Proverbs 20:8 kjv
A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
Proverbs 20:8 nkjv
A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters all evil with his eyes.
Proverbs 20:8 niv
When a king sits on his throne to judge, he winnows out all evil with his eyes.
Proverbs 20:8 esv
A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.
Proverbs 20:8 nlt
When a king sits in judgment, he weighs all the evidence,
distinguishing the bad from the good.
Proverbs 20 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 72:2 | May he judge your people with righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice. | King's role in righteous judgment |
| Ps 82:1 | God presides in the great assembly; he gives judgment among the "gods"... | God as the ultimate Judge |
| Isa 11:3-4 | ...He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy... He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth... | Messiah's perfect discerning judgment |
| Jer 23:5 | "The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land." | Prophecy of the Righteous King (Messiah) |
| Zech 9:9 | Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey... | Prophecy of the Messiah's coming as King |
| Heb 1:8 | But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom." | Christ's eternal, just reign |
| Rev 19:11 | I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. | Christ judging with righteousness |
| 1 Ki 3:9 | So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong... | Solomon's prayer for discernment |
| 1 Ki 3:28 | When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they stood in awe of him; for they saw that God had given him wisdom to administer justice. | Wisdom leading to awe and justice |
| Heb 4:12-13 | For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit... Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him... | God's discerning eye/Word |
| Job 28:24 | For he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. | God's all-seeing eye |
| Ps 139:1-2 | You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. | God's intimate knowledge and discernment |
| Prov 15:3 | The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. | God's omnipresent watchfulness |
| Prov 16:10 | A divine divining is in the lips of a king: his mouth transgresses not in judgment. (KJV) | King's inspired judgment |
| Prov 25:5 | Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be established through righteousness. | Removing wicked for righteous reign |
| 2 Sam 8:15 | David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. | Example of a righteous earthly king |
| 2 Chr 19:6-7 | He told them, "Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for man but for the LORD, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. Now let the fear of the LORD be on you. Judge carefully, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice... | Judges representing God |
| Prov 29:4 | By justice a king gives a country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down. | Justice stabilizes a nation |
| Mt 25:31-32 | "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats." | Christ's final judgment and separation |
| Rev 1:14 | His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. | Christ's eyes symbolizing judgment |
| 1 Pet 4:5 | But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. | God's ultimate judgment |
| Lk 12:2 | There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. | Future divine revelation of hidden evil |
| Eph 5:13 | But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. | Exposure of evil by light |
Proverbs 20 verses
Proverbs 20 8 Meaning
Proverbs 20:8 describes the profound power and discerning wisdom of a righteous ruler. A king who occupies his throne with justice as his primary function inherently possesses an ability to identify and purge wickedness. His mere presence and discerning gaze are sufficient to expose and scatter all forms of evil, ensuring that unrighteousness cannot stand before him. This speaks to a leadership rooted in divine wisdom, where keen insight and moral authority effectively cleanse the realm of corruption.
Proverbs 20 8 Context
Proverbs chapter 20 offers a collection of short, pointed maxims addressing various aspects of wisdom, morality, and social conduct. The surrounding verses in this chapter speak to principles of fair dealings (e.g., honest weights, v. 10, 23), avoiding strife (v. 3), the pitfalls of gluttony and laziness (v. 1, 4), and the importance of integrity and truth.
Historically and culturally, kings in ancient Israel served as the supreme arbiters of justice. The throne was not merely a symbol of power but specifically the seat from which judicial decrees were issued and disputes resolved. The ideal king was expected to embody justice, reflecting God's own character. This verse sets forth the ideal standard for royal leadership: not just wielding power, but discerning and acting on justice effectively. It presents an antithesis to corrupt rulers who overlook injustice or benefit from it. The king's judgment was foundational for societal order and well-being. The emphasis on "with his eyes" suggests that the truly wise ruler discerns with a wisdom that transcends outward appearances, revealing hidden truths and wicked intentions without need for lengthy investigation or overt display of force.
