Proverbs 20:6
in Proverbs 20Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
KJV
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
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This verse in Proverbs 20
Commentary
6 notes on this verseAll the righteous, our fathers, in all that they did were victorious through faith, as the blessed apostle also testifies about them all, "They prevailed by faith." Solomon also said, "Many men are called merciful, but who can find a faithful man?"
This site's exposition
Many a man proclaims his loving devotion
on Proverbs 20:6-9
The righteous man and the king who "sifts out all evil with his eyes" describe a righteousness the next verse will let no one claim. Its question, who can say "I have kept my heart pure," stands beside 1 John 1:8, since no self-examination produces a clean heart before God.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
A commentator
John ChrysostomCOMMENTARY ON THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, FRAGMENT 20:6 · Written before 407.
proposed
A human being is of great value since he is made in the likeness of God. If he adds to this the practice of mercy in practical matters he then becomes an honorable man. He, who does this wisely and faithfully, finds the work [he was created to do].
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Most men will proclaim everyone his own goodness,.... As the Pharisee did, in Luk 18:11; and as the Pharisees in common did; who did all their works to be seen of men, and made clean the outside of the cup and platter; and were very careful to appear outwardly righteous to men, Mat 23:
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Most men will proclaim - Many men merciful ben clepid: a feithful man forsoth, who schal finde? Old MS. Bible.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Goodness - With the special sense of bounty, beneficence. Contrast promise and performance. People boast of their liberality, yet we look in vain for the fulfillment of actual obligations.
The words behind it
9 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| רָב־ | rov- | a multitude of | H7230 → | 149 times |
| אָדָ֗ם | ʾadam | person[s] | H120 → | 551 times |
| יִ֭קְרָא | yikra' | he proclaims | H7121 → | 733 times |
| אִ֣ישׁ | ʾish | each one | H376 → | 1663 times |
| חַסְדּ֑וֹ | chasdo | loyalty his | H2617 → | 247 times |
| וְאִ֥ישׁ | veish | and a person of | H376 → | 1663 times |
| אֱ֝מוּנִ֗ים | ʾemunim | faithfulness<es> | H529 → | 8 times |
| מִ֣י | mi | who? | H4310 → | 423 times |
| יִמְצָֽא׃ | yimtza' | will he find | H4672 → | 455 times |
רָב־a multitude of
rov-H7230 →149 times
אָדָ֗םperson[s]
ʾadamH120 →551 times
יִ֭קְרָאhe proclaims
yikra'H7121 →733 times
אִ֣ישׁeach one
ʾishH376 →1663 times
חַסְדּ֑וֹloyalty his
chasdoH2617 →247 times
וְאִ֥ישׁand a person of
veishH376 →1663 times
אֱ֝מוּנִ֗יםfaithfulness<es>
ʾemunimH529 →8 times
מִ֣יwho?
miH4310 →423 times
יִמְצָֽא׃will he find
yimtza'H4672 →455 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Luke 18:8I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”
it leads to
- Hebrews 10:23–26
Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.
- 2 Peter 3:8–9
Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
- Matthew 24:9–13
Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
- Psalms 46:5
God is within her; she will not be moved. God will help her when morning dawns.
- Hebrews 10:23–26
Through
Matthew 6:2So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you,…
it leads to
- Matthew 6:5
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they…
- Matthew 6:5
Through
Psalms 12:1Help, O LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.
it leads to
- Isaiah 57:1
The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; devout men are swept away, while no one considers that the righteous are guided from the presence of evil.
- Jeremiah 5:1
“Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem. Look now and take note; search her squares. If you can find a single person, anyone who acts justly, anyone who seeks the truth, then I…
- Matthew 24:12
Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.
- Isaiah 57:1
Where this verse is studied
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Aphrahat the Persian Sage, DEMONSTRATIONS 1:16; John Chrysostom, COMMENTARY ON THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, FRAGMENT 20:6; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.