New Living Translation
Proverbs 20:11
11Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is 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 King James Version (NKJV)Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right.
Context of Proverbs 20:11
9Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin”? 10False weights and unequal measures— the Lord detests double standards of every kind. Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right. 12Ears to hear and eyes to see— both are gifts from the Lord. 13If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!
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 guilty walk a crooked path; the innocent travel a straight road.
- Proverbs 22:15A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away.
- Psalms 51:5For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
- Psalms 58:3These wicked people are born sinners; even from birth they have lied and gone their own way.
- Matthew 7:16You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
- Luke 1:15for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.
- Luke 2:46Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions.
- Luke 6:43“A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce 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
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