New Living Translation
Proverbs 24:21
21My child, fear the Lord and the king. Don’t associate with rebels,
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:
- New International Version (NIV)Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with rebellious officials,
- 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;
Context of Proverbs 24:21
19Don’t fret because of evildoers; don’t envy the wicked. 20For evil people have no future; the light of the wicked will be snuffed out. My child, fear the Lord and the king. Don’t associate with rebels, 22for disaster will hit them suddenly. Who knows what punishment will come from the Lord and the king? 23Here are some further sayings of the wise: It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment.
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 14:31When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses.
- 1 Samuel 24:6He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.”
- Ecclesiastes 8:2Obey the king since you vowed to God that you would.
- Matthew 22:21“Caesar’s,” they replied. “Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”
- Romans 13:1Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.
- 1 Peter 2:13For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state,
- Numbers 16:1One day Korah son of Izhar, a descendant of Kohath son of Levi, conspired with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, from the tribe of Reuben.
- 1 Samuel 8:5“Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.”
- 1 Samuel 12:12“But when you were afraid of Nahash, the king of Ammon, you came to me and said that you wanted a king to reign over you, even though the Lord your God was already your king.
- 2 Samuel 15:13A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, “All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!”
- 1 Kings 12:16When all Israel realized that the king had refused to listen to them, they responded, “Down with the dynasty of David! We have no interest in the son of Jesse. Back to your homes, O Israel! Look out for your own house, O David!” So the people of Israel returned 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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