Proverbs 16:12
in Proverbs 16Wicked behavior is detestable to kings, for a throne is established through righteousness.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; For the throne is established by righteousness.
KJV
It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
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This verse in Proverbs 16
Commentary
5 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
A divine verdict is on the lips of a king
on Proverbs 16:10-12
“A divine verdict is on the lips of a king,” and “his mouth must not betray justice.” “Honest scales and balances are from the LORD,” so honest trade answers to the same standard as royal judgment. “Wicked behavior is detestable to kings, for a throne is established through righteousness”.
This site's exposition
a throne is established through righteousness
The verse follows the claim of verse 10 that a divine verdict rests on the lips of a king. The older writers read these royal proverbs as a picture of what a king under God's law ought to be. His throne stands on righteousness.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Rulers are rightly expected, by their position, to hate evil; for their power is sustained by righteousness.
It is an abomination to kings, etc. - In all these verses the wise man refers to monarchical government rightly administered. And the proverbs on this subject are all plain.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness It is an abominable thing for judges, and it is not proper for them to commit wickedness.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
The balance and scales of justice are the Lord’s etc. to requite a person according to his deed. משפט is (justice in French, in German Gerechtigkeit, and so in Isaiah,) the retribution for a person’s sins with a balance and scales.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 1 further source is cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת | toavat | [is] an abomination of | H8441 → | 117 times |
| מְ֭לָכִים | melakhim | kings | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| עֲשׂ֣וֹת | asot | to do | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| רֶ֑שַׁע | resha' | wickedness | H7562 → | 30 times |
| כִּ֥י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| בִ֝צְדָקָ֗ה | vitzdakah | by righteousness | H6666 → | 157 times |
| יִכּ֥וֹן | yikon | it is established | H3559 → | 217 times |
| כִּסֵּֽא׃ | kise' | a throne | H3678 → | 135 times |
תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת[is] an abomination of
toavatH8441 →117 times
מְ֭לָכִיםkings
melakhimH4428 →2525 times
עֲשׂ֣וֹתto do
asotH6213 →2628 times
רֶ֑שַׁעwickedness
resha'H7562 →30 times
כִּ֥יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
בִ֝צְדָקָ֗הby righteousness
vitzdakahH6666 →157 times
יִכּ֥וֹןit is established
yikonH3559 →217 times
כִּסֵּֽא׃a throne
kise'H3678 →135 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
Proverbs 28:9Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer is detestable.
it leads to
- Psalms 66:18
If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
- 2 Timothy 4:3–4
For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
- Zechariah 7:11–13
But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing.
- Proverbs 15:8
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
- Psalms 66:18
Through
Revelation 19:11Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war.
it leads to
- Psalms 96:13
before the LORD, for He is coming— He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness.
- Psalms 96:13
Through
Luke 12:48But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted…
it leads to
- James 3:1
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
- Leviticus 5:17
If someone sins and violates any of the LORD’s commandments even though he was unaware, he is guilty and shall bear his punishment.
- Luke 16:10–12
Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
- James 3:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies11
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.