Proverbs 20 8 Word analysis
A king: מֶלֶךְ (melech). This refers to the highest human authority in the land, entrusted with governance and justice. In Proverbs, the king often represents God's established order and the divine attributes of justice and righteousness on earth.
who sits: יֹשֵׁב (yoshev). Implies established authority and a deliberate, settled presence. This is not a transient action but a foundational aspect of his role.
on the throne: כִּסֵּא (kisseh). The royal seat, but specifically understood as the judicial throne. This emphasizes that the king's primary function is to uphold justice and render judgments. It is the place of final appeal and ultimate decision-making.
of judgment: דִּין (din). This term means justice, legal process, judgment, or verdict. It highlights that the king's reign is fundamentally characterized by the administration of righteous judgment, distinguishing right from wrong.
scatters: זָרָה (zarah). This verb means "to scatter," "to winnow," or "to sift." It implies separation, dispersal, and removal, often like blowing away chaff with wind (cf. Job 21:18, Isa 41:16). It suggests an effortless, complete, and definitive removal, where the undesirable elements are utterly dispersed and cease to be a coherent force. The imagery points to a natural, irresistible effect of the king's presence.
all evil: כָּל־רָע (kol ra'). Refers to comprehensive wickedness—all forms of moral depravity, injustice, deceit, and harmful actions. The inclusion of "all" underscores the totality of the purging effect.
with his eyes: בְּעֵינָיו (be'einaiv). This is the crucial metaphorical element. It does not mean literal magic. Rather, it signifies penetrating discernment, keen insight, and decisive authority. A truly righteous king's presence and perception alone are enough to uncover, expose, and effectively neutralize hidden evil. It speaks to wisdom that sees through pretense, motives, and hidden agendas. It implies an imposing aura of moral clarity and unwavering integrity, which automatically discomfits and exposes those who harbor wickedness, causing them to flee or their schemes to crumble. This visual discernment leads to immediate, righteous action, even without words or physical force.
who sits on the throne of judgment: This phrase describes the very nature of a king's rule, centered on righteous administration of law and order. It highlights that true kingship is inseparable from dispensing justice.
scatters all evil with his eyes: This powerful imagery suggests that the king's inherent wisdom and discerning presence act as a winnowing fan. Wickedness cannot stand his gaze; it is exposed, driven away, or stripped of its power simply by being brought under his light of truth and justice. His penetrating insight, swift perception of wrongdoing, and an immediate decision arising from that perception is sufficient to dislodge evil.
Proverbs 20 8 Bonus section
The Hebrew concept of the "eye" (עַיִן, ayin) often extended beyond mere physical sight to encompass understanding, discernment, and perception of reality, much like "seeing clearly" in English means understanding. Thus, "with his eyes" signifies a deep, insightful grasp of a situation, seeing not just the surface but the underlying motives and implications. This king isn't tricked by appearances or eloquent words; his perception cuts directly to the heart of the matter. This capability points to divine endowment, aligning with the idea that the "heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord" (Prov 21:1). The ability of the king to scatter evil effortlessly also speaks to the majesty and terror a truly just ruler inspires, leading wrongdoers to self-expose or flee.
Proverbs 20 8 Commentary
Proverbs 20:8 paints a picture of the ideal ruler whose reign is marked by profound justice and moral discernment. The king's authority, seated upon the "throne of judgment," is not merely ceremonial; it is active and piercing. The phrase "scatters all evil with his eyes" is a vivid metaphor. It speaks not of physical violence, but of an acute spiritual and moral perception. The very presence and gaze of such a king—informed by wisdom from above—are enough to expose hidden iniquity, demoralize wrongdoers, and dissipate wicked plots. Like chaff before the wind, evil is scattered because it cannot endure the intense scrutiny of true righteousness and unerring discernment. This verse ultimately points to a king who perfectly embodies divine justice. While applicable to earthly rulers who rule wisely, its truest fulfillment lies in the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He alone possesses perfect judgment and the piercing gaze to discern and utterly defeat all evil. When He sits on His glorious throne, all wickedness will be revealed and dispersed by the truth of His being.
Examples for practical usage:
- A parent whose consistent integrity and clear discernment prevents unruly behavior in children by their mere presence.
- A leader in an organization whose commitment to ethical conduct and transparency discourages dishonesty among employees.
- A believer whose life, rooted in biblical truth, exposes and stands against ungodly influences in their sphere of impact.