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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Proverbs 20:20 Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-20.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/1/20_Pro_20_20.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Proverbs 20:20 - Wine is a Mocker" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness." /><script type="application/javascript" 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border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad20.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/proverbs/20-19.htm" title="Proverbs 20:19">◄</a> Proverbs 20:20 <a href="/proverbs/20-21.htm" title="Proverbs 20:21">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/proverbs/20.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/proverbs/20.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />If someone curses their father or mother, their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/proverbs/20.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />If you insult your father or mother, your light will be snuffed out in total darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/proverbs/20.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/proverbs/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/proverbs/20.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/proverbs/20.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp will be put out in deep darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/proverbs/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />He who curses his father or his mother, His lamp will go out in time of darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/proverbs/20.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />He who curses his father or his mother, His lamp will go out in time of darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/proverbs/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />He who curses his father or his mother, His lamp will go out in time of darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/proverbs/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />He who curses his father or his mother, His lamp will go out in the midst of darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/proverbs/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp [of life] will be extinguished in time of darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/proverbs/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Whoever curses his father or mother — his lamp will go out in deep darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/proverbs/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Whoever curses his father or mother— his lamp will go out in deep darkness. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/proverbs/20.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/proverbs/20.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Children who curse their parents will go to the land of darkness long before their time. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/proverbs/20.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/proverbs/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The lamp of the person who curses his father and mother will be snuffed out in total darkness. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/proverbs/20.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />If you curse your parents, your life will end like a lamp that goes out in the dark. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/proverbs/20.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the deepest darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/proverbs/20.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The one who curses his father and his mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the blackest darkness. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/proverbs/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/proverbs/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Whoever curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/proverbs/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/proverbs/20.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/proverbs/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Whoever is vilifying his father and his mother, his lamp is extinguished in blackness of darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/proverbs/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Whoso is vilifying his father and his mother, Extinguished is his lamp in blackness of darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/proverbs/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />He cursing his father and his mother, his lamp shall go out in the midst of darkness.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/proverbs/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/proverbs/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Whoever curses his father and mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the midst of darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/proverbs/20.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Those who curse father or mother— their lamp will go out in the dead of night. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/proverbs/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />If you curse father or mother, your lamp will go out in utter darkness.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/proverbs/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />He who curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be extinguished.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/proverbs/20.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />He that curses his father and his mother will extinguish his lamp as dark pupils.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/proverbs/20.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/proverbs/20.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/proverbs/20-20.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kpUA5ZltBeQ?start=4068" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/proverbs/20.htm">Wine is a Mocker</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">19</span>He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips. <span class="reftext">20</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/7043.htm" title="7043: mə·qal·lêl (V-Piel-Prtcpl-ms) -- To be slight, swift or trifling. A primitive root; to be light, literally Or figuratively.">Whoever curses</a> <a href="/hebrew/1.htm" title="1: ’ā·ḇîw (N-msc:: 3ms) -- Father. A primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application).">his father</a> <a href="/hebrew/517.htm" title="517: wə·’im·mōw (Conj-w:: N-fsc:: 3ms) -- A mother. A primitive word; a mother; in a wide sense (like 'ab).">or mother,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5216.htm" title="5216: nê·rōw (N-msc:: 3ms) -- A lamp. Or nir; also neyr; or ner; or nerah; from a primitive root properly, meaning to glisten; a lamp or light.">his lamp</a> <a href="/hebrew/1846.htm" title="1846: yiḏ·‘aḵ (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To go out, be extinguished. A primitive root; to be extinguished; figuratively, to expire or be dried up.">will be extinguished</a> <a href="/hebrew/380.htm" title="380: bə·ʾī·šōn (Prep-b:: N-ms) -- The pupil (of the eye). Diminutive from 'iysh; the little man of the eye; the pupil or ball; hence, the middle.">in deepest</a> <a href="/hebrew/2822.htm" title="2822: ḥō·šeḵ (N-ms) -- From chashak; the dark; hence darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness.">darkness.