Thematic Bible

Themes in Proverbs 20

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Themes in Proverbs 20

Proverbs 20:1 (show verse)

Wine is a mocker, beer is a brawler,
and whoever staggers because of them is not wise.

Abomination » Things that are, to God » Unjust weights and measures
Drunkenness » Drunks
Drunkenness » Folly of yielding to
Mockery » What is a mocker
Wine » In excess » Infuriates the temper
Wisdom » Who is not wise

Proverbs 20:2 (show verse)

A king’s terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion;
anyone who provokes him endangers himself.

Citizens » Wicked and treasonable
Kings » Folly of resisting
Kings » Wrath
Lions » The roaring of
Lions » Illustrative » (roaring of,) of a king's wrath
The Nation » Kings » Wrath of
Wrath » Of kings » Kings

Proverbs 20:3 (show verse)

It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute,
but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.

Adjudication at law » To be avoided
Busy-bodies » Fools are
Fools » Characteristics of » Meddlesomeness
Fools » Are » Given to meddling
Strife » Causes of » Forbidden
Strife » Avoiding strife
Strife » It is honorable to cease from

Proverbs 20:4 (show verse)

The slacker does not plow during planting season;
at harvest time he looks, and there is nothing.

Beggars » General references to
Beggars » The children of the wicked
Desires » Who desires
Harvest » Who shall beg in harvest
Idleness and sloth » Lead to » Want
Idleness and sloth » False excuses for
Laziness » Lazy people
Meteorology » Cold
Plowing » Performed » During the cold winter season
Winter » Coldness and inclemency of, noticed
Winter » Plowing in, in canaan, (margin)

Proverbs 20:5 (show verse)

Counsel in a man’s heart is deep water;
but a man of understanding draws it out.

Counsel » Counsel in the heart of man
Understanding » Those that understand
Water » Illustrative » (deep,) of counsel in the heart

Proverbs 20:6 (show verse)

Many a man proclaims his own loyalty,
but who can find a trustworthy man?

Faithfulness » Difficulty of finding
Profession » FALSE
Self-righteousness » Man is prone to
Self-righteousness » They who are given to » Proclaim their own goodness

Proverbs 20:7 (show verse)

The one who lives with integrity is righteous;
his children who come after him will be happy.

the Blessed » The children of the just
God's Promises » To the prayerful » To the righteous
Heredity » Beneficent influence of the righteous
The just » Promises to
Offspring » Beneficent influence of the righteous
The righteous » The righteous, promises to
The righteous » Sought as a relief from trouble death spiritual » Seed of
Righteousness » Promises concerning » Promises to the righteous
Virtues » Honesty » Integrity » General references to

Proverbs 20:8 (show verse)

A king sitting on a throne to judge
sifts out all evil with his eyes.

Government » The kings of the earth
Judges » Kings that sit in the throne of judgment
Kings » When good » Discountenance evil

Proverbs 20:9 (show verse)

Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;
I am cleansed from my sin”?

Cleanliness » Figurative
Fall of man » Cannot be remedied by man
The Heart » No man can cleanse
Sin » There not being a single person who does not sin

Proverbs 20:10 (show verse)

Differing weights and varying measures—
both are detestable to the Lord.

Business life » Dishonesty » Condemned
Business life » Fidelity » Giving of just weights
Dishonesty » Condemned
Injustice » God » Abominates
Justice » False balances/divers weights
Measure » Must be just
Measures » Just weights
Measures » Unjust, an abomination to God
Social duties » Mercifulness » Of giving just weights
Vices » Dishonesty » Condemned
Virtues » Fidelity » Giving of just weights
Weights » Troy weights a gerah = 1/50 oz » 10 gerahs = 1 bekah = 1/5 oz
Weights » Must be just

Proverbs 20:11 (show verse)

Even a young man is known by his actions—
if his behavior is pure and upright.

Bearing fruit » Everything being known by the fruit it bears
Children » Character of, known by conduct

Proverbs 20:12 (show verse)

The hearing ear and the seeing eye—
the Lord made them both.

ears » God » Made
Eyes » God » Made
Hearing » Careless, characteristics of » The hearing ear
Hearing » The hearing ear
Seeing » The seeing eye

Proverbs 20:13 (show verse)

Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor;
open your eyes, and you’ll have enough to eat.

Business life » Fidelity » Industry
Idleness and sloth » Lead to » Poverty
Indolent sleep » The love of sleep, a mark of indolence
Industry » Commended
Laziness » Not being lazy
The poor » Condition of, often results from » Sloth
Poverty » Who will end up in poverty
Sleep » The love of, a mark of indolence
Virtues » Industry » Commended
physical Work » Industry in » Commended

Proverbs 20:14 (show verse)

“It’s worthless, it’s worthless!” the buyer says,
but after he is on his way, he gloats.

Boasting » Boasting, the folly of
Business life » Dishonesty » Condemned
Business life » Miscellaneous topics relating to » Trading
Commerce » Evil practices connected with
Dishonesty » Condemned
Vices » Dishonesty » Condemned

Proverbs 20:15 (show verse)

There is gold and a multitude of jewels,
but knowledgeable lips are a rare treasure.

