Proverbs 20:2
New International Version
A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion; those who anger him forfeit their lives.

New Living Translation
The king’s fury is like a lion’s roar; to rouse his anger is to risk your life.

English Standard Version
The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.

Berean Standard Bible
The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.

King James Bible
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

New King James Version
The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion; Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.

New American Standard Bible
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; One who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.

NASB 1995
The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.

NASB 1977
The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.

Legacy Standard Bible
The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; He who provokes him to anger sins against his own soul.

Amplified Bible
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; Whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.

Christian Standard Bible
A king’s terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion; anyone who provokes him endangers himself.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A king’s terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion; anyone who provokes him endangers himself.

American Standard Version
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life.

Contemporary English Version
An angry ruler is like a roaring lion--make either one angry, and you are dead.

English Revised Version
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The rage of a king is like the roar of a lion. Whoever makes him angry forfeits his life.

Good News Translation
Fear an angry king as you would a growling lion; making him angry is suicide.

International Standard Version
A king's anger is like a lion's roar; anyone who angers him forfeits his life.

Majority Standard Bible
The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.

NET Bible
The king's terrifying anger is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him sins against himself.

New Heart English Bible
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.

Webster's Bible Translation
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoever provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

World English Bible
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The fear of a king [is] a growl as of a young lion, "" He who is causing him to be angry is wronging his soul.

Young's Literal Translation
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.

Smith's Literal Translation
The terror of the king growling as the young lion: he overflowing against him sinned against his soul.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, sinneth against his own soul.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Just like the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king. Whoever provokes him sins in his own soul.

New American Bible
The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; those who incur his anger forfeit their lives.

New Revised Standard Version
The dread anger of a king is like the growling of a lion; anyone who provokes him to anger forfeits life itself.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The anger of the king is as the roaring of a lion; he who provokes him to anger sins against his own life.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The wrath of the King roars like a lion and he that angers him sins against himself.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger forfeiteth his life.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Wine is a Mocker
1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise. 2The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life. 3It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.…

Cross References
Romans 13:1-4
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. / Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. / For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval. ...

1 Peter 2:13-17
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, / or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. / For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men. ...

Ecclesiastes 8:2-4
Keep the king’s command, I say, because of your oath before God. / Do not hasten to leave his presence, and do not persist in a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases. / For the king’s word is supreme, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?”

Daniel 3:13-15
Then Nebuchadnezzar, furious with rage, summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, / and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden statue I have set up? / Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the statue I have made, very good. But if you refuse to worship, you will be thrown at once into the blazing fiery furnace. Then what god will be able to deliver you from my hands?”

Daniel 6:12-16
So they approached the king and asked about his royal decree: “Did you not sign a decree that for thirty days any man who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions?” The king replied, “According to the law of the Medes and Persians the order stands, and it cannot be repealed.” / Then they told the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, shows no regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed. He still makes his petition three times a day.” / As soon as the king heard this, he was deeply distressed and set his mind on delivering Daniel, and he labored until sundown to rescue him. ...

Matthew 22:21
“Caesar’s,” they answered. So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

Acts 5:29
But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.

1 Samuel 24:6
So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.”

1 Samuel 26:9-11
But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can extend a hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?” / David added, “As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD Himself will strike him down; either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. / But the LORD forbid that I should extend my hand against the LORD’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and water jug by his head, and let us go.”

Exodus 22:28
You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.

2 Samuel 1:14-16
So David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?” / Then David summoned one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him!” So the young man struck him down, and he died. / For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood be on your own head because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed.’”

1 Kings 2:23-25
Then King Solomon swore by the LORD: “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if Adonijah has not made this request at the expense of his life. / And now, as surely as the LORD lives—the One who established me, who set me on the throne of my father David, and who founded for me a dynasty as He promised—surely Adonijah shall be put to death today!” / So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he struck down Adonijah and he died.

Esther 7:7-10
In his fury, the king arose from drinking his wine and went to the palace garden, while Haman stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life, for he realized that the king was planning a terrible fate for him. / Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Would he actually assault the queen while I am in the palace?” As soon as the words had left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. / Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said: “There is a gallows fifty cubits high at Haman’s house. He had it built for Mordecai, who gave the report that saved the king.” “Hang him on it!” declared the king. ...

Nehemiah 2:2-3
so the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, though you are not ill? This could only be sadness of the heart.” I was overwhelmed with fear / and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I not be sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

Genesis 41:40-44
You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” / Pharaoh also told Joseph, “I hereby place you over all the land of Egypt.” / Then Pharaoh removed the signet ring from his finger, put it on Joseph’s finger, clothed him in garments of fine linen, and placed a gold chain around his neck. ...


Treasury of Scripture

The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own soul.

fear

Proverbs 16:14,15
The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it…

Proverbs 19:12
The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.

Ecclesiastes 10:4
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

sinneth

Proverbs 8:36
But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

1 Kings 2:23
Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.

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Proverbs 20
1. Proper Living














The terror of a king
In ancient times, the king was the ultimate authority in the land, often seen as God's appointed ruler. The Hebrew word for "terror" here is "אֵימָה" (eimah), which conveys a sense of dread or fear. This phrase underscores the immense power and authority a king held, which could instill fear in his subjects. Historically, kings were often seen as the embodiment of law and order, and their wrath was to be avoided at all costs. This reflects the broader biblical principle of respecting authority, as seen in Romans 13:1-2, where believers are instructed to submit to governing authorities.

is like the roar of a lion
The lion, known as the king of beasts, symbolizes strength, power, and majesty. The Hebrew word "שַׁאֲגַת" (sha'agat) for "roar" evokes the image of a lion's powerful and fearsome roar, which can paralyze its prey with fear. This simile emphasizes the king's ability to command respect and instill fear, much like a lion in the wild. In the biblical context, the lion is often used to represent both divine and earthly power, as seen in Amos 3:8, "The lion has roared—who will not fear?"

whoever provokes him
To "provoke" in Hebrew is "עָבַר" (avar), meaning to transgress or cross over a boundary. This phrase warns against actions that would incite the king's anger or challenge his authority. In a broader sense, it serves as a caution against rebellion or disrespect towards those in positions of power. The Bible consistently teaches the importance of wisdom and discretion in dealing with authority, as seen in Ecclesiastes 10:4, which advises calmness in the face of a ruler's anger.

forfeits his own life
The phrase "forfeits his own life" is a stark warning of the consequences of defying authority. The Hebrew word "חָטָא" (chata) implies missing the mark or sinning, leading to severe repercussions. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a king had the power to execute judgment swiftly, and provoking him could lead to death. This serves as a reminder of the biblical principle that actions have consequences, and wisdom involves understanding and respecting the boundaries set by those in authority. This echoes the teaching in Proverbs 16:14, "The wrath of a king is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it."

(2) The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion, i.e., the dread which he casts upon others when he is becoming angry is a warning of approaching. danger.

Sinneth against his own soul--i.e., against his own life.

Verse 2. - The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion (see Proverbs 19:12). The terror which a king causes when his anger is rising is like the roar of a lion, which betokens danger. Septuagint, "The threat of a king differeth not from the wrath of a lion." Whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul; imperils his life, which he has no right wilfully to jeopard. Septuagint, "He who enrageth him (ὁ παροξύνων αὐτόν)." The Complutensian and some Greek versions introduce the words, καὶ ἐπιμιγνύμενος, "and has intercourse with him;" i.e. he who having aroused a king's resentment does not avoid his presence, exposes himself to certain death.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The terror
אֵ֣ימַת (’ê·maṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 367: Fright, an idol

of a king
מֶ֑לֶךְ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

is like the roar
נַ֣הַם (na·ham)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5099: Growling (of a lion)

of a lion;
כַּ֭כְּפִיר (kak·kə·p̄îr)
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3715: A village, a young lion

whoever provokes [him]
מִ֝תְעַבְּר֗וֹ (miṯ·‘ab·bə·rōw)
Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

forfeits
חוֹטֵ֥א (ḥō·w·ṭê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn

his own life.
נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃ (nap̄·šōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion


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