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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 />When a king sits on his throne to judge, he winnows out all evil with his eyes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/proverbs/20.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />When a king sits in judgment, he weighs all the evidence, distinguishing the bad from the good.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/proverbs/20.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/proverbs/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/proverbs/20.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/proverbs/20.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters all evil with his eyes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/proverbs/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />A king who sits on the throne of justice Disperses all evil with his eyes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/proverbs/20.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />A king who sits on the throne of justice Disperses all evil with his eyes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/proverbs/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />A king who sits on the throne of justice Disperses all evil with his eyes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/proverbs/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />A king who sits on the throne of justice Disperses all evil with his eyes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/proverbs/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />A [discerning] king who sits on the throne of judgment Sifts all evil [like chaff] with his eyes [and cannot be easily fooled].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/proverbs/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />A king sitting on a throne to judge separates out all evil with his eyes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/proverbs/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />A king sitting on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/proverbs/20.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/proverbs/20.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />When rulers decide cases, they weigh the evidence. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/proverbs/20.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/proverbs/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />A king who sits on his throne to judge sifts out every evil with his eyes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/proverbs/20.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The king sits in judgment and knows evil when he sees it. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/proverbs/20.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />A king sits on a throne of justice, sifting out all sorts of evil with his glance.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/proverbs/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/proverbs/20.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />A king sitting on the throne to judge separates out all evil with his eyes. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/proverbs/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/proverbs/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/proverbs/20.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/proverbs/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />A king sitting on a throne of judgment, "" Is scattering all evil with his eyes,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/proverbs/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> A king sitting on a throne of judgment, Is scattering with his eyes all evil,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/proverbs/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />The king shall sit upon the throne of judgment scattering with his eyes all evil.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/proverbs/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/proverbs/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />The king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters all evil with his gaze.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/proverbs/20.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />A king seated on the throne of judgment dispels all evil with his glance. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/proverbs/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/proverbs/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil things from before him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/proverbs/20.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />The King sits upon the throne of judgment and all the wicked are scattered before him.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/proverbs/20.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/proverbs/20.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/proverbs/20-8.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=3979" 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">7</span>The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him. <span class="reftext">8</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/4428.htm" title="4428: me·leḵ (N-ms) -- King. From malak; a king.">A king</a> <a href="/hebrew/3427.htm" title="3427: yō·wō·šêḇ (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- A primitive root; properly, to sit down; by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry.">who sits</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">on</a> <a href="/hebrew/3678.htm" title="3678: kis·sê- (N-msc) -- Seat of honor, throne. Or kicceh; from kacah; properly, covered, i.e. A throne.">a throne</a> <a href="/hebrew/1779.htm" title="1779: ḏîn (N-ms) -- Judgment. From diyn; judgement; by impl. Also strife.">to judge</a> <a href="/hebrew/2219.htm" title="2219: mə·zā·reh (V-Piel-Prtcpl-ms) -- To scatter, fan, winnow. A primitive root; to toss about; by implication, to diffuse, winnow.">sifts 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.">all</a> <a href="/hebrew/7451.htm" title="7451: rā‘ (Adj-ms) -- Bad, evil. From ra'a'; bad or evil.">evil</a> <a href="/hebrew/5869.htm" title="5869: ḇə·‘ê·nāw (Prep-b:: N-cdc:: 3ms) -- An eye. Probably a primitive word; an eye; by analogy, a fountain.">with his eyes.</a> </span><span class="reftext">9</span>Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?…<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="/psalms/72-1.htm">Psalm 72:1-2</a></span><br />Of Solomon. Endow the king with Your justice, O God, and the son of the king with Your righteousness. / May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/11-3.htm">Isaiah 11:3-4</a></span><br />And He will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what His eyes see, and He will not decide by what His ears hear, / but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/3-9.htm">1 Kings 3:9</a></span><br />Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/23-3.htm">2 Samuel 23:3-4</a></span><br />The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, ‘He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God, / is like the light of the morning at sunrise of a cloudless dawn, the glistening after the rain on the sprouting grass of the earth.