Proverbs 19:12 kjv
The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
Proverbs 19:12 nkjv
The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is like dew on the grass.
Proverbs 19:12 niv
A king's rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
Proverbs 19:12 esv
A king's wrath is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
Proverbs 19:12 nlt
The king's anger is like a lion's roar,
but his favor is like dew on the grass.
Proverbs 19 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 16:14 | A king’s wrath is a messenger of death... | Echoes the destructive power of royal anger. |
| Prov 20:2 | The dread of a king is like the roaring of a lion... | Direct parallel emphasizing the terror of a king's anger. |
| Eccl 10:4 | If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place... | Practical advice for navigating a ruler's displeasure. |
| Prov 25:6-7 | Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence... | Advice on proper conduct before a ruler to gain favor. |
| Gen 41:40 | You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command... | Illustrates Pharoah's favor bringing great position. |
| Dan 2:12-13 | Because of this, the king was angry and very furious... | Depicts the real-world consequence of a king's decree. |
| Dan 2:48 | Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts... | Depicts a king's favor leading to blessing. |
| Dan 3:19-20 | Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury... | King's wrath directly causing severe punishment. |
| Hos 11:10 | They shall come trembling like a bird from Egypt, and like a dove from the land of Assyria, and I will make them dwell in their homes, declares the LORD. | God's "lion's roar" (Hosea 11:10-11) is ultimately for their return, not just destruction, highlighting a difference with human wrath. |
| Amo 3:8 | The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken; who can but prophesy? | Lion's roar as a symbol of overwhelming power, fear, and God's impending judgment. |
| Psa 104:21 | The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God. | The lion's roar representing raw power and nature. |
| Isa 38:13 | I considered till morning; like a lion he breaks all my bones; from day to night you bring me to an end. | Lion metaphor for overwhelming destruction and pain. |
| Rev 5:5 | And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered..." | Lion also symbolizing righteous power, sovereignty, and triumph in a positive sense. |
| Deut 33:28 | ...Israel lived in safety, apart, the fountain of Jacob, in a land of grain and wine; yes, his heavens drop down dew. | Dew symbolizing blessing, security, and God's provision. |
| Psa 133:3 | It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore. | Dew as a symbol of unity, anointing, and divine blessing/life. |
| Isa 26:19 | Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light... | Dew symbolizing resurrection, light, and new life from God. |
| Hos 14:5 | I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon. | God being like dew, signifying renewal, flourishing, and sustenance for His people. |
| Zec 8:12 | For the seed shall have peace; the vine shall yield its fruit, and the ground shall give its increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. | Dew as part of restored prosperity and blessings from God. |
| Acts 12:20-23 | Then Herod... because he did not give God the glory, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms... | Example of earthly king's demise due to pride and lack of proper reverence, ultimately subject to God. |
| Rom 13:1-2 | Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God... | The New Testament principle of respecting earthly authority established by God, linking to the wisdom of navigating rulers. |
| Prov 14:35 | A king's favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is toward one who acts shamefully. | Directly connects a ruler's disposition to the subject's actions and wisdom. |
| Prov 28:15 | Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people. | Links the "roaring lion" to oppressive rule. |
Proverbs 19 verses
Proverbs 19 12 Meaning
Proverbs 19:12 profoundly illustrates the extreme and immediate impact of a king's disposition. It likens a ruler's fierce anger to the terrifying and destructive roar of a lion, conveying swift and potentially lethal danger. Conversely, it compares a king's goodwill and pleasure to life-giving dew on the grass, signifying abundant blessing, refreshment, and prosperity crucial for flourishing. The verse encapsulates the precarious position of subjects whose very existence and well-being hinge upon the favor or wrath of those in ultimate authority.
Proverbs 19 12 Context
Proverbs chapter 19 is part of a larger collection of wisdom sayings in the Book of Proverbs, primarily authored by King Solomon. This chapter, like many others in Proverbs, offers practical guidance for living a righteous and successful life. It touches on themes such as integrity, diligence, humility, self-control, justice, and the consequences of folly versus wisdom. Verse 12 specifically addresses the immense power of earthly rulers within the ancient Near Eastern context, where kings often held absolute authority, literally dictating life and death for their subjects. In this culture, a king’s decree was immediate and unchallengeable, making royal favor or wrath paramount concerns for anyone in his kingdom. The wisdom here is thus a pragmatic warning and instruction on the significance of maintaining a good standing with authority figures.
