Proverbs 24:21 kjv

My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

Proverbs 24:21 nkjv

My son, fear the LORD and the king; Do not associate with those given to change;

Proverbs 24:21 niv

Fear the LORD and the king, my son, and do not join with rebellious officials,

Proverbs 24:21 esv

My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise,

Proverbs 24:21 nlt

My child, fear the LORD and the king.
Don't associate with rebels,

Proverbs 24 verses

Proverbs 24 21 Meaning

This verse commands an individual, metaphorically "my son," to revere and obey both God, the ultimate sovereign, and the earthly king, who represents God's established authority. It strongly cautions against forming alliances, partnerships, or associating with individuals who are rebellious, radical, or prone to inciting sedition against legitimate rule and established order. The core message promotes loyalty, stability, and submission to divinely appointed spiritual and civil authorities.

Proverbs 24 21 Context

Proverbs 24 is part of a larger collection known as the "Sayings of the Wise" (chapters 22:17–24:34), distinguished from the earlier Solomonic proverbs. This section typically offers practical, general wisdom for living a righteous life in society. Verse 21 appears amidst warnings against envy of evil men (v. 19), encouragements to wise governance (v. 23-26), and warnings about idleness (v. 30-34). Specifically, verse 21 establishes a fundamental principle of loyalty and order, setting the stage for the swift judgment mentioned in verse 22 upon those who defy it.

Historically, in ancient Israel and the broader Ancient Near East, society was structured hierarchically, with the king at its apex as God's representative. The "fear of the LORD" (reverence, awe, obedience) was the bedrock of Israelite faith and morality, leading to social cohesion and individual righteousness. Rebellion against the king was often considered a severe offense, bordering on blasphemy, as the king's authority was seen as divinely instituted (e.g., God chose kings, or allowed kings to rule). This proverb would have resonated strongly in a culture that valued stability, divine order, and obedience to established authority. It implicitly pushes back against tendencies toward anarchy, factions, or individuals seeking to subvert the legitimate political or religious order, which would have threatened societal well-being and disrupted divine-human relationships.

Proverbs 24 21 Word analysis

• My son (בְּנִי - bĕnî): A conventional literary address in Proverbs, indicating a pedagogical relationship. It signifies the teacher-disciple bond, universalizing the advice to anyone seeking wisdom, not strictly a literal father-son dynamic. It implies the loving impartation of vital truth for the recipient's well-being and flourishing.
• fear (יְרָא - yĕrā’): This is not merely fright but a profound sense of awe, reverence, respect, and obedient submission. When applied to God (YHWH), it means acknowledging His absolute sovereignty, power, holiness, and rightful authority over all creation, leading to obedient worship. When applied to the king, it means honoring his position, obeying his laws, and recognizing his divinely ordained authority, coupled with the understanding that he too is subject to the ultimate fear of the LORD.
• the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): This is the Tetragrammaton, God's unique covenant name, signifying His unchanging, eternal, and personal nature. Mentioning YHWH establishes God's supreme authority as the ultimate Lawgiver and Judge, reinforcing that true fear involves living in covenant fidelity to Him. This relationship forms the basis for all other loyalties.
• and the king (וָמֶלֶךְ - wāmeleḵ): The conjunction "and" places the king immediately after the LORD, suggesting a parallel but subordinate authority. This highlights that civil authority, as divinely ordained, demands respect and obedience as part of one's fear of God. The king functions as God's chosen representative to maintain order and justice on earth, thus honoring him becomes an extension of honoring God's appointed structures.
• do not associate (לֹא־תִתְעָרָב - lō’-tit‘ārāv): From the root עָרָב (‘ārav), meaning "to mix, mingle, join." The Hithpael stem denotes reflexive or reciprocal action, meaning "do not involve yourself," "do not get entangled," "do not make common cause with." It's a strong prohibition against becoming intimate with, conspiring with, or aligning oneself with such individuals in thought, word, or deed. It warns against partnership, confederacy, or shared endeavors with them.
• with those who are rebellious (עִם־שׁוֹנִים - ‘im-šōwnîm): This is a crucial phrase. The word שׁוֹנִים (šōwnîm) comes from the root שָׁנָה (shana), which means "to change," "to alter," or "to repeat." In this context, it refers to those who are restless for change, are given to radical ideas, are disruptive, or actively seek to subvert or overthrow existing, legitimate order. These are "insurrectionists," "seditionists," or "innovators" who bring about undesirable, destabilizing changes. They are individuals who fundamentally deviate from and wish to dismantle the established and accepted social, political, or religious norms, often by unlawful or treacherous means, contrasting with the stability promoted by fearing the LORD and the king.

Words-group analysis:

• "fear the LORD and the king": This pairing emphasizes the twin pillars of wisdom: a right relationship with God and proper conduct within society. The ultimate reverence for God spills over into reverence for His ordained earthly authorities, promoting both spiritual devotion and civic responsibility. This reflects a Hebrew worldview where divine and human governance are intertwined.
• "do not associate with those who are rebellious": This directly warns against the practical consequences of not fearing God and the king. Such a prohibition stresses the profound influence of one's chosen company. The word "associate" here implies a deeper level than mere acquaintance; it speaks of forming alliances or friendships that could lead one into rebellious thinking or action, thus putting one in opposition to God and lawful human authority. The term "rebellious" highlights individuals characterized by disruptive behavior and a desire for illegitimate societal upheaval, marking them as dangerous companions.

Proverbs 24 21 Bonus section

• The wisdom of this proverb extends beyond ancient monarchies, applying to all forms of legitimate governing authorities today. Christians are consistently called to honor and obey their governments, paying taxes, praying for leaders, and living as good citizens, as long as civil law does not contradict God's higher law.
• The phrase "fear the LORD" is consistently presented throughout Proverbs (e.g., Prov 1:7, 9:10) as the "beginning" or "foundation" of all wisdom. This proverb places the fear of the king as a corollary, suggesting that societal stability flows directly from a people's spiritual devotion.
• This proverb promotes responsible citizenship grounded in faith. It is a safeguard against the destabilizing forces of anarchy and lawlessness that frequently undermine societies.
• The "rebellious" are dangerous because their heart attitude is one of contempt for authority and order, whether divine or human. This spiritual posture inevitably leads to disruptive actions.

Proverbs 24 21 Commentary

Proverbs 24:21 offers a timeless admonition centered on the preservation of order – both divine and social. It mandates a foundational reverence for God (YHWH), the ultimate sovereign, as the fount of all true wisdom and morality. This fear, characterized by deep awe and obedience, then extends to honoring the king, God's appointed earthly representative, recognizing his authority as derived from the Divine. This establishes a clear hierarchy of submission: God first, then the king.

Following this directive on proper allegiances, the proverb issues a potent warning: "do not associate with those who are rebellious." These "rebellious ones" are not merely those with different opinions, but those prone to fundamental, disruptive "changes" (the literal meaning of shonim), advocating for or inciting sedition against established, legitimate rule. They embody chaos and lawlessness, threatening the very stability that a society fearing God and honoring the king seeks to uphold.

The counsel to avoid such individuals is intensely practical. Close association can lead to moral and spiritual corruption, subtly eroding one's own loyalties and drawing one into the destructive consequences (mentioned in the subsequent verse, Prov 24:22). This proverb does not preclude righteous resistance against tyrannical rulers through legitimate means, but condemns ungodly conspiracies and revolutionary acts driven by a lawless spirit. It underscores that loyalty to God necessarily includes respecting His ordained order, both divine and civil.