</a> </span><span class="reftext">21</span>An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/21-17.htm">Exodus 21:17</a></span><br />Anyone who curses his father or mother must surely be put to death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/20-9.htm">Leviticus 20:9</a></span><br />If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death. He has cursed his father or mother; his blood shall be upon him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/15-4.htm">Matthew 15:4</a></span><br />For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/7-10.htm">Mark 7:10</a></span><br />For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/27-16.htm">Deuteronomy 27:16</a></span><br />‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/6-2.htm">Ephesians 6:2-3</a></span><br />“Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), / “that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/30-11.htm">Proverbs 30:11</a></span><br />There is a generation of those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/30-17.htm">Proverbs 30:17</a></span><br />As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/10-21.htm">Matthew 10:21</a></span><br />Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/18-20.htm">Luke 18:20</a></span><br />You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_timothy/3-2.htm">2 Timothy 3:2</a></span><br />For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/1-30.htm">Romans 1:30</a></span><br />slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/3-20.htm">Colossians 3:20</a></span><br />Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/20-12.htm">Exodus 20:12</a></span><br />Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/5-16.htm">Deuteronomy 5:16</a></span><br />Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.</p><p class="hdg">curseth</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/30-11.htm">Proverbs 30:11,17</a></b></br> <i>There is</i> a generation <i>that</i> curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/20-12.htm">Exodus 20:12</a></b></br> Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/21-17.htm">Exodus 21:17</a></b></br> And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.</p><p class="hdg">lamp or candle</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/20-27.htm">Proverbs 20:27</a></b></br> The spirit of man <i>is</i> the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/jude/1-13.htm">Blackest</a> <a href="/proverbs/7-9.htm">Blackness</a> <a href="/proverbs/11-26.htm">Curse</a> <a href="/psalms/109-28.htm">Curses</a> <a href="/2_samuel/16-10.htm">Curseth</a> <a href="/proverbs/7-9.htm">Darkness</a> <a href="/proverbs/13-9.htm">Extinguished</a> <a href="/proverbs/6-23.htm">Lamp</a> <a href="/proverbs/19-26.htm">Mother</a> <a href="/proverbs/7-9.htm">Night</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/6-9.htm">Obscure</a> <a href="/joshua/4-20.htm">Pitch</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-16.htm">Puts</a> <a href="/proverbs/13-9.htm">Snuffed</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-4.htm">Time</a> <a href="/proverbs/14-5.htm">Utter</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/isaiah/60-2.htm">Blackest</a> <a href="/isaiah/50-3.htm">Blackness</a> <a href="/proverbs/24-24.htm">Curse</a> <a href="/proverbs/28-27.htm">Curses</a> <a href="/proverbs/30-11.htm">Curseth</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/2-13.htm">Darkness</a> <a href="/proverbs/24-20.htm">Extinguished</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-27.htm">Lamp</a> <a href="/proverbs/23-22.htm">Mother</a> <a href="/proverbs/31-15.htm">Night</a> <a href="/proverbs/22-29.htm">Obscure</a> <a href="/isaiah/13-20.htm">Pitch</a> <a href="/proverbs/21-25.htm">Puts</a> <a href="/proverbs/24-20.htm">Snuffed</a> <a href="/proverbs/24-10.htm">Time</a> <a href="/proverbs/23-33.htm">Utter</a><div class="vheading2">Proverbs 20</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/20-1.htm">Proper Living</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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<a href="/deuteronomy/5-16.htm">Deuteronomy 5:16</a>). In ancient Israelite society, family was the foundational unit, and respect for parents was seen as respect for God's ordained order. Cursing one's parents was not merely a verbal offense but a serious breach of social and religious duty, reflecting a rebellious heart. The gravity of this act is highlighted in the law, which prescribed severe consequences for such behavior (<a href="/exodus/21-17.htm">Exodus 21:17</a>; <a href="/leviticus/20-9.htm">Leviticus 20:9</a>).<p><b>his lamp will be extinguished</b><br>The imagery of a lamp represents life, guidance, and prosperity. In biblical times, a lamp was essential for light in the darkness, symbolizing the presence of God and His guidance (<a href="/psalms/119-105.htm">Psalm 119:105</a>). The extinguishing of a lamp signifies the removal of divine favor and protection, leading to a life devoid of direction and hope. This metaphor is used elsewhere in Scripture to denote the end of life or the cessation of one's legacy (<a href="/job/18-5.htm">Job 18:5-6</a>; 21:17).<p><b>in deepest darkness</b><br>Deepest darkness, or "utter darkness," conveys a state of complete separation from God's presence and blessings. It is often associated with judgment and the absence of spiritual enlightenment (<a href="/matthew/8-12.htm">Matthew 8:12</a>; 22:13). This phrase suggests not only physical death but also spiritual desolation, a fate reserved for those who reject divine wisdom and authority. The concept of darkness as judgment is prevalent throughout the Bible, symbolizing the ultimate consequence of living in rebellion against God's commandments.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/f/father_and_mother.htm">Father and Mother</a></b><br>In the context of Proverbs, these figures represent not only biological parents but also authority figures and the wisdom of previous generations. They are central to the family unit, which is a foundational element of society in biblical teaching.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lamp.htm">The Lamp</a></b><br>Symbolically, the lamp represents life, guidance, and the presence of God’s wisdom. In ancient times, a lamp was essential for light and safety, especially during the night.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/d/deepest_darkness.htm">Deepest Darkness</a></b><br>This phrase signifies a state of utter hopelessness and separation from God’s guidance and blessing. It is a metaphor for spiritual and moral darkness.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_honor.htm">The Importance of Honor</a></b><br>Honoring parents is a direct command from God and reflects our respect for His established order.<br><br>Disrespect towards parents is seen as a serious offense with spiritual consequences.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_disobedience.htm">Consequences of Disobedience</a></b><br>Cursing parents leads to spiritual darkness, symbolizing a life devoid of God’s guidance and blessing.<br><br>The extinguishing of the lamp serves as a warning of the potential loss of spiritual insight and moral direction.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_family_in_spiritual_formation.htm">The Role of Family in Spiritual Formation</a></b><br>The family is a primary context for learning and practicing godly wisdom.<br><br>Parents are entrusted with the responsibility to teach and model God’s ways to their children.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_restoration.htm">Repentance and Restoration</a></b><br>While the consequences of cursing parents are severe, God offers forgiveness and restoration through repentance.<br><br>Seeking reconciliation with parents can restore the light of God’s wisdom in one’s life.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_proverbs_20.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 20</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_evil_eye_mean.htm">What does the evil eye mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_reformed_epistemology.htm">What does 'lamp of the wicked' mean in Proverbs?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_proverbs_20_27_align_with_science.htm">Proverbs 20:27 claims 'the spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord'--how can this be reconciled with scientific understandings of human consciousness?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'rise_first'_mean.htm">What is the meaning of Proverbs 20:1?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/proverbs/20.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(20) <span class= "bld">His lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.</span>--See above, on <a href="/proverbs/13-9.htm" title="The light of the righteous rejoices: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.">Proverbs 13:9</a>.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/proverbs/20.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 20.</span> - This is an enforcement of the fifth commandment, by denouncing the punishment which the moral government of God shall exact from the unnatural child. The legal penalty may be seen (<a href="/exodus/21-17.htm">Exodus 21:17</a>; <a href="/leviticus/20-9.htm">Leviticus 20:9</a>); but this was probably seldom or never carried into execution (comp. <a href="/matthew/15-4.htm">Matthew 15:4</a>; <a href="/mark/7-10.htm">Mark 7:10</a>). <span class="cmt_word">His lamp shall be put out in obscure</span> (<span class="accented">the blackest</span>) <span class="cmt_word">darkness</span> (comp. <a href="/proverbs/13-9.htm">Proverbs 13:9</a>). The expression is peculiar; it is literally, according to the Khetib, <span class="accented">In the apple of the eye of darkness</span>, as in <a href="/proverbs/7-9.htm">Proverbs 7:9</a>; <span class="accented">i.e.</span> in the very centre of darkness; he will find himself surrounded on all sides by midnight darkness, without escape, with no hope of Divine protection. "Lamp" is a metaphor applied to the bodily and the spiritual life, to happiness and prosperity, to a man's fame and reputation, to a man's posterity; and all these senses may be involved in the denunciation of the disobedient and stubborn child. He shall suffer in body and soul, in character, in fortune, in his children. His fate is the exact counterpart of the blessing promised in the Law. Septuagint, "The lamp of him that revileth father and mother shall be extinguished, and the pupils of his eyes shall behold darkness." Talmud, "Whosoever abandons his parents means his body to become the prey of scorpions." Cato, 'Dist.,' 3:23 - <p><span class="foreign">"Dilige non aegra caros pietate parentes;<br />Nec matrem offendas, dum vis bonus esse parenti."</span> One of the evil generations denounced by Agur (<a href="/proverbs/30-11.htm">Proverbs 30:11</a>) is that which curseth parents. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/proverbs/20-20.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Whoever curses</span><br /><span class="heb">מְ֭קַלֵּל</span> <span class="translit">(mə·qal·lêl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7043.htm">Strong's 7043: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be slight, swift or trifling</span><br /><br /><span class="word">his father</span><br /><span class="heb">אָבִ֣יו</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·ḇîw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1.htm">Strong's 1: </a> </span><span class="str2">Father</span><br /><br /><span class="word">or mother,</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאִמּ֑וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’im·mōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_517.htm">Strong's 517: </a> </span><span class="str2">A mother, )</span><br /><br /><span class="word">his lamp</span><br /><span class="heb">נֵ֝ר֗וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(nê·rōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5216.htm">Strong's 5216: </a> </span><span class="str2">A lamp, light</span><br /><br /><span class="word">will be extinguished</span><br /><span class="heb">יִֽדְעַ֥ךְ</span> <span class="translit">(yiḏ·‘aḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1846.htm">Strong's 1846: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be extinguished, to expire, be dried up</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in deepest</span><br /><span class="heb">בֶּאֱשׁ֥וּן</span> <span class="translit">(be·’ĕ·šūn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_380.htm">Strong's 380: </a> </span><span class="str2">The little man of the eye, the pupil, ball, the middle</span><br /><br /><span class="word">darkness.</span><br /><span class="heb">חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃</span> <span class="translit">(ḥō·šeḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2822.htm">Strong's 2822: </a> </span><span class="str2">The dark, darkness, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/proverbs/20-20.htm">Proverbs 20:20 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/proverbs/20-20.htm">Proverbs 20:20 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/proverbs/20-20.htm">Proverbs 20:20 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/proverbs/20-20.htm">Proverbs 20:20 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/proverbs/20-20.htm">Proverbs 20:20 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/proverbs/20-20.htm">Proverbs 20:20 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/proverbs/20-20.htm">Proverbs 20:20 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/proverbs/20-20.htm">Proverbs 20:20 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/proverbs/20-20.htm">Proverbs 20:20 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/proverbs/20-20.htm">Proverbs 20:20 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/proverbs/20-20.htm">OT Poetry: Proverbs 20:20 Whoever curses his father or his mother (Prov. Pro Pr) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/proverbs/20-19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Proverbs 20:19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Proverbs 20:19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/proverbs/20-21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Proverbs 20:21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Proverbs 20:21" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>