֶם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• For a servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• when he reignethמָלַךְmâlak · to reignH4427
• and a foolנָבָלnâbâl · foolishH5036
• when he is filledשָׂבֵעַώâba‛ ώâbêa‛ · to satisfyH7646
• with meatלֶ֫חֶםlechem · foodH3899

Cross-references for Proverbs 30:22

• Proverbs 19:10It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury— how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!
• Proverbs 28:3A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
• Ecclesiastes 10:7I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
• Isaiah 3:4“I will make mere youths their officials; children will rule over them.”
• 1 Samuel 25:3His name was Nabal and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband was surly and mean in his dealings—he was a Calebite.
• 1 Samuel 30:16He led David down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking and reveling because of the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah.

Commentaries on Proverbs 30:22

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-23Verses 21-23 Four sorts of persons are very troublesome. Men of low origin and base spirit, who, getting authority, become tyrants. Foolish and violent men indulging in excesses. A woman of a contentious spirit and vicious habits. A servant who has obtained undue influence. Let those whom Providence has advanced from low beginnings, carefully watch against that sin which most easily besets them.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21-23This proverb lists four things that make the earth tremble because they disrupt the natural order. who is filled with food: In the ancient Near East, as in many non-industrialized parts of the world today, having enough food was a sign of prosperity.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 21-2321-23. Pride and cruelty, the undue exaltation of those unfit to hold power, produce those vices which disquiet society (compare Pr 19:10; 28:3).Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 30:22

• Gluttony
• Riddle
• Rulers
• Servant
• Wife
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Agur
• Convenient
• Folk
• Food
• Massa
• Proverbs, the Book of
• Zoology

Commentaries on Proverbs 30

• 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