New King James Version
Proverbs 20:11
11Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right.
Proverbs 20:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
- New International Version (NIV)Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright?
- English Standard Version (ESV)Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.
Context of Proverbs 20:11
9Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”? 10Diverse weights and diverse measures, They are both alike, an abomination to the Lord. Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right. 12The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The Lord has made them both. 13Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.
Read all of Proverbs 20Proverbs 20:11 word by word
גַּ֣ם בְּ֭מַעֲלָלָיו יִתְנַכֶּר־נָ֑עַר אִם־זַ֖ךְ וְאִם־יָשָׁ֣ר פָּעֳלֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 20:11
- Proverbs 21:8The way of a guilty man is perverse; But as for the pure, his work is right.
- Proverbs 22:15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.
- Psalms 51:5Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
- Psalms 58:3The wicked are estranged from the womb; They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.
- Matthew 7:16You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
- Luke 1:15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
- Luke 2:46Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
- Luke 6:43“For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.
Commentaries on Proverbs 20:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Even a child is known by his doings - That is, in general terms, the effect shows the nature of the cause. "A childe is known by his conversation," says Coverdale. A child is easily detected when he has done evil; he immediately begins to excuse and vindicate himself, and profess his innocence, almost before accusation takes place. Some think the words should be understood, every child will dissemble; this amounts nearly to the meaning given above, But…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11The graces or the faults of children are not trifles. “The child is father of the man;” and the earliest actions are prophecies of the future, whether it will be pure and right, or unclean and evil.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11Verse 11 Parents should observe their children, that they may manage them accordingly.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. The conduct of children even is the best test of principle (compare Mt 7:16).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 20:11
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 King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries