Proverbs 20:8
in Proverbs 20A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
KJV
A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
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This verse in Proverbs 20
Commentary
5 notes on this verseThis 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.
This site's exposition
sifts out all evil with his eyes
The king on his judgment seat sifts out evil with his eyes alone. His look is enough. The righteous man of verse 7 and this king both describe a righteousness that verse 9 will let no one claim for himself.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
The king who sits on the throne of judgment, etc. For although the elect suffer evil in this life from the reprobates, when the day of universal judgment appears, all evils will be dissipated; and the unjust will alone undergo punishment, while the just will …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment - Kings should see to the administration of the laws, as well as of the state transactions, of their kingdom. In the British constitution there is a court for the king, called the King’s Bench, where he should sit, and where he is always supposed to be sitting. The eyes - the presence, of the monarch in such a place, scatter evil - he sees into the case himself, and gives right judgment, for he can have no self-interest.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| מֶ֗לֶךְ | melekh | a king | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| יוֹשֵׁ֥ב | yoshev | [who] sits | H3427 → | 1079 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| כִּסֵּא־ | kise'- | a throne of | H3678 → | 135 times |
| דִ֑ין | din | judgment | H1779 → | 20 times |
| מְזָרֶ֖ה | mezareh | [is] winnowing | H2219 → | 39 times |
| בְעֵינָ֣יו | veeinav | with eyes his | H5869 → | 887 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| רָֽע׃ | ra' | evil | H7451 → | 662 times |
מֶ֗לֶךְa king
melekhH4428 →2525 times
יוֹשֵׁ֥ב[who] sits
yoshevH3427 →1079 times
עַל־on
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
כִּסֵּא־a throne of
kise'-H3678 →135 times
דִ֑יןjudgment
dinH1779 →20 times
מְזָרֶ֖ה[is] winnowing
mezarehH2219 →39 times
בְעֵינָ֣יוwith eyes his
veeinavH5869 →887 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
רָֽע׃evil
ra'H7451 →662 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 25:5Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
it leads to
- Proverbs 16:12
Wicked behavior is detestable to kings, for a throne is established through righteousness.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 20:28
Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 101:7–8
No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who tells lies shall stand in my presence.
- Isaiah 16:5
in loving devotion a throne will be established in the tent of David. A judge seeking justice and hastening righteousness will sit on it in faithfulness.
- Proverbs 16:12
Through
Psalms 92:9For surely Your enemies, O LORD, surely Your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered.
it leads to
- Psalms 37:20
But the wicked and enemies of the LORD will perish like the glory of the fields. They will vanish; like smoke they will fade away.
- Psalms 37:20
Through
Psalms 99:4The mighty King loves justice. You have established equity; You have exercised justice and righteousness in Jacob.
it leads to
- Psalms 11:7
For the LORD is righteous; He loves justice. The upright will see His face.
- Jeremiah 23:5
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land.
- Psalms 11:7
Through
Proverbs 29:14A king who judges the poor with fairness—his throne will be established forever.
it leads to
- Isaiah 11:4
but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the…
- Isaiah 11:4
Where this verse is studied
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.