Proverbs 19 12 Word analysis
- The king's wrath (חֲרוֹן מֶלֶךְ, charon melech): "Charon" signifies intense, burning anger, often implying judgment or destruction. "Melech" refers to a king, the supreme earthly authority. This phrase immediately evokes an image of formidable power, indicating that the king's anger is not a trivial matter but holds dire consequences.
- is like (כְּ, k'): A comparative particle, introducing the simile to draw a clear parallel.
- the roaring (נַהֲמַת, nahamat): From "naham," meaning to groan, growl, or roar. This sound is instinctively terrifying. For a lion, it signals immediate danger, often preceding an attack or a display of territorial dominance.
- of a lion (אֲרִי, ari): A fierce predator, symbolizing raw power, danger, and deadly might. The lion was known and feared in ancient Israel, making this a powerful and immediate metaphor for destructive potential.
- but (וְ, v'): A conjunction serving as a contrastive link, setting up the opposing idea.
- his favor (רָצוֹן, ratzon): From "ratsah," meaning to be pleased with, to accept, to delight in. It denotes goodwill, pleasure, or a benevolent disposition from someone in power. This is the exact opposite of wrath, bringing positive outcomes.
- is like (כְּ, k'): Again, the comparative particle.
- dew (טַל, tal): In arid climates like ancient Israel, dew was a vital source of moisture, especially during dry seasons when rain was scarce. It represented refreshing, life-giving, subtle, and consistent provision. Without dew, vegetation would wither.
- on the grass (עַל עֵשֶׂב, al esev): "Esev" refers to herbs or vegetation, especially pasture or common grass. Grass requires moisture to survive and flourish. The image of dew settling on grass highlights its gentle yet essential role in sustaining life and growth, signifying peace, blessing, and flourishing.
- The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion: This phrase vividly portrays the terror and immediate peril associated with displeasing a powerful ruler. The roar is a warning of imminent danger, often followed by decisive, destructive action. It underscores the subject's vulnerability.
- his favor is like dew on the grass: This phrase illustrates the profound benefits and life-sustaining quality of a ruler's goodwill. Just as dew subtly but vitally nourishes and revives the earth in an arid land, so does royal favor bring flourishing, peace, and abundance to subjects. It is a source of refreshment and growth.
Proverbs 19 12 Bonus section
The juxtaposition of a roaring lion and dew on grass is a brilliant literary device (antithesis combined with similes) often employed in Proverbs to underscore a stark contrast. The "lion" is not merely a symbol of raw power, but specifically predatory power—it aims to consume or destroy. "Dew" by contrast is not a torrent, but a quiet, almost imperceptible force, yet profoundly transformative and life-sustaining in a way rain cannot be during specific seasons or droughts. This emphasizes that royal favor, though seemingly gentle, has pervasive, far-reaching, and vital effects on survival and prosperity in the socio-economic landscape of the time. The proverb also serves as an indirect counsel to rulers themselves: that while their wrath is potent, their favor is what truly brings life and stability to their kingdom, reflecting wisdom in governance.
Proverbs 19 12 Commentary
Proverbs 19:12 masterfully uses striking natural imagery to impress upon its audience the profound influence an absolute ruler holds over the lives of his subjects. The contrast between the roaring lion and the gentle dew highlights the dichotomous nature of kingly power: it can be overwhelmingly destructive or profoundly life-giving. This wisdom emphasizes prudence in dealing with authority, counseling against provoking wrath and encouraging actions that might secure favor. While directly applicable to earthly kings, this principle resonates beyond, encouraging wisdom in navigating any significant authority and hinting at the ultimate authority of God, whose judgment and favor similarly hold life and death implications. Understanding this balance equips individuals to seek wisdom in all their interactions with those in positions of power, promoting a life of stability and blessing rather than peril.