Jewels » Figurative
Knowledge » The lips of knowledge
Precious stones » Called » Precious jewels
Speech/communication » The lips of knowledge

Proverbs 20:16 (show verse)

Take his garment,
for he has put up security for a stranger;
get collateral if it is for foreigners.

Business life » Debts » Suretyship, (indorsement), the dangers of
Credit system » Debts » Suretyship, (indorsement), the dangers of
Suretyship » Suretyship, (endorsement), the dangers of

Proverbs 20:17 (show verse)

Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man,
but afterward his mouth is full of gravel.

Bread » Illustrative » (of deceit,) of unlawful gain
Deceit » The wicked full of » The prevalence of
Deceit » The wicked » Delight in
Deceit » Delight in
Deception » Bread of deceit
Gravel » Figurative
Man » Possessed of » A spirit

Proverbs 20:18 (show verse)

Finalize plans with counsel,
and wage war with sound guidance.

Advice » Counsel, the importance of seeking
Counsel » The importance of seeking
Counsel » What is established by counsel
War » Counsels of

Proverbs 20:19 (show verse)

The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip;
avoid someone with a big mouth.

Evil » Speech evil speaking » Talebearers condemned
Flattery » Those that flatter with the tongue
Flattery » Avoid those given to
Gossip » Forbidden
Resurrection » Who reveals secrets
Speaking, evil » Talebearers condemned
Speech/communication » Talebearers
Speech/communication » Those that flatter with the tongue

Proverbs 20:20 (show verse)

Whoever curses his father or mother—
his lamp will go out in deep darkness.

Curses » Those that curse their parents
Cursing » Of parents
Darkness » Figurative of punishment
Lamp » Figurative
Lamps » Illustrative » (totally quenched,) of complete destruction of those who curse parents
Parents » Those that curse their parents

Proverbs 20:21 (show verse)

An inheritance gained prematurely
will not be blessed ultimately.

Blessings » What shall not be blessed

Proverbs 20:22 (show verse)

Don’t say, “I will avenge this evil!”
Wait on the Lord, and He will rescue you.

God » Voice of select readings » Waiting upon
Retaliation » Forbidden
Revenge » Instead of taking, we should » Trust in God
Strife » Saints should » Submit to wrong rather than engage in
Vengeance » Not avenging
Waiting » The reward for waiting on the lord
Waiting » Those who engage in » Will be saved
Waiting upon God » They who engage in » Shall be saved

Proverbs 20:23 (show verse)

Differing weights are detestable to the Lord,
and dishonest scales are unfair.

Abomination » Things that are, to God » Unjust weights and measures
Balances » An abomination
Measure » Must be just
Weights » Must be just

Proverbs 20:24 (show verse)

A man’s steps are determined by the Lord,
so how can anyone understand his own way?

God » What is of the lord God
God » Leader » No place beyond the reach of his hand
divine Leader » No place beyond the reach of his hand
Man » Cannot direct his ways
Man » God » Orders the goings of
Man » Manâ€™s goings
The Providence of God » Is exercised in » Ordering the ways of men

Proverbs 20:25 (show verse)

It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly
and later to reconsider his vows.

Snares » What is a snare
worldly Snares » Broken vows
Temptation » Special sources of worldly snares » Broken vows
Vows » Danger of inconsiderately making

Proverbs 20:26 (show verse)

A wise king separates out the wicked
and drives the threshing wheel over them.

Government » Wise kings
Kings » When good » Punish the wicked
Wheel » Figurative

Proverbs 20:27 (show verse)

The Lord’s lamp sheds light on a person’s life,
searching the innermost parts.

Belly » Used figuratively for the seat of the affections
Conscience » Witnesses in man
Lamps » Illustrative » Of spirit of man
Light » What is light
Man » The spirit of man
Spirit/souls » The spirit of man

Proverbs 20:28 (show verse)

Loyalty and faithfulness deliver a king;
through loyalty he maintains his throne.

Duty » Pressure of » Rulers'
Mercy » What mercy does
Mercy » Upholds the throne of kings
Preservation » What preserves
The Nation » Of israel and judah rulers » Duties of
Truth » What truth does
Truth » Kings are preserved by
Upholdment » What upholds

Proverbs 20:29 (show verse)

The glory of young men is their strength,
and the splendor of old men is gray hair.

Long life » Examples of vigorous » Gray hairs, an indication of
Old age » Examples of vigorous » Gray hairs, an indication of
Strength » Physical

Proverbs 20:30 (show verse)

Lashes and wounds purge away evil,
and beatings cleanse the innermost parts.

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Belly » Used figuratively for the seat of the affections
Chastisement » What chastening does
Cleanness » What cleanses
Disease » Instances of » Remedies used
Evil » What cleanses away evil
Punishment » Minor offenses » Punishable by » Scourging
Wounds » Treatment of