Proverbs 20:26 kjv
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
Proverbs 20:26 nkjv
A wise king sifts out the wicked, And brings the threshing wheel over them.
Proverbs 20:26 niv
A wise king winnows out the wicked; he drives the threshing wheel over them.
Proverbs 20:26 esv
A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them.
Proverbs 20:26 nlt
A wise king scatters the wicked like wheat,
then runs his threshing wheel over them.
Proverbs 20 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 101:5-8 | Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy... | King's role in purging the wicked from his court. |
| Prov 16:12 | It is an abomination to kings to do evil... | Righteous rulers reject wickedness. |
| Prov 29:4 | The king by justice upholds the land, but a man who takes bribes overthrows it. | Justice establishes a kingdom. |
| Isa 11:3-4 | He shall not judge by what his eyes see... but with righteousness he shall judge the poor. | Messianic King judges with ultimate righteousness. |
| Zec 9:9-10 | Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation. | King of righteousness bringing peace. |
| Matt 3:12 | His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor. | Christ as the ultimate divine winnower and judge. |
| Matt 13:40-42 | So it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels... | Separation of righteous and wicked in judgment. |
| Matt 25:31-33 | When the Son of Man comes... he will separate people from one another... | Final judgment, separating sheep from goats. |
| Rev 19:11-15 | Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. | Christ's role as righteous King and Judge. |
| Ps 1:4-6 | The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. | The fate of the wicked, swept away like chaff. |
| Job 21:18 | Are they like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away? | Wickedness brings instability and eventual removal. |
| Rom 13:4 | For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. | Rulers are agents of God's justice. |
| 1 Kgs 2:28-46 | Solomon established his kingdom... executing justice. | Historical example of a king establishing order by removing threats. |
| 2 Sam 8:15 | So David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and righteousness to all his people. | David as a model of a just king. |
| Deut 17:18-20 | And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself... | Guidelines for a righteous Israelite king. |
| Ps 72:1-4 | May he judge your people with righteousness... | Prayer for a king to exercise divine justice. |
| Isa 32:1 | Behold, a king will reign in righteousness... | Prophetic vision of a king ruling justly. |
| Dan 7:27 | And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. | Ultimate triumph of God's righteous kingdom. |
| Prov 22:8 | Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity... | Natural consequences of wickedness contrasted with righteous rule. |
| Ps 94:15 | For justice will return to the righteous... | Assurances that justice will ultimately prevail. |
| Zeph 2:1 | Gather yourselves together... before the decree takes effect... | Call for repentance before divine winnowing/judgment. |
| Ps 82:2-4 | How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? | Rebuke against unjust judges who fail their role. |
| Amos 5:24 | But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. | A call for overwhelming and continuous justice. |
Proverbs 20 verses
Proverbs 20 26 Meaning
This proverb describes a discerning and righteous ruler who actively purges wickedness from his realm. Using agricultural metaphors, it portrays the king as one who effectively separates evil persons from the good, metaphorically crushing and eliminating them, much as a farmer processes grain to remove the useless and harmful chaff and debris. It emphasizes a king's essential role in upholding justice and maintaining social purity by confronting and dispatching those who disrupt order and embody corruption.
Proverbs 20 26 Context
Proverbs Chapter 20 is part of the "proverbs of Solomon" (Prov 10:1 - 22:16) and contains various ethical instructions, warnings, and observations on wisdom, justice, character, and governance. This specific verse, Prov 20:26, fits within the broader theme of the characteristics and responsibilities of rulers. Several other proverbs in this collection, such as 16:12 and 29:4, highlight the king's role in administering justice, abhorring wickedness, and establishing stability through righteousness. Historically, the proverb reflects the ideal of a just monarch in ancient Israel, one who embodies God's character and maintains order in society according to divine law. The wisdom literature frequently contrasted such an ideal king with unrighteous or foolish rulers, indirectly presenting a polemic against corrupt governance by emphasizing the ideal.
