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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 20:27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-27.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/9/20_Pro_20_27.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Proverbs 20:27 - Wine is a Mocker" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being." /><script type="application/javascript" 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id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/proverbs/20-26.htm" title="Proverbs 20:26">◄</a> Proverbs 20:27 <a href="/proverbs/20-28.htm" title="Proverbs 20:28">►</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="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </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 />The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD that sheds light on one&#8217s inmost being.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/proverbs/20.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />The LORD’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/proverbs/20.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/proverbs/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/proverbs/20.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />The spirit of man <i>is</i> the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/proverbs/20.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />The spirit of a man <i>is</i> the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/proverbs/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />The spirit of a person is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the innermost parts of his being.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/proverbs/20.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the innermost parts of his being.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/proverbs/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the innermost parts of his being.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/proverbs/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />The breath of man is the lamp of Yahweh, Searching all the innermost parts of his body.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/proverbs/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />The spirit (conscience) of man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching <i>and</i> examining all the innermost parts of his being.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/proverbs/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The LORD’s lamp sheds light on a person’s life, searching the innermost parts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/proverbs/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The LORD&#8217s lamp sheds light on a person&#8217s life, searching the innermost parts. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/proverbs/20.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching all his innermost parts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/proverbs/20.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Our inner thoughts are a lamp from the LORD, and they search our hearts. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/proverbs/20.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the innermost parts of the belly.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/proverbs/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />A person's soul is the LORD's lamp. It searches his entire innermost being.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/proverbs/20.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The LORD gave us mind and conscience; we cannot hide from ourselves. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/proverbs/20.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />A person's spirit is the lamp of the LORD; it searches throughout one's innermost being.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/proverbs/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/proverbs/20.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The human spirit is like the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/proverbs/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The spirit of man is the LORD's lamp, searching all his innermost parts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/proverbs/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/proverbs/20.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The spirit of man is Yahweh’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/proverbs/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />The breath of man [is] a lamp of YHWH, "" Searching all the inner parts of the heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/proverbs/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> The breath of man is a lamp of Jehovah, Searching all the inner parts of the heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/proverbs/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />The light of Jehovah is the breath of man, searching all the chambers of the belly.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/proverbs/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all the hidden things of the bowels. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/proverbs/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />The spirit of a man is a lamp to the Lord, which investigates all the secrets of the inner self.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/proverbs/20.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />A lamp from the LORD is human life-breath; it searches through the inmost being. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/proverbs/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD, searching every inmost part.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/proverbs/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />The soul of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/proverbs/20.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />The soul of the children of men is the lamp of LORD JEHOVAH, and it searches all the inner rooms of the belly.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/proverbs/20.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inward parts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/proverbs/20.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />The spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/proverbs/20-27.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kpUA5ZltBeQ?start=4119" 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">26</span>A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them. <span class="reftext">27</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/5397.htm" title="5397: niš·maṯ (N-fsc) -- Breath. From nasham; a puff, i.e. Wind, angry or vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect. Or an animal.">The spirit</a> <a href="/hebrew/120.htm" title="120: ’ā·ḏām (N-ms) -- Man, mankind. From 'adam; ruddy i.e. A human being.">of a man</a> <a href="/hebrew/5216.htm" title="5216: nêr (N-msc) -- A lamp. Or nir; also neyr; or ner; or nerah; from a primitive root properly, meaning to glisten; a lamp or light.">is the lamp</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">of the LORD,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2664.htm" title="2664: ḥō·p̄êś (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- To search. A primitive root; to seek; causatively, to conceal oneself, or mask.">searching out</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: kāl- (N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every."