Proverbs 22:12 · King James Version
Proverbs 22:12 in the Original Hebrew
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Proverbs 22:12 in Other Translations
| KJV | The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor. |
|---|---|
| WEB | The eyes of Yahweh watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful. |
| ASV | The eyes of Jehovah preservehim that hathknowledge; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous man. |
| YLT | The eyes of Jehovah have kept knowledge, And He overthroweth the words of the treacherous. |
| WBT | The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor. |
| DBY | The eyes of Jehovah preserve knowledge; but he overthroweth the words of the unfaithful. |
Commentary on Proverbs 22:12
Expositions from classic Bible commentators.
John Gill · Proverbs 22:12
The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge,.... That is, the providence of God, whose eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth; these preserve the knowledge of himself, even among the Heathens in some measure; for what may be known of God is manifest in them, and showed to them: more particularly his providence has preserved the Scriptures, the means of knowledge, which men would have destroyed; and preserves men of knowledge, as Aben Ezra interprets it, the ministers of the word, the stars he holds in his right hand; and he preserves spiritual and experimental knowledge in the hearts of his people, and causes it to increase; and continues his Gospel and a Gospel ministry in the world, till they all come to the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God. Or his eyes observe, look unto with delight and pleasure, knowledge and men of knowledge, that know him, and do his will;
and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor; the perfidious, treacherous man; the false teacher, that corrupts the word of God, and handles it deceitfully: the doctrines of such he overthrows, and confutes, and brings to nothing, by his Spirit in his faithful ministers; and causes truth to prevail, and all iniquity to stop its mouth: particularly the words and doctrines of the great transgressor, the lawless and wicked one, the man of sin, antichrist; these have been exposed and overthrown already, and will be more and more so in God's due time.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Proverbs 22:12
preserve--or guard.
knowledge--its principles and possessors.
overthroweth--utterly confounds and destroys the wicked.
Read Jamieson, Fausset & Brown's full commentary on Proverbs 22 →
Cross References for Proverbs 22:12
Related passages, ranked by how often readers connect them. Cross-reference data from openbible.info (CC-BY).
Questions about Proverbs 22:12
What does Proverbs 22:12 say?
Proverbs 22:12 in the King James Version reads: “The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.” Read it in the full context of Proverbs 22, alongside the classic commentary on this page.
Where is Proverbs 22:12 found in the Bible?
Proverbs 22:12 is in the book of Proverbs, chapter 22, verse 12, in the Old Testament.
What Bible translation is Proverbs 22:12 shown in?
This is the King James Version (KJV), a public-domain translation. You can compare how other translations render Proverbs 22:12 in the table on this page.
Here is, 1. The special care God takes to preserve knowledge, that is, to keep up religion in the world by keeping up among men the knowledge of himself and of good and evil, notwithstanding the corruption of mankind, and the artifices of Satan to blind men's minds and keep them in ignorance. It is a wonderful instance of the power and goodness of the eyes of the Lord, that is, his watchful providence. He preserves men of knowledge, wise and good men (Ch2 16:9), particularly faithful witnesses, who speak what they know; God protects such, and prospers their counsels. He does by his grace preserve knowledge in such, secures his own work and interest in them. See Pro 2:7, Pro 2:8. 2. The just vengeance God takes on those that speak and act against knowledge and against the interests of knowledge and religion in the world: He overthrows the words of the transgressor, and preserves knowledge in spite of him. He defeats all the counsels and designs of false and treacherous men, and turns them to their own confusion.