Proverbs 20:2
in Proverbs 20The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life.
KJV
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
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This verse in Proverbs 20
Commentary
6 notes on this verseIn this place it openly speaks of Christ as the king, for the one who irritates Christ with [his] sin, sins against his own soul.
This site's exposition
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler
on Proverbs 20:1-2
"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler," the first of two things that can master a man's judgment, drink and royal anger. The one led astray by them "is not wise." Whoever provokes the king, whose terror is "like the roar of a lion," "forfeits his own life."
This site's exposition
The terror of a king
John Gill reads the terror as the wrath of a king, and notes that kings should be a terror to evil works, citing Romans 13:3. Origen of Alexandria reads the king openly as Christ. Whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion,.... The wrath and displeasure of a king, which causes fear; see Pro 19:12; kings should be terrors to evil works and workers, though not to good ones, Rom 13:3. This is true of the King of kings, who one day will be terrible to the drunkards, the mockers, and murderers of his people, before spoken of; whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul; he exposes his life to danger: the Targum supplies it as we do.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
The fear of a king - Almost the same with Pro 19:12 (note), which see.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Sinneth against his own soul - i. e., Against his own life (compare Hab 2:10).
The words behind it
7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| נַ֣הַם | naham | [is] a roaring | H5099 → | |
| כַּ֭כְּפִיר | kakefir | like <the> young lion | H3715 → | 32 times |
| אֵ֣ימַת | ʾeimat | [the] terror of | H367 → | |
| מֶ֑לֶךְ | melekh | a king | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| מִ֝תְעַבְּר֗וֹ | mitabero | [one who] infuriates him | H5674 → | 556 times |
| חוֹטֵ֥א | chote' | [is] missing | H2398 → | 238 times |
| נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃ | nafsho | life his | H5315 → | 754 times |
נַ֣הַם[is] a roaring
nahamH5099 →
כַּ֭כְּפִירlike <the> young lion
kakefirH3715 →32 times
אֵ֣ימַת[the] terror of
ʾeimatH367 →
מֶ֑לֶךְa king
melekhH4428 →2525 times
מִ֝תְעַבְּר֗וֹ[one who] infuriates him
mitaberoH5674 →556 times
חוֹטֵ֥א[is] missing
chote'H2398 →238 times
נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃life his
nafshoH5315 →754 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 8:36But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”
it leads to
- Proverbs 15:32
He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.
- Proverbs 1:31
So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
- 1 Corinthians 16:22
If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be under a curse. Come, O Lord!
- John 15:23–24
Whoever hates Me hates My Father as well.
- Proverbs 12:1
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
- Proverbs 15:32
Through
Ecclesiastes 10:4If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
it leads to
- Proverbs 25:15
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
- Ecclesiastes 8:3
Do not hasten to leave his presence, and do not persist in a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases.
- 1 Samuel 25:24–44
She fell at his feet and said, “My lord, may the blame be on me alone, but please let your servant speak to you; hear the words of your servant.
- Proverbs 25:15
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); Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Origen of Alexandria, EXPOSITION ON PROVERBS, FRAGMENT 20:2.