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/101-6.htm">Psalm 101:6-8</a></span><br />My eyes favor the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way of integrity shall minister to me. / No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who tells lies shall stand in my presence. / Every morning I will remove all the wicked of the land, that I may cut off every evildoer from the city of the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/32-1.htm">Isaiah 32:1</a></span><br />Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/23-5.htm">Jeremiah 23:5</a></span><br />Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/10-9.htm">1 Kings 10:9</a></span><br />Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD’s eternal love for Israel, He has made you king to carry out justice and righteousness.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/29-14.htm">Job 29:14</a></span><br />I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/45-6.htm">Psalm 45:6-7</a></span><br />Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom. / You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you above your companions with the oil of joy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/25-31.htm">Matthew 25:31-32</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/19-11.htm">Revelation 19:11</a></span><br />Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/5-22.htm">John 5:22</a></span><br />Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/1-8.htm">Hebrews 1:8-9</a></span><br />But about the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom. / You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You above Your companions with the oil of joy.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/2-16.htm">Romans 2:16</a></span><br />on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">A king that sits in the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/20-26.htm">Proverbs 20:26</a></b></br> A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/16-12.htm">Proverbs 16:12</a></b></br> <i>It is</i> an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/29-14.htm">Proverbs 29:14</a></b></br> The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/job/37-11.htm">Disperses</a> <a href="/proverbs/19-28.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/proverbs/17-24.htm">Eyes</a> <a href="/psalms/144-6.htm">Flight</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-17.htm">Judge</a> <a href="/proverbs/16-10.htm">Judging</a> <a href="/proverbs/19-28.htm">Judgment</a> <a href="/proverbs/19-28.htm">Justice</a> <a href="/proverbs/19-24.htm">Puts</a> <a href="/proverbs/16-28.htm">Scattereth</a> <a href="/proverbs/11-24.htm">Scattering</a> <a href="/proverbs/11-24.htm">Scatters</a> <a href="/proverbs/16-12.htm">Seat</a> <a href="/proverbs/9-14.htm">Sits</a> <a href="/proverbs/9-14.htm">Sitteth</a> <a href="/proverbs/3-29.htm">Sitting</a> <a href="/proverbs/16-12.htm">Throne</a> <a href="/ruth/3-2.htm">Winnows</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/job/12-23.htm">Disperses</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-22.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-12.htm">Eyes</a> <a href="/proverbs/23-5.htm">Flight</a> <a href="/proverbs/22-22.htm">Judge</a> <a href="/proverbs/24-23.htm">Judging</a> <a href="/proverbs/21-3.htm">Judgment</a> <a href="/proverbs/21-3.htm">Justice</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-16.htm">Puts</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-26.htm">Scattereth</a> <a href="/isaiah/29-5.htm">Scattering</a> <a href="/isaiah/24-1.htm">Scatters</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-28.htm">Seat</a> <a href="/proverbs/31-23.htm">Sits</a> <a href="/proverbs/31-23.htm">Sitteth</a> <a href="/proverbs/31-23.htm">Sitting</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-28.htm">Throne</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-26.htm">Winnows</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 /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/proverbs/20.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/proverbs/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/proverbs/20.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>A king who sits on a throne to judge</b><br>In ancient Israel, the king was not only a political leader but also a judicial authority. The throne symbolizes authority and the responsibility to uphold justice. Kings like Solomon were renowned for their wisdom in judgment (<a href="/1_kings/3-28.htm">1 Kings 3:28</a>). The throne is a place of power, where decisions affecting the nation are made. This reflects the biblical principle that leaders are appointed by God to maintain order and justice (<a href="/romans/13.htm">Romans 13:1-4</a>). The imagery of a king on a throne also foreshadows the ultimate reign of Christ, who will judge the nations with righteousness (<a href="/revelation/20-11.htm">Revelation 20:11-12</a>).<p><b>sifts out all evil</b><br>The act of sifting implies a thorough examination and separation of good from evil. In biblical times, sifting was a process used to separate grain from chaff, symbolizing discernment and purification. This phrase highlights the king's role in discerning truth and administering justice. It echoes the wisdom literature's emphasis on the importance of discernment (<a href="/proverbs/2-3.htm">Proverbs 2:3-5</a>). The king's ability to sift out evil is a reflection of divine wisdom, which is pure and peaceable (<a href="/james/3-17.htm">James 3:17</a>).<p><b>with his eyes</b><br>The eyes are often seen as the windows to the soul and instruments of perception. In this context, they symbolize insight and understanding. The king's eyes represent his ability to perceive and judge rightly, seeing beyond appearances to the heart of the matter (<a href="/1_samuel/16-7.htm">1 Samuel 16:7</a>). This phrase underscores the importance of righteous judgment, which requires not only knowledge but also moral clarity. It points to the ultimate judge, Jesus Christ, who sees all and judges with perfect justice (<a href="/john/5-22.htm">John 5:22, 27</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/k/king.htm">King</a></b><br>Represents authority and leadership, often seen as a figure of justice and wisdom in biblical contexts.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/throne.htm">Throne</a></b><br>Symbolizes power, authority, and the seat of judgment.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/judgment.htm">Judgment</a></b><br>The act of discerning right from wrong, often associated with wisdom and fairness.