></a> <a href="/hebrew/2315.htm" title="2315: ḥaḏ·rê- (N-mpc) -- A chamber, room. From chadar; an apartment.">his inmost being.</a> <a href="/hebrew/990.htm" title="990: ḇā·ṭen (N-fs) -- From an unused root probably meaning to be hollow; the belly, especially the womb; also the bosom or body of anything."></a> </span><span class="reftext">28</span>Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.…<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="/genesis/2-7.htm">Genesis 2:7</a></span><br />Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/32-8.htm">Job 32:8</a></span><br />But there is a spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/18-28.htm">Psalm 18:28</a></span><br />For You, O LORD, light my lamp; my God lights up my darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/139-23.htm">Psalm 139:23-24</a></span><br />Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. / See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the way everlasting.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/11-2.htm">Isaiah 11:2</a></span><br />The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/26-9.htm">Isaiah 26:9</a></span><br />My soul longs for You in the night; indeed, my spirit seeks You at dawn. For when Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/29-24.htm">Isaiah 29:24</a></span><br />Then the wayward in spirit will come to understanding, and those who grumble will accept instruction.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/17-10.htm">Jeremiah 17:10</a></span><br />I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/12-1.htm">Zechariah 12:1</a></span><br />This is the burden of the word of the LORD concerning Israel. Thus declares the LORD, who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundation of the earth, who forms the spirit of man within him:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/6-22.htm">Matthew 6:22-23</a></span><br />The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. / But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/11-34.htm">Luke 11:34-36</a></span><br />Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body is full of darkness. / Be careful, then, that the light within you is not darkness. / So if your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, you will be radiant, as though a lamp were shining on you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/1-4.htm">John 1:4-5</a></span><br />In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. / The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/3-19.htm">John 3:19-21</a></span><br />And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. / Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. / But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/8-12.htm">John 8:12</a></span><br />Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/8-16.htm">Romans 8:16</a></span><br />The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.</p><p class="hdg">spirit</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/2-7.htm">Genesis 2:7</a></b></br> And the LORD God formed man <i>of</i> the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/32-8.htm">Job 32:8</a></b></br> But <i>there is</i> a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/romans/2-15.htm">Romans 2:15</a></b></br> Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and <i>their</i> thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)</p><p class="hdg">candle or lamp</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/20-20.htm">Proverbs 20:20</a></b></br> Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.</p><p class="hdg">searching</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/20-30.htm">Proverbs 20:30</a></b></br> The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so <i>do</i> stripes the inward parts of the belly.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hebrews/4-12.htm">Hebrews 4:12,13</a></b></br> For the word of God <i>is</i> quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and <i>is</i> a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/proverbs/18-20.htm">Belly</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-8.htm">Body</a> <a href="/psalms/150-6.htm">Breath</a> <a href="/psalms/18-28.htm">Candle</a> <a href="/psalms/107-14.htm">Deepest</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-9.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-8.htm">Inmost</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-8.htm">Inner</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-8.htm">Innermost</a> <a href="/proverbs/14-33.htm">Inward</a> <a href="/proverbs/19-16.htm">Keeps</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-20.htm">Lamp</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-8.htm">Parts</a> <a href="/proverbs/11-27.htm">Searches</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-15.htm">Searching</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-14.htm">Spirit</a> <a href="/proverbs/15-3.htm">Watch</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/proverbs/20-30.htm">Belly</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-30.htm">Body</a> <a href="/proverbs/21-6.htm">Breath</a> <a href="/proverbs/24-20.htm">Candle</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-30.htm">Deepest</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-30.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-30.htm">Inmost</a> <a href="/proverbs/24-4.htm">Inner</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-30.htm">Innermost</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-30.htm">Inward</a> <a href="/proverbs/21-23.htm">Keeps</a> <a href="/proverbs/21-4.htm">Lamp</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-30.htm">Parts</a> <a href="/romans/8-27.htm">Searches</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-25.htm">Searching</a> <a href="/proverbs/22-4.htm">Spirit</a> <a href="/proverbs/21-23.htm">Watch</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'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/proverbs/20.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>The spirit of a man</b><br />The Hebrew word for "spirit" here is "ruach," which can mean breath, wind, or spirit. In the context of this verse, it refers to the immaterial part of a person, the inner life that reflects the image of God. This spirit is not merely a human attribute but a divine gift, indicating that every person has an inherent connection to God. The "spirit of a man" suggests a personal, introspective capacity that allows individuals to engage with God and understand His will. It is a reminder that our spiritual essence is designed to be in communion with the Creator, serving as a conduit for divine wisdom and guidance.<p><b>is the lamp of the LORD</b><br />The imagery of a "lamp" in biblical times often symbolized guidance, revelation, and the presence of God. In ancient Israel, lamps were essential for navigating the darkness, and here, the "lamp of the LORD" signifies the illuminating power of God's presence in a person's life. The spirit, as God's lamp, suggests that God uses our inner being to reveal truth and provide direction. This phrase emphasizes that God actively engages with our spirit to bring light to our path, offering clarity and understanding in the midst of life's complexities. It is a call to allow God's light to shine through us, illuminating our thoughts, actions, and decisions.