Proverbs 20:11
New International Version
Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright?

New Living Translation
Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.

English Standard Version
Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.

Berean Standard Bible
Even a young man is known by his actions—whether his conduct is pure and upright.

King James Bible
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

New King James Version
Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right.

New American Standard Bible
It is by his deeds that a boy distinguishes himself, If his conduct is pure and right.

NASB 1995
It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes himself If his conduct is pure and right.

NASB 1977
It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes himself If his conduct is pure and right.

Legacy Standard Bible
It is by his deeds that a young man makes himself known If his conduct is pure and right.

Amplified Bible
Even a boy is known and distinguished by his acts, Whether his conduct is pure and right.

Christian Standard Bible
Even a young man is known by his actions — by whether his behavior is pure and upright.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Even a young man is known by his actions— if his behavior is pure and upright.

American Standard Version
Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Even by his work a boy is known, if he is pure, and if his works are right.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
A youth when in company with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and then his way will be straight.

Contemporary English Version
The good or bad that children do shows what they are like.

Douay-Rheims Bible
By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and right.

English Revised Version
Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Even a child makes himself known by his actions, whether his deeds are pure or right.

Good News Translation
Even children show what they are by what they do; you can tell if they are honest and good.

International Standard Version
Even a child is known by his actions, whether his deeds are pure and right.

JPS Tanakh 1917
Even a child is known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

Literal Standard Version
Even by his actions a youth makes himself known, | Whether his work is pure or upright.

Majority Standard Bible
Even a young man is known by his actions—whether his conduct is pure and upright.

New American Bible
In their actions even children can playact though their deeds be blameless and right.

NET Bible
Even a young man is known by his actions, whether his activity is pure and whether it is right.

New Revised Standard Version
Even children make themselves known by their acts, by whether what they do is pure and right.

New Heart English Bible
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.

Webster's Bible Translation
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.

World English Bible
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.

Young's Literal Translation
Even by his actions a youth maketh himself known, Whether his work be pure or upright.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Wine is a Mocker
10Differing weights and unequal measures—both are detestable to the LORD. 11Even a young man is known by his actions— whether his conduct is pure and upright. 12Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both.…

Cross References
Matthew 7:16
By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

Proverbs 20:12
Ears that hear and eyes that see--the LORD has made them both.


Treasury of Scripture

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

Proverbs 21:8
The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.

Proverbs 22:15
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Psalm 51:5
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Jump to Previous
Actions Acts Child Conduct Deeds Doings Free Judged Lad Makes Maketh Pure Right Sin Upright Whether Work Youth
Jump to Next
Actions Acts Child Conduct Deeds Doings Free Judged Lad Makes Maketh Pure Right Sin Upright Whether Work Youth
Proverbs 20
1. Proper Living














(11) Even a child is known by his doings . . .--The disposition soon shews itself; all the more reason, therefore, to train it betimes.

Verse 11. - Even a child is known (maketh himself known) by his doings. (For "even" (gam), see on Proverbs 17:26.) A child is open, simple, and straightforward in his actions; he has not the reserves and concealments which men practise, so you see by his conduct what his real character and disposition are. Ewald takes מעלליו in the sense of "play," "games;" but it seems never to have this meaning, and there is no need to change the usual signification. The habits of a life are learned in early age. The boy is father of the man. Delitzsch quotes the German proverbs, "What means to become a hook bends itself early," and "What means to become a thorn sharpens itself early;" and the Aramaean, "That which will become a gourd shows itself in the bud:" Whether his work be pure ("clean," as ver. 9 and Proverbs 16:2), and whether it be right. His conduct will show thus much, end will help one to prognosticate the future. Septuagint (according to the Vatican), "In his pursuits (ἐπιήδευμασιν) a young man will be fettered in company with a holy man, and his way will be straight," which seems to mean that a good man will restrain the reckless doings of a giddy youth, and will lead him into better courses.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Even
גַּ֣ם (gam)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

a young man
נָ֑עַר (nā·‘ar)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

is known
יִתְנַכֶּר־ (yiṯ·nak·ker-)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5234: To regard, recognize

by his actions—
בְּ֭מַעֲלָלָיו (bə·ma·‘ă·lā·lāw)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4611: A deed, practice

whether
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

his conduct
פָּעֳלֽוֹ׃ (pā·‘o·lōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6467: Doing, deed, work

is pure
זַ֖ךְ (zaḵ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2134: Pure, clean

and upright.
יָשָׁ֣ר (yā·šār)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 3477: Straight, right


Links
Proverbs 20:11 NIV
Proverbs 20:11 NLT
Proverbs 20:11 ESV
Proverbs 20:11 NASB
Proverbs 20:11 KJV

Proverbs 20:11 BibleApps.com
Proverbs 20:11 Biblia Paralela
Proverbs 20:11 Chinese Bible
Proverbs 20:11 French Bible
Proverbs 20:11 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Proverbs 20:11 Even a child makes himself known (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 20:10
Top of Page
Top of Page