Proverbs 20:11
WEB
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
BSB
Even a young man is known by his actions— whether his conduct is pure and upright.
KJV
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H1571
adv — assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and
Derivation: by contraction from an unused root meaning to gather;
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
KJV: again, alike, also, (so much) as (soon), both (so)...and, but, either...or, even, for all, (in) likewise (manner), moreover, nay...neither, one, then(-refore), though, what, with, yea.
adv — also
גַּם 768 adv. denoting addition, also, moreover, yea
H4611
n-m — act
Derivation: from 5953;
an act (good or bad)
KJV: doing, endeavour, invention, work.
n.m — deed
[מַעֲלָל] 41 n.m. deed, practice
H5234
v — scrutinize, recognition, acknowledge, be acquainted with, care for, respect, revere, disregard, ignore, be strange, reject, resign, dissimulate
Derivation: a primitive root;
properly, to scrutinize, i.e. look intently at; hence (with recognition implied), to acknowledge, be acquainted with, care for, respect, revere, or (with suspicion implied), to disregard, ignore, be strange toward, reject, resign, dissimulate (as if ignorant or disowning)
KJV: acknowledge, × could, deliver, discern, dissemble, estrange, feign self to be another, know, take knowledge (notice), perceive, regard, (have) respect, behave (make) self strange(-ly).
vb. denom — act as foreign
[נכר] vb. denom. act or treat as foreign, or strange; disguise, misconstrue
Niph. with his lips a hater disguiseth himself
Pi. and they have treated this place as foreign
Hithp. he acted as a stranger toward them
vb — regard
[נָכַר] vb. (not Qal) regard, recognize
Niph. they are not recognized
Pi. he regardeth not the opulent above the poor
Hiph.
1. regard, observe, esp. with a view to recognition
2. Recognize (as formerly known)
3. Be willing to recognize, acknowledge
4. Be acquianted with
5. Distinguish, understand
Hithp. Impf by his deeds a youth maketh himself known, whether his doing be pure, etc.
H5288
n-m — boy, servant, girl
Derivation: from 5287;
(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age)
KJV: babe, boy, child, damsel (from the margin), lad, servant, young (man).
n.m — boy
נַ֫עַר 239 n.m. 1. boy, lad, youth. 2. retainer (not in P)
1. boy, lad, youth (c. 133 t.)
2. servant, retainer (c. 105 t.)
H518
prt — lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not
Derivation: a primitive particle;
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
KJV: (and, can-, doubtless, if, that) (not), + but, either, + except, + more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or, + save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, + surely (no more, none, not), though, + of a truth, + unless, + verily, when, whereas, whether, while, + yet.
conj — if
אִם conj.
1. hypoth. part. if
2. Interrog. part.
relative conjunction
כִּי אם־
1. each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:
a. that if
b. for if
2. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—
a. limiting the prec. clause, except
b. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
c. after an oath, surely
H2134
a — clear
Derivation: from 2141;
clear
KJV: clean, pure.
adj — pure
זַךְ adj. pure, clean
1. lit., pure, i.e. unmixed, free from foreign substances
2. fig., pure, clean, righteous
H3477
a — straight
Derivation: from 3474;
straight (literally or figuratively)
KJV: convenient, equity, Jasher, just, meet(-est), pleased well right(-eous), straight, (most) upright(-ly, -ness).
adj — straight
יָשָׁר adj. straight, right
1. straight, level
2. right, pleasing
3. straightforward, just, upright
4. abstr., uprightness
H6467
n-m — act, work
Derivation: from 6466;
an act or work (concretely)
KJV: act, deed, do, getting, maker, work.
n.m — doing
פֹּ֫עַל 37 n.m. doing, deed, work (poet. and late)
1. deed, thing done
2. work, thing made
3. wages of work
4. acquisition of treasures
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Verse 11
Proverbs 20:11
The tree is known by its fruits, a man by his doings, even a young tree by its first fruits, a child by his childish things, whether his work be clean only, appearing good (the word is used Pro 16:2), or whether it be right, that is, really good. This intimates, 1. That children will discover themselves. One may soon see what their temper is, and which way their inclination leads them, according as their constitution is. Children have not learned the art of dissembling and concealing their bent as grown people have. 2. That parents should observe their children, that they may discover their disposition and genius, and both manage and dispose of them accordingly, drive the nail that will go and draw out that which goes amiss. Wisdom is herein profitable to direct.
Cross-references: Prov 16:2