Proverbs 20 · Verse 8

Proverbs 20:8

A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
Proverbs 20:8, King James Version

Proverbs 20:8 in other translations

BSBA king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.
WEBA king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
ASVA king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
YLTA king sitting on a throne of judgment, Is scattering with his eyes all evil,
DARBYA king sitting on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
BBEA king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
WebsterA king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

What does Proverbs 20:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
8. As in Pr 14:35; 16:10, 15, this is the character of a good king, not of all kings.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 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. Corrupt judges, and falsifying counsellors, cannot stand before him; and the villain is too deeply struck with the majesty and state of the monarch, to face out iniquity before him.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
If great men are good men, they may do much good, and prevent very much evil.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 20:8 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.

מֶ֗לֶךְMe.lekha kingH4428
יוֹשֵׁ֥בyo.Shev[who] sitsH3427
עַל\־'al-onH5921
כִּסֵּא\־ki.se'-a throne ofH3678
דִ֑יןDinjudgmentH1779
מְזָרֶ֖הme.za.Reh[is] winnowingH2219
בְעֵינָ֣יוve.'ei.Navwith eyes hisH5869
כָּל\־kol-allH3605
רָֽע\׃Ra'evilH7451

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

Cross references for Proverbs 20:8

  • Proverbs 25:5

    Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

  • Proverbs 20:26

    A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.

  • Proverbs 29:14

    The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.

  • Psalms 99:4

    The king’s strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.

  • Psalms 92:9

    For, lo, thine enemies, O Lord, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.

  • Isaiah 32:1

    Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.

  • 2 Samuel 23:4

    And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

  • 1 Samuel 23:3-4

    And David’s men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines? Then David enquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

  • Proverbs 16:12

    It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.

  • Psalms 101:6-8

    Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord.

  • Psalms 72:4

    He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
26; 16:12; 29:14; 1Sa 23:3,4; 2Sa 23:4; Ps 72:4; 92:9; 99:4; 101:6-8
Isa 32:1

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

Context

  • Proverbs 20:7

    The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

  • Proverbs 20:8

    A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

  • Proverbs 20:9

    Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

Read all of Proverbs 20

Proverbs 20:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El rey que se sienta en el trono de juicio, con su mirar disipa todo mal.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Le roi siège sur le trône du jugement; il dissipe tout mal par son regard.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ein König, der auf dem Throne des Gerichts sitzt, zerstreut alles Böse mit seinen Augen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Rex qui sedet in solio judicii dissipat omne malum intuitu suo.