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/e/evil.htm">Evil</a></b><br>Refers to moral wickedness or wrongdoing that is to be identified and dealt with.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/e/eyes.htm">Eyes</a></b><br>Symbolic of perception, insight, and the ability to discern truth from falsehood.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_authority_in_justice.htm">The Role of Authority in Justice</a></b><br>Leaders are called to exercise discernment and justice, reflecting God's character in their judgments.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_wisdom_in_leadership.htm">The Importance of Wisdom in Leadership</a></b><br>Wisdom is crucial for leaders to effectively discern and address evil, ensuring justice and righteousness prevail.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_perception.htm">The Power of Perception</a></b><br>Just as a king uses his eyes to sift out evil, believers are called to develop spiritual discernment to recognize and reject sin.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_ultimate_judgment.htm">God's Ultimate Judgment</a></b><br>Earthly judgment is a reflection of God's ultimate judgment, reminding us of the importance of living righteously.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/personal_application_of_discernment.htm">Personal Application of Discernment</a></b><br>Believers should seek God's wisdom to discern right from wrong in their daily lives, striving to live in a way that honors Him.<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/does_exodus_24_align_with_god's_nature.htm">How does the account in Exodus 24 align or conflict with other passages describing God's nature and appearance?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'i_shall_not_be_moved'_mean.htm">What did Jesus mean by 'A prophet lacks honor'?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_god_ride_a_cherub_if_formless.htm">If God 'rode upon a cherub' (Psalm 18:10), how does this align with the notion of a formless, omnipresent deity in other biblical passages?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/main_themes_of_bible's_books.htm">What are the main themes of the Bible's books?</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>(8) <span class= "bld">A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment </span>. . .--See note on <a href="/proverbs/16-12.htm" title="It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.">Proverbs 16:12</a>.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/proverbs/20.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 8.</span> - A royal and right noble maxim. <span class="cmt_word">A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.</span> The king, sitting on the tribunal and executing his judiciary office, sees through all devices and pretences which cloak evil, and scatters them to the winds, as the chaff flies before the winnowing fan. Nothing unrighteous can abide in his presence (comp. ver. 26; <a href="/proverbs/16-10.htm">Proverbs 16:10</a>, etc.). See here an adumbration of the characteristic of the Messiah, the great King whose "eyes behold, whose eyelids try, the children of men" (<a href="/psalms/11-4.htm">Psalm 11:4</a>): who is "of purer eyes than to behold evil" (<a href="/habakkuk/1-13.htm">Habakkuk 1:13</a>); who "with righteousness shall judge the poor and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips shall slay the wicked" (<a href="/isaiah/11-4.htm">Isaiah 11:4</a>; comp. <a href="/matthew/3-12.htm">Matthew 3:12</a>). Septuagint, "When the righteous king shall sit upon his throne, nothing that is evil shall offer itself before his eyes." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/proverbs/20-8.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">A king</span><br /><span class="heb">מֶ֗לֶךְ</span> <span class="translit">(me·leḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4428.htm">Strong's 4428: </a> </span><span class="str2">A king</span><br /><br /><span class="word">who sits</span><br /><span class="heb">יוֹשֵׁ֥ב</span> <span class="translit">(yō·wō·šêḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3427.htm">Strong's 3427: </a> </span><span class="str2">To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry</span><br /><br /><span class="word">on</span><br /><span class="heb">עַל־</span> <span class="translit">(‘al-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a throne</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּסֵּא־</span> <span class="translit">(kis·sê-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3678.htm">Strong's 3678: </a> </span><span class="str2">Seat of honor, throne</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to judge</span><br /><span class="heb">דִ֑ין</span> <span class="translit">(ḏîn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1779.htm">Strong's 1779: </a> </span><span class="str2">Judgement, strife</span><br /><br /><span class="word">sifts out</span><br /><span class="heb">מְזָרֶ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(mə·zā·reh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2219.htm">Strong's 2219: </a> </span><span class="str2">To toss about, to diffuse, winnow</span><br /><br /><span class="word">all</span><br /><span class="heb">כָּל־</span> <span class="translit">(kāl-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The whole, all, any, every</span><br /><br /><span class="word">evil</span><br /><span class="heb">רָֽע׃</span> <span class="translit">(rā‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7451.htm">Strong's 7451: </a> </span><span class="str2">Bad, evil</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with his eyes.</span><br /><span class="heb">בְעֵינָ֣יו</span> <span class="translit">(ḇə·‘ê·nāw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5869.htm">Strong's 5869: </a> </span><span class="str2">An eye, a fountain</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/proverbs/20-8.htm">Proverbs 20:8 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/proverbs/20-8.htm">Proverbs 20:8 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/proverbs/20-8.htm">Proverbs 20:8 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/proverbs/20-8.htm">Proverbs 20:8 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/proverbs/20-8.htm">Proverbs 20:8 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/proverbs/20-8.htm">Proverbs 20:8 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/proverbs/20-8.htm">Proverbs 20:8 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/proverbs/20-8.htm">Proverbs 20:8 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/proverbs/20-8.htm">Proverbs 20:8 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/proverbs/20-8.htm">Proverbs 20:8 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/proverbs/20-8.htm">OT Poetry: Proverbs 20:8 A king who sits on the throne (Prov. 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