Proverbs 20:20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 20:20

Here is, 1. An undutiful child become very wicked by degrees. He began with despising his father and mother, slighting their instructions, disobeying their commands, and raging at their rebukes, but at length he arrives at such a pitch of impudence and impiety as to curse them, to give them scurrilous and opprobrious language, and to wish mischief to those that were instruments of his being and have taken so much care and pains about him, and this in defiance of God and his law, which had made... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 20:20

Whoso curseth his father or his mother ,.... This is dreadful indeed! a person must be got to a great pitch of wickedness to do this; to curse his parents, one or other of them, that have been the instruments of his being, and by whom he has been brought up and put out into the world; to slight them, despise them, and mock at them, is highly base and criminal, but to curse them is shocking! what can such expect but the curse of God upon them? his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 20:20

Whoso curseth his father - Such persons were put to death under the law; see Exodus 21:17 ; Leviticus 20:9 , and here it is said, Their lamp shall be put out - they shall have no posterity; God shall cut them off both root and branch. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 20:20

This is an enforcement of the fifth commandment, by denouncing the punishment which the moral government of God shall exact from the unnatural child. The legal penalty may be seen ( Exodus 21:17 ; Le Exodus 20:9 ); but this was probably seldom or never carried into execution. His lamp shall be put out in obscure ( the blackest ) darkness (comp. Proverbs 13:9 ). The expression is peculiar; it is literally, according to the Khetib, In the apple of the eye of darkness, as in ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 20:20-23

Smitten sins I. HATRED TO PARENTS . ( Proverbs 20:20 .) 1 . It is unnatural beyond most vices, like hating the hand that lifts food to the mouth. 2 . It is disobedience to a primary Divine command. 3 . It incurs the Divine curse and the darkest doom. II. THE VICE OF GRASPING . ( Proverbs 20:21 .) It springs from excessive, irregular, disordered desire, and generally from an ill-led life. We must wait upon God's order; must distinguish the necessary from... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 20:1-30

Honesty (20:1-30)Wise people will not become drunkards, will not needlessly anger those in authority, will avoid quarrelling and will work to support themselves (20:1-4). They will also have the ability to draw out the deepest feelings and intentions of those with whom they deal (5). Many people boast of their loyalty but few practise it. To live honestly is the best way to guarantee a good future for one’s children (6-7). A king learns by experience to discern between right and wrong in cases... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 20:20

curseth = revileth. lamp shall be put out. A Figure of speech Hypocatastasis ( App-6 ), denoting that he shall die childless. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 20:20

"Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness."Cursing father or mother was a capital offense under the law of Moses (Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9; Matthew 15:4); and there is an obvious reference to that in this proverb. In America today, a teen-ager may murder his parents, claim child-abuse as an excuse, and get off with ten years probation and a year of psychiatric counseling at the state's expense. When will we ever learn? read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Proverbs 20:20

20. his lamp—(Compare Proverbs 13:9; Proverbs 24:20). read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 20:1-30

1. Raging] RV ’a brawler.’ Is deceived] RM ’reeleth.’ It makes a man sneer, quarrel and reel about. 2. Fear] the ’terror’ which he causes. Soul] RV ’life.’4. Read, ’In the autumn.. therefore when he seeketh,’ etc.: the first season begins about October, the second about April. 5. A clever cross-questioner elicits one’s plans. 8. Scattereth away] RM ’winnoweth’ (1 Kings 3:28).9. ’What mortal when he saw,Life’s voyage done, his heavenly Friend,Could ever yet dare tell Him fearlessly:“I have kept... read more

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