Proverbs 20 26 Word analysis
A wise king: The Hebrew phrase
melek chakham(מֶלֶךְ חָכָם) signifies a king possessingchokhmah(wisdom), which in biblical terms is not merely intellectual shrewdness but encompasses moral discernment, practical skill, and a fear of the Lord (Prov 1:7). Such a king rules with integrity and understands the principles of justice and governance that align with divine will.winnows: The Hebrew verb
m'zareh(מְזָרֶה) comes from the rootzarah, meaning "to scatter," "to winnow." This agricultural term refers to the process of tossing threshed grain into the air, allowing the wind to blow away the lighter chaff and debris, while the heavier grain falls to the ground. This implies a thorough process of separation, purification, and removal.the wicked: The Hebrew
r'sha'im(רְשָׁעִים) denotes morally guilty, unrighteous individuals—those who live contrary to God's law and societal norms, actively causing harm or disorder.and drives: The Hebrew
ma'avir(מַעֲבִיר) fromavarmeans "to cause to pass over," or "to bring across/against." Here, it signifies a decisive, active imposition.the threshing wheel: The Hebrew
ofan(אוֹפַן) here refers to the heavy, iron-spiked threshing cart or sledge often pulled by oxen over grain to separate it from its stalks and husks. This imagery is far more intense than mere winnowing; it signifies grinding, crushing, and complete eradication or destruction of the target.over them: This directly indicates the wicked as the recipients of this intense, destructive action, leaving no doubt as to the king's ultimate goal concerning them.
"A wise king winnows the wicked": This phrase introduces the king's initial act of discernment and separation. He doesn't just passively observe; he actively sifts through his populace to identify and set apart those who are corrupt or disruptive. It suggests an intelligent, discerning approach to governance, much like a farmer carefully processes his harvest to extract what is valuable.
"and drives the threshing wheel over them": This intensifies the imagery significantly. After separating, the king doesn't merely expel the wicked; he crushes and utterly dismantles their power or very presence. The threshing wheel is an instrument of brutal effectiveness, signifying complete removal and incapacitation, ensuring that the wicked can no longer contaminate or harm the kingdom. This phrase implies severe, even violent, enforcement of justice against unrighteousness.
Proverbs 20 26 Bonus section
The agricultural imagery used in this proverb (winnowing and threshing) was well-understood by the original audience, who were intimately familiar with the demanding process of separating grain from chaff to produce life-sustaining food. This makes the metaphors particularly powerful, as it equates the removal of the wicked from society to the essential purification of sustenance. It highlights that the presence of evil is as detrimental to a kingdom as chaff or stones are to a food supply. Furthermore, the idea of a king actively executing this judgment underscores the theocratic understanding of leadership in ancient Israel: the king, though human, was seen as God's instrument for administering justice on earth, thus reflecting divine character in his rule. The verse also implicitly suggests that failure to perform this "winnowing" and "threshing" results in a defiled and unstable kingdom.
Proverbs 20 26 Commentary
Proverbs 20:26 presents a vivid picture of ideal kingship within a God-ordered society. A truly wise ruler is not passive in the face of evil; rather, he actively confronts and eliminates it. The twin agricultural metaphors – winnowing and driving a threshing wheel – illustrate increasing degrees of the king's judicial action. First, the king discerningly winnows, separating the wicked from the righteous, demonstrating wisdom in identifying the cancerous elements within his society. Second, he then applies a threshing wheel, signifying decisive and crushing judgment against these identified evil-doers. This action is not arbitrary but is aimed at purification and the establishment of righteousness. The proverb affirms that strong, ethical leadership is necessary for societal health and security. The absence of such action leaves the society vulnerable to corruption and injustice. Ultimately, this portrayal foreshadows the ultimate righteous King, Jesus Christ, who will perfectly execute justice and utterly remove all wickedness from His kingdom (as seen in the parables of judgment and final defeat of evil).