<p><b>searching out his inmost being</b><br />The Hebrew verb "chaphas" means to search, examine, or investigate thoroughly. This phrase indicates a deep, penetrating examination of one's inner life. The "inmost being" refers to the depths of a person's heart and soul, the core of who they are. This searching is not superficial but a profound exploration of one's motives, desires, and intentions. It suggests that God, through the spirit, examines our hearts to reveal areas that need transformation and alignment with His will. This process is both comforting and challenging, as it assures us of God's intimate knowledge of us while calling us to live authentically and righteously. It is an invitation to open ourselves to God's scrutiny, trusting that His purpose is to refine and purify us for His glory.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/proverbs/20.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(27) <span class= "bld">The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord.</span>--The spirit of man, breathed into him at first by the Creator (<a href="/genesis/2-7.htm" title="And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.">Genesis 2:7</a>), and afterwards quickened and illumined by the Divine Spirit, is the "candle of the Lord," given to man as an inward light and guide.<p><span class= "bld">Searching all the inward parts of the belly.--</span>That is, of the inmost heart of man; testing all his thoughts, feelings, desires, by God's law, approving some, condemning others, according as they agree with it or not. The word "belly<span class= "ital">" </span>is equivalent to "heart" or "soul" in <a href="/job/15-2.htm" title="Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?">Job 15:2</a>; <a href="/job/15-15.htm" title="Behold, he puts no trust in his saints; yes, the heavens are not clean in his sight.">Job 15:15</a>; <a href="/job/32-19.htm" title="Behold, my belly is as wine which has no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.">Job 32:19</a>. (Comp. <a href="/john/7-38.htm" title="He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.">John 7:38</a>.) . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/proverbs/20.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 27.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The spirit of men is the candle</span> (<span class="accented">lamp</span>) <span class="accented"><span class="cmt_word"></span>of the Lord.</span> <span class="accented">Neshamah</span>, "spirit," or "breath," is the principle of life breathed into man by God himself (<a href="/genesis/2-7.htm">Genesis 2:7</a>), distinguishing man from brutes - the conscious human soul. We may consider it as equivalent to what we Christians call conscience, with its twofold character of receiving light and illumination from God, and sitting as judge and arbiter of actions. It is named "the Lord's lamp," because this moral sense is a direct gift of God, and enables a man to see his real condition. Our Lord (<a href="/matthew/6-23.htm">Matthew 6:23</a>) speaks of the light that is in man, and gives a solemn warning against the danger of letting it be darkened by neglect and sin; and St. Paul (<a href="/1_corinthians/2-11.htm">1 Corinthians 2:11</a>) argues, "Who among men knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of the man, which is in him?" As Elihu says (<a href="/job/32-8.htm">Job 32:8</a>), "There is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty giveth them understanding." And Aristotle speaks of practical wisdom (<span class="greek">φρόνησις</span>) combined with virtue as "the eye of the soul (<span class="greek">ὄμμα τῆς</span> <span class="greek">ψυχῆς</span>)." <span class="cmt_word">Searching all the inward parts of the belly;</span> <span class="accented">i.e.</span> the very depths of the soul, probing thoughts, desires, affections, will, and approving or reproving, according as they are in conformity with or opposition to God's Law. We must remember that Eastern houses, before the introduction of glass, had very scanty openings to admit light, and lamps were necessary if for any purpose the interior had to be thoroughly illuminated. Hence the metaphor used above would strike an Oriental more forcibly than it strikes us. Septuagint, "The breath (<span class="greek">πνοὴ</span>, as <a href="/proverbs/11-13.htm">Proverbs 11:13</a>) of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the chambers of the belly." St. Gregory ('Moral.,' 12:64), "We ought to bear in mind that in holy Writ by the title of the 'belly,' or the 'womb,' the mind is used to be understood. For the light of grace, which comes from above, affords a 'breathway' to man unto life, which same light is said to 'search all the inward parts of the belly,' in that it penetrates all the secrets of the heart, that the things which were hidden in the soul touching itself it may bring back before the eyes thereof" (Oxford transl.). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/proverbs/20-27.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">The spirit</span><br /><span class="heb">נִשְׁמַ֣ת</span> <span class="translit">(niš·maṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5397.htm">Strong's 5397: </a> </span><span class="str2">A puff, wind, angry, vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect, an animal</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of a man</span><br /><span class="heb">אָדָ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·ḏām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_120.htm">Strong's 120: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ruddy, a human being</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[is] the lamp</span><br /><span class="heb">נֵ֣ר</span> <span class="translit">(nêr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<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">of the LORD,</span><br /><span class="heb">יְ֭הוָה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">searching out</span><br /><span class="heb">חֹ֝פֵ֗שׂ</span> <span class="translit">(ḥō·p̄êś)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2664.htm">Strong's 2664: </a> </span><span class="str2">To seek, to conceal oneself, mask</span><br /><br /><span class="word">his inmost being.</span><br /><span class="heb">חַדְרֵי־</span> <span class="translit">(ḥaḏ·rê-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2315.htm">Strong's 2315: </a> </span><span class="str2">A chamber, room</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/proverbs/20-27.htm">Proverbs 20:27 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/proverbs/20-27.htm">Proverbs 20:27 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/proverbs/20-27.htm">Proverbs 20:27 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/proverbs/20-27.htm">Proverbs 20:27 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/proverbs/20-27.htm">Proverbs 20:27 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/proverbs/20-27.htm">Proverbs 20:27 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/proverbs/20-27.htm">Proverbs 20:27 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/proverbs/20-27.htm">Proverbs 20:27 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/proverbs/20-27.htm">Proverbs 20:27 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/proverbs/20-27.htm">Proverbs 20:27 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/proverbs/20-27.htm">OT Poetry: Proverbs 20:27 The spirit of man is Yahweh's lamp (Prov. 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