Proverbs 20:2 · World English Bible
Proverbs 20:2 in the Original Hebrew
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Proverbs 20:2 in Other Translations
| KJV | The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul. |
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| WEB | The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life. |
| ASV | The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life. |
| YLT | The fear of a king is a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be wroth is wronging his soul. |
| WBT | The fear of a king [is] as the roaring of a lion: [whoever] provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own soul. |
| DBY | The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul. |
Commentary on Proverbs 20:2
Expositions from classic Bible commentators.
John Gill · Proverbs 20:2
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion,.... The wrath and displeasure of a king, which causes fear; see Pro 19:12; kings should be terrors to evil works and workers, though not to good ones, Rom 13:3. This is true of the King of kings, who one day will be terrible to the drunkards, the mockers, and murderers of his people, before spoken of;
whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul; he exposes his life to danger: the Targum supplies it as we do. It may be rendered, his "soul sinneth" (a); he is guilty of sin, as well as is in danger of punishment; see Pro 8:36.
(a) .
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Proverbs 20:2
(Compare Pro 19:12). Men who resist authority injure themselves (Rom 13:2).
Read Jamieson, Fausset & Brown's full commentary on Proverbs 20 →
Cross References for Proverbs 20:2
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Questions about Proverbs 20:2
What does Proverbs 20:2 say?
Proverbs 20:2 in the World English Bible reads: “The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.” Read it in the full context of Proverbs 20, alongside the classic commentary on this page.
Where is Proverbs 20:2 found in the Bible?
Proverbs 20:2 is in the book of Proverbs, chapter 20, verse 2, in the Old Testament.
What Bible translation is Proverbs 20:2 shown in?
This is the World English Bible (WEB), a public-domain translation. You can compare how other translations render Proverbs 20:2 in the table on this page.
See here, 1. How formidable kings are, and what a terror they strike upon those they are angry with. Their fear, with which (especially when they are absolute and their will is a law) they keep their subjects in awe, is as the roaring of a lion, which is very dreadful to the creatures he preys upon, and makes them tremble so that they cannot escape from him. Those princes that rule by wisdom and love rule like God himself, and bear his image; but those that rule merely by terror, and with a high hand, do but rule like a lion in the forest, with a brutal power. Oderint, dum metuant - Let them hate, provided they fear. 2. How unwise therefore those are that quarrel with them, that are angry at them, and so provoke them to anger. They sin against their own lives. Much more do those do so that provoke the King of kings to anger. Nemo me impune lacesset - No one shall provoke me with impunity.