Proverbs 20:20 kjv

Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

Proverbs 20:20 nkjv

Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp will be put out in deep darkness.

Proverbs 20:20 niv

If someone curses their father or mother, their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.

Proverbs 20:20 esv

If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.

Proverbs 20:20 nlt

If you insult your father or mother,
your light will be snuffed out in total darkness.

Proverbs 20 verses

Proverbs 20 20 Meaning

Proverbs 20:20 declares that anyone who curses or treats their father or mother with contempt will face a catastrophic end, characterized by the extinguishing of their "lamp" in "total darkness." This means that their life, prosperity, legacy, and hope will be cut short, leading to utter ruin, profound misfortune, and the cessation of their very existence or continuation, particularly in relation to the family line. It underscores the severity of disrespecting parental authority, which is viewed as a direct transgression against a divinely ordained order.

Proverbs 20 20 Context

Proverbs chapter 20 is a collection of various short, independent proverbs offering wisdom and moral guidance on diverse topics such as the deceptive nature of wine, the consequences of idleness, the importance of justice, and the pitfalls of foolish behavior. Proverbs 20:20 stands out by addressing one of the most fundamental societal and moral pillars in ancient Israelite culture: filial piety and the honor due to parents. This emphasis reflects the core tenets of the Mosaic Law, particularly the Ten Commandments, which prescribed severe penalties for actions that undermined parental authority and familial respect. The historical context indicates that upholding family integrity was crucial for the stability and continuation of the nation, making rebellion against parents not merely a social offense but a direct affront to divine order, threatening not just the individual but potentially the entire household's lineage and blessing.

Proverbs 20 20 Word analysis

• Whoever curses (מְקַלֵּל - mᵉqallel): Derived from the Hebrew root קָלַל (qalal), which literally means "to be light," but in the Hiphil stem often implies "to curse" or "to make light of," hence "to treat lightly," "despise," "revile," or "insult." It denotes contemptuous speech, wishing evil upon, or showing extreme disrespect. It’s not just grumbling but an active denunciation or verbal assault, viewed as highly offensive in the ancient Near East, carrying serious implications often associated with magic and incantations.

• his father (אָבִיו - 'āvîv): 'Av (אָב) signifies father. In biblical context, the father was the patriarch, head of the household, responsible for discipline, religious instruction, and inheritance. His authority was immense and sacred.

• or his mother (וְאִמּוֹ - wᵉ'immo): 'Em (אֵם) signifies mother. While the father held the primary patriarchal role, the mother also held significant authority and respect within the family structure, playing a vital role in nurturing and teaching children. Disrespecting either parent was considered equally egregious.

• his lamp (נֵרוֹ - nērō): Nēr (נֵר) means "lamp" or "light." This is a profound symbol in the Old Testament. It signifies several aspects:

  • Life and prosperity: A lamp provides light, symbolizing a person's life force, vitality, success, and well-being (e.g., Job 18:5-6).
  • Offspring and lineage: In a deeper sense, "lamp" often referred to the continuity of a family line, particularly a dynastic lineage (e.g., 1 Kgs 11:36; Ps 132:17), ensuring a "name" or posterity for generations. To have one's lamp put out meant the extinction of one's family line, losing heirs and future generations.
  • Divine favor and guidance: God is often seen as the source of light (Ps 18:28), and His Word is a lamp (Ps 119:105). Thus, the lamp could also symbolize divine presence, guidance, and blessing.

• will be put out (יִדְעַךְ - yid'akh): From the root דָּעַךְ (da'ak), meaning "to be quenched," "extinguished," "snuffed out," or "die away." It denotes a complete and irreversible cessation, not merely a dimming but total extinction.

• in total darkness (בְּאִישׁוֹן אֹפֶל - bᵉ'îshôn 'ōphel):

  • 'îshôn (אִישׁוֹן): This unusual word literally means "pupil of the eye" (as in Deut 32:10; Ps 17:8), suggesting the deepest, most sensitive part.
  • 'ōphel (אֹפֶל): Means "gloom," "dense darkness," "blackness," or "obscurity."
  • Together (אִישׁוֹן אֹפֶל): It signifies the profoundest, most absolute, and densest possible darkness. It's not just the absence of light, but an oppressive, palpable blackness that implies ultimate ruin, complete hopelessness, desolation, and removal from all good things. It often points to a judgment or a state of final doom. This is a highly vivid and emphatic expression, conveying utter and irreversible destruction.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Whoever curses his father or his mother": This phrase defines the specific transgression. It points to a deep-seated rebellion and contempt for divinely appointed authority and the foundational unit of society. The parallelism with capital offenses in the Law highlights its severe nature.
  • "his lamp will be put out": This segment conveys the dire consequence. It signifies the cessation of one's life, future, influence, and especially the family line. It is a judgment from God, resulting in a lack of legacy and posterity.
  • "in total darkness": This concluding phrase intensifies the judgment, emphasizing the utter desolation and lack of hope for the offender. It points to a profound state of misfortune and perhaps eternal separation from light and blessing.

Proverbs 20 20 Bonus section

The severe punishment detailed in this proverb for cursing parents, including the extinction of the family line, resonates deeply with the covenant promises and warnings given to Israel. Family lineage was paramount for tribal identity, inheritance, and the continuation of the covenant itself. Thus, an attack on parental authority was viewed as an attack on the very fabric of society and divine order, with repercussions far beyond the individual, potentially impacting the communal blessings promised by God. The imagery of the "lamp" (nēr) being extinguished finds parallel in Akkadian proverbs, indicating this was a common wisdom motif across the ancient Near East, symbolizing prosperity, life, and continuity. However, the intensity of "total darkness" ('îshôn 'ōfel) points to a distinctively Hebrew theological perspective of utter desolation, possibly even linking to the underworld or a state of divine abandonment for egregious sin. This proverb, like many others, speaks to a general divine principle rather than a universally immediate, literal outcome for every instance of disrespect, emphasizing the inherent spiritual and practical bankruptcy of such a life choice.

Proverbs 20 20 Commentary

Proverbs 20:20 provides a solemn warning regarding one of the gravest offenses in ancient Israel: despising one's parents. This proverb underscores the profound importance of honoring father and mother, echoing the fifth commandment (Ex 20:12) and legal statutes that even prescribed death for such an offense (Ex 21:17). The act of "cursing" here is more than casual insult; it denotes a deep disrespect, a verbal reviling, or wishing ill upon those who brought one into the world and raised them. It represents a fundamental breakdown of social order and familial piety.

The consequence, "his lamp will be put out in total darkness," is a powerful metaphor for utter ruin. The "lamp" symbolizes not just an individual's life and well-being but, critically, the continuity of their lineage—the perpetuation of their name and family through descendants. To have one's lamp "put out" means to have one's life cut short, to face untimely death, and crucially, for one's family line to be extinguished. The additional phrase "in total darkness," derived from "the pupil of darkness," signifies the deepest, most impenetrable gloom imaginable. This means the outcome is not merely a cessation of life but a removal into profound hopelessness and oblivion, devoid of any light, guidance, or divine favor. It speaks to a life consumed by the shadows of their own actions, reflecting God's judgment upon those who would so flagrantly disregard the foundational human relationships established by Him. It serves as a stark reminder that true wisdom includes revering those in authority, starting with one's parents, as an expression of honoring God Himself.