Proverbs 20:9

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

מִֽי־יֹ֭אמַר זִכִּ֣יתִי לִבִּ֑י טָ֝הַ֗רְתִּי מֵחַטָּאתִֽי׃

Transliteration

Who-yōʾmar zikkîtî libbî ṭāhartî from-ḥaṭṭāʾtî

Grammar Details

*yōʾmar*: verb, Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - will say
*zikkîtî*: verb, Piel perfect 1st common singular - I have cleansed
*libbî*: noun, masculine singular with 1st common singular suffix - my heart
*ṭāhartî*: verb, Qal perfect 1st common singular - I am pure
*ḥaṭṭāʾtî*: noun, feminine singular with 1st common singular suffix - my sin

Word Meanings

*yōʾmar*: can say/will say/may say
*zikkîtî*: I have cleansed/purified/made clean
*libbî*: my heart/mind/inner self
*ṭāhartî*: I am pure/clean/cleansed
*ḥaṭṭāʾtî*: my sin/wrongdoing/offense

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

1 Kgs 8:46 : 46 If they sin against thee (for there is no man that sinneth not), and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive unto the land of the enemy, far off or near;
Job 14:4 : 4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
Eccl 7:20 : 20 Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
2 Chr 6:36 : 36 If they sin against thee (for there is no man that sinneth not), and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive unto a land far off or near;
1 Cor 4:4 : 4 For I know nothing against myself; yet am I not hereby {G1722} justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
Jas 3:2 : 2 For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.
1 John 1:8-9 : 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Job 15:14 : 14 What is man, that he should be clean? And he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
Job 25:4 : 4 How then can man be just with God? Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?
Ps 51:5 : 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.

Similar Verses (AI)

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

Job 14:3-4
2 verses
78%
3And dost thou open thine eyes upon such a one, And bringest me into judgment with thee?
4Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
Job 33:9
78%
9I am clean, without transgression; I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me:
Ps 19:12-13
2 verses
78%
12Who can discern [his] errors? Clear thou me from hidden [faults].
13Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous [sins]; Let them not have dominion over me: Then shall I be upright, And I shall be clear from great transgression.
Ps 73:13
76%
13Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocency;
Job 9:28-30
3 verses
76%
28I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29I shall be condemned; Why then do I labor in vain?
30If I wash myself with snow water, And make my hands never so clean;
Ps 51:2-4
3 verses
76%
2Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
3For I know my transgressions; And my sin is ever before me.
4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, And done that which is evil in thy sight; That thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, And be clear when thou judgest.
Job 11:4
75%
4For thou sayest, My doctrine is pure, And I am clean in thine eyes.
Ps 24:3-4
2 verses
74%
3Who shall ascend into the hill of Jehovah? And who shall stand in his holy place?
4He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; Who hath not lifted up his soul unto falsehood, And hath not sworn deceitfully.
Job 9:20-21
2 verses
74%
20Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me: Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse.
21I am perfect; I regard not myself; I despise my life.
Job 7:20
74%
20If I have sinned, what I unto thee, O thou watcher of men? Why hast thou set me as a mark for thee, So that I am a burden to myself?
Job 35:3
74%
3That thou sayest, What advantage will it be unto thee? [And], What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?
Eccl 7:20
73%
20Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Job 10:6-7
2 verses
73%
6That thou inquirest after mine iniquity, And searchest after my sin,
7Although thou knowest that I am not wicked, And there is none that can deliver out of thy hand?
Ps 51:9-10
2 verses
73%
9Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all mine iniquities.
10Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me.
Job 16:17
73%
17Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.
Job 31:7
73%
7If my step hath turned out of the way, And my heart walked after mine eyes, And if any spot hath cleaved to my hands:
Prov 30:12
73%
12There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, And [yet] are not washed from their filthiness.
Job 25:4
72%
4How then can man be just with God? Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?
Job 4:17
72%
17Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?
Jer 2:35
72%
35Yet thou saidst, I am innocent; surely his anger is turned away from me. Behold, I will enter into judgment with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.
Prov 20:8
72%
8A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
Ps 17:3
72%
3Thou hast proved my heart; Thou hast visited me in the night; Thou hast tried me, and findest nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
Jer 17:9
72%
9The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it?
Job 15:14
72%
14What is man, that he should be clean? And he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
Ps 139:23
71%
23Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts;
Job 10:14
71%
14If I sin, then thou markest me, And thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.
Job 13:23
71%
23How many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.
2 Sam 22:24
71%
24I was also perfect toward him; And I kept myself from mine iniquity.
Prov 16:2
71%
2All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the spirits.
Job 36:23
71%
23Who hath enjoined him his way? Or who can say, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness?
Ps 51:7
71%
7Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Ps 18:23
71%
23I was also perfect with him, And I kept myself from mine iniquity.
Prov 20:10
71%
10Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
Job 33:27
71%
27He singeth before men, and saith, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, And it profited me not