Proverbs 20:2

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

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

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

נַ֣הַם כַּ֭כְּפִיר אֵ֣ימַת מֶ֑לֶךְ מִ֝תְעַבְּר֗וֹ חוֹטֵ֥א נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃

Transliteration

naham like-the-kəpîr ʾêmat melek mitʿabbərō ḥōṭēʾ napšō

Grammar Details

*naham*: noun, masculine singular construct - growling/roaring
*kəpîr*: noun, masculine singular - young lion
*ʾêmat*: noun, feminine singular construct - terror/dread/fear of
*melek*: noun, masculine singular - king
*mitʿabbərō*: verb, Hithpael participle masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - provoking him to anger
*ḥōṭēʾ*: verb, Qal participle masculine singular - sinning against
*napšō*: noun, feminine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his soul/life

Word Meanings

*naham*: growling/roaring/rage
*kəpîr*: young lion/lion in prime
*ʾêmat*: terror/dread/fear
*melek*: king/sovereign
*mitʿabbərō*: provoking him to anger/enraging him
*ḥōṭēʾ*: sinning against/forfeiting/endangering
*napšō*: his soul/life/self

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Prov 8:36 : 36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: All they that hate me love death.
Prov 19:12 : 12 The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; But his favor is as dew upon the grass.
1 Kgs 2:23 : 23 Then king Solomon sware by Jehovah, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah hath not spoken this word against his own life.
Num 16:38 : 38 even the censers of these sinners against their own lives; and let them be made beaten plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before Jehovah; therefore they are holy; and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.
Prov 16:14-15 : 14 The wrath of a king is [as] messengers of death; But a wise man will pacify it. 15 In the light of the king's countenance is life; And his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.
Eccl 10:4 : 4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.
Hos 11:10 : 10 They shall walk after Jehovah, who will roar like a lion; for he will roar, and the children shall come trembling from the west.
Amos 3:8 : 8 The lion hath roared; who will not fear? The Lord Jehovah hath spoken; who can but prophesy?
Hab 2:10 : 10 Thou hast devised shame to thy house, by cutting off many peoples, and hast sinned against thy soul.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Prov 20:1
78%
1Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.
Prov 16:12-14
3 verses
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12It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; For the throne is established by righteousness.
13Righteous lips are the delight of kings; And they love him that speaketh right.
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Prov 28:14-16
3 verses
77%
14Happy is the man that feareth alway; But he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
15[ As] a roaring lion, and a ranging bear, [So is] a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16The prince that lacketh understanding is also a great oppressor; [But] he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
Prov 19:10-12
3 verses
75%
10Delicate living is not seemly for a fool; Much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11The discretion of a man maketh him slow to anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
12The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; But his favor is as dew upon the grass.
Prov 29:22
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22An angry man stirreth up strife, And a wrathful man aboundeth in transgression.
Prov 20:3
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Prov 24:21
74%
21My son, fear thou Jehovah and the king; [And] company not with them that are given to change:
Prov 14:16-17
2 verses
74%
16A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.
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Prov 29:25
73%
25The fear of man bringeth a snare; But whoso putteth his trust in Jehovah shall be safe.
Prov 19:23
73%
23The fear of Jehovah [tendeth] to life; And he [that hath it] shall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil.
Prov 28:1
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1The wicked flee when no man pursueth; But the righteous are bold as a lion.
Prov 14:27-29
3 verses
72%
27The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death.
28In the multitude of people is the king's glory; But in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
29He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
Prov 14:35
72%
35The king's favor is toward a servant that dealeth wisely; But his wrath will be [against] him that causeth shame.
Eccl 10:4-5
2 verses
72%
4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
Prov 30:30
71%
30The lion, which is mightiest among beasts, And turneth not away for any;
Eccl 8:4
71%
4For the king's word [hath] power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
Prov 8:13
71%
13The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate.
Prov 15:1
71%
1A soft answer turneth away wrath; But a grievous word stirreth up anger.
Prov 16:10
71%
10A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; His mouth shall not transgress in judgment.
Prov 22:24-25
2 verses
71%
24Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; And with a wrathful man thou shalt not go:
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Prov 15:18
71%
18A wrathful man stirreth up contention; But he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
Job 13:11
71%
11Shall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall upon you?
1 Sam 12:25
71%
25But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.
1 Pet 2:17
71%
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Prov 8:36
71%
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Prov 22:13
71%
13The sluggard saith, There is a lion without: I shall be slain in the streets.
Ps 36:1
71%
1For the Chief Musician. [A Psalm] of David the servant of Jehovah. The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, There is no fear of God before his eyes.
Prov 29:11
70%
11A fool uttereth all his anger; But a wise man keepeth it back and stilleth it.
Ps 90:11
70%
11Who knoweth the power of thine anger, And thy wrath according to the fear that is due unto thee?
Deut 17:13
70%
13And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.
Prov 10:18
70%
18He that hideth hatred is of lying lips; And he that uttereth a slander is a fool.
Prov 16:32
70%
32He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.
Ps 76:7
70%
7Thou, even thou, art to be feared; And who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?
Ps 2:11
70%
11Serve Jehovah with fear, And rejoice with trembling.
Prov 17:12
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12Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly.
Job 5:2
70%
2For vexation killeth the foolish man, And jealousy slayeth the silly one.
Prov 19:3
70%
3The foolishness of man subverteth his way; And his heart fretteth against Jehovah.
Eccl 8:2
70%
2I [counsel thee], Keep the king's command, and that in regard of the oath of God.
Job 41:25
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