Tree of Life Version
Proverbs 21:20
20Precious treasure and oil are in a wise person’s dwelling, but a foolish person devours all he has.
Proverbs 21:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
- New International Version (NIV)The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.
- New King James Version (NKJV)There is desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it.
Context of Proverbs 21:20
18The wicked is a ransom for the righteous and the faithless for the upright. 19It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome, worrisome wife. Precious treasure and oil are in a wise person’s dwelling, but a foolish person devours all he has. 21Whoever pursues righteousness and mercy finds life, prosperity and honor. 22A wise person scales the city of warriors and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
Read all of Proverbs 21Proverbs 21:20 word by word
אוֹצָ֤ר׀ נֶחְמָ֣ד וָ֭שֶׁמֶן בִּנְוֵ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וּכְסִ֖יל אָדָ֣ם יְבַלְּעֶֽנּוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 21:20
- Proverbs 10:22The blessing of Adonai brings wealth and He adds no trouble with it.
- Proverbs 15:6The house of the righteous has great wealth, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
- Psalms 112:3Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
- Ecclesiastes 5:19For he will not often consider the days of his life, since God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.
- Ecclesiastes 7:11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and even better for those who see the sun.
- Ecclesiastes 10:19A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes life glad— but money is the answer for everything.
- Matthew 6:19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.
- Luke 6:45“Out of the good treasure of his heart the good man brings forth good, and out of evil the evil man brings forth evil. For from the overflow of the heart his mouth speaks.”
- Psalms 23:5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed my head with oil, my cup overflows.
- Jeremiah 41:8However ten men were found among them that said to Ishmael: “Don’t kill us! For we have hidden stores in the field—wheat, barley, oil and honey!” So he held off and did not kill them along with their companions.
- Matthew 25:3For when the foolish ones took their lamps, they took no oil with them.
- Luke 15:14Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine came against that country, and he began to be in need.
- Luke 16:1Now Yeshua was also saying to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a household manager, and this manager was accused of squandering his belongings.
Commentaries on Proverbs 21:20
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Spendeth it up - literally, swalloweth it. The wise man keeps a store in reserve. He gains uprightly, spends moderately, never exhausts himself. But the proverb may have also a higher application. The wise man stores up all “treasure to be desired” of wisdom, all “oil” of divine influence, which strengthens and refreshes, and so is ready at all times for the work to which the Master calls him. Compare Matthew 25:1-13.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20Verse 20 The plenty obtained by prudence, industry, and frugality, is desirable. But the foolish misspend what they have upon their lusts.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20See also to Proverbs 3:9–10, 15–16; 10:15, 16, 22; 14:24.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. The wise, by diligence and care, lay up and increase wealth, while fools spend--literally, "swallow it up," greedily.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 21:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 21
- 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
Tree of Life Version — © 2015 The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
Commentaries