Proverbs 20 · Verse 11

Proverbs 20:11

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

Proverbs 20:11, King James Version

Proverbs 20:11 in other translations

BSB	Even a young man is known by his actions— whether his conduct is pure and upright.
WEB	Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
ASV	Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
YLT	Even by his actions a youth maketh himself known, Whether his work be pure or upright.
DARBY	Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
BBE	Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.
Webster	Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.

What does Proverbs 20:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

11. The conduct of children even is the best test of principle (compare Mt 7:16).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 11 Even a child is known by his doings - That is, in general terms, the effect shows the nature of the cause. "A childe is known by his conversation," says Coverdale. A child is easily detected when he has done evil; he immediately begins to excuse and vindicate himself, and profess his innocence, almost before accusation takes place. Some think the words should be understood, every child will dissemble; this amounts nearly to the meaning given above, But probably the principal this intended by the wise man is, that we may easily learn from the child what the man will be. In general, they give indications of those trades and callings for which they are adapted by nature. And, on the whole, we cannot go by a surer guide in preparing our children for future life, than by observing their early propensities. The future engineer is seen in the little handicraftsman of two years old. Many children are crossed in these early propensities to a particular calling, to their great prejudice, and the loss of their parents, as they seldom settle at, or succeed in, the business to which they are tied, and to which nature has given them no tendency. These infantine predilections to particular callings, we should consider as indications of Divine Providence, and its calling of them to that work for which they are peculiarly fitted.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

Parents should observe their children, that they may manage them accordingly.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 20:11 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

גַּ֣םgamalsoH1571

בְּ֭מַעֲלָלָיוBe.ma.'a.la.lavby deeds hisH4611

יִתְנַכֶּר\־yit.na.ker-he makes himself knownH5234

נָ֑עַרNa.'ara youthH5288

אִם\־'im-ifH518

זַ֖ךְzakh[is] pureH2134

וְאִם\־ve.'im-and ifH518

יָשָׁ֣רya.Shar[is] uprightH3477

פָּעֳלֽוֹ\׃po.'o.Loactivity hisH6467

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 20:11

Matthew 7:16
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Luke 6:43-44
For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
Proverbs 21:8
The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.
Luke 2:46-47
And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
Psalms 51:5
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Psalms 58:3
The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
Luke 1:15
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
Luke 1:66
And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.
Proverbs 22:15
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

21:8; 22:15; Ps 51:5; 58:3; Mt 7:16; Lu 1:15,66; 2:46,47; 6:43,44

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Proverbs 20:10
Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the Lord.
Proverbs 20:11
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
Proverbs 20:12
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.

Read all of Proverbs 20

Proverbs 20:11 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Aun el muchacho es conocido por sus hechos, si su obra fuere limpia y recta.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Même un jeune garçon se fait connaître par ses actions, si sa conduite est pure et si elle est droite.
German Elberfelder 1871	Selbst ein Knabe gibt sich durch seine Handlungen zu erkennen, ob sein Tun lauter, und ob es aufrichtig ist.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Ex studiis suis intelligitur puer, si munda et recta sint opera ejus.