Proverbs 20:8
New International Version
When a king sits on his throne to judge, he winnows out all evil with his eyes.

New Living Translation
When a king sits in judgment, he weighs all the evidence, distinguishing the bad from the good.

English Standard Version
A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.

Berean Standard Bible
A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.

King James Bible
A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

New King James Version
A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters all evil with his eyes.

New American Standard Bible
A king who sits on the throne of justice Disperses all evil with his eyes.

NASB 1995
A king who sits on the throne of justice Disperses all evil with his eyes.

NASB 1977
A king who sits on the throne of justice Disperses all evil with his eyes.

Legacy Standard Bible
A king who sits on the throne of justice Disperses all evil with his eyes.

Amplified Bible
A [discerning] king who sits on the throne of judgment Sifts all evil [like chaff] with his eyes [and cannot be easily fooled].

Christian Standard Bible
A king sitting on a throne to judge separates out all evil with his eyes.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A king sitting on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.

American Standard Version
A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

Contemporary English Version
When rulers decide cases, they weigh the evidence.

English Revised Version
A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A king who sits on his throne to judge sifts out every evil with his eyes.

Good News Translation
The king sits in judgment and knows evil when he sees it.

International Standard Version
A king sits on a throne of justice, sifting out all sorts of evil with his glance.

Majority Standard Bible
A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.

NET Bible
A king sitting on the throne to judge separates out all evil with his eyes.

New Heart English Bible
A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.

Webster's Bible Translation
A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

World English Bible
A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
A king sitting on a throne of judgment, "" Is scattering all evil with his eyes,

Young's Literal Translation
A king sitting on a throne of judgment, Is scattering with his eyes all evil,

Smith's Literal Translation
The king shall sit upon the throne of judgment scattering with his eyes all evil.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters all evil with his gaze.

New American Bible
A king seated on the throne of judgment dispels all evil with his glance.

New Revised Standard Version
A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil things from before him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The King sits upon the throne of judgment and all the wicked are scattered before him.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Wine is a Mocker
7The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him. 8A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes. 9Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?…

Cross References
Psalm 72:1-2
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.

Isaiah 11:3-4
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.

1 Kings 3:9
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?”

2 Samuel 23:3-4
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.’

Psalm 101:6-8
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.

Isaiah 32:1
Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice.

Jeremiah 23:5
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.

1 Kings 10:9
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.”

Job 29:14
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban.

Psalm 45:6-7
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.

Matthew 25:31-32
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.

Revelation 19:11
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.

John 5:22
Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son,

Hebrews 1:8-9
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.”

Romans 2:16
on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.


Treasury of Scripture

A king that sits in the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.

Proverbs 20:26
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.

Proverbs 16:12
It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.

Proverbs 29:14
The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.

Jump to Previous
Disperses Evil Eyes Flight Judge Judging Judgment Justice Puts Scattereth Scattering Scatters Seat Sits Sitteth Sitting Throne Winnows
Jump to Next
Disperses Evil Eyes Flight Judge Judging Judgment Justice Puts Scattereth Scattering Scatters Seat Sits Sitteth Sitting Throne Winnows
Proverbs 20
1. Proper Living














A king who sits on a throne to judge
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 (1 Kings 3:28). 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 (Romans 13:1-4). The imagery of a king on a throne also foreshadows the ultimate reign of Christ, who will judge the nations with righteousness (Revelation 20:11-12).

sifts out all evil
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 (Proverbs 2:3-5). The king's ability to sift out evil is a reflection of divine wisdom, which is pure and peaceable (James 3:17).

with his eyes
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 (1 Samuel 16:7). 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 (John 5:22, 27).

Persons / Places / Events
1. King
Represents authority and leadership, often seen as a figure of justice and wisdom in biblical contexts.

2. Throne
Symbolizes power, authority, and the seat of judgment.

3. Judgment
The act of discerning right from wrong, often associated with wisdom and fairness.

4. Evil
Refers to moral wickedness or wrongdoing that is to be identified and dealt with.

5. Eyes
Symbolic of perception, insight, and the ability to discern truth from falsehood.
Teaching Points
The Role of Authority in Justice
Leaders are called to exercise discernment and justice, reflecting God's character in their judgments.

The Importance of Wisdom in Leadership
Wisdom is crucial for leaders to effectively discern and address evil, ensuring justice and righteousness prevail.

The Power of Perception
Just as a king uses his eyes to sift out evil, believers are called to develop spiritual discernment to recognize and reject sin.

God's Ultimate Judgment
Earthly judgment is a reflection of God's ultimate judgment, reminding us of the importance of living righteously.

Personal Application of Discernment
Believers should seek God's wisdom to discern right from wrong in their daily lives, striving to live in a way that honors Him.(8) A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment . . .--See note on Proverbs 16:12.

Verse 8. - A royal and right noble maxim. A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes. 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; Proverbs 16:10, etc.). See here an adumbration of the characteristic of the Messiah, the great King whose "eyes behold, whose eyelids try, the children of men" (Psalm 11:4): who is "of purer eyes than to behold evil" (Habakkuk 1:13); 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" (Isaiah 11:4; comp. Matthew 3:12). Septuagint, "When the righteous king shall sit upon his throne, nothing that is evil shall offer itself before his eyes."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
A king
מֶ֗לֶךְ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

who sits
יוֹשֵׁ֥ב (yō·wō·šêḇ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

a throne
כִּסֵּא־ (kis·sê-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3678: Seat of honor, throne

to judge
דִ֑ין (ḏîn)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1779: Judgement, strife

sifts out
מְזָרֶ֖ה (mə·zā·reh)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2219: To toss about, to diffuse, winnow

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

evil
רָֽע׃ (rā‘)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

with his eyes.
בְעֵינָ֣יו (ḇə·‘ê·nāw)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain


Links
Proverbs 20:8 NIV
Proverbs 20:8 NLT
Proverbs 20:8 ESV
Proverbs 20:8 NASB
Proverbs 20:8 KJV

Proverbs 20:8 BibleApps.com
Proverbs 20:8 Biblia Paralela
Proverbs 20:8 Chinese Bible
Proverbs 20:8 French Bible
Proverbs 20:8 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Proverbs 20:8 A king who sits on the throne (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 20:7
Top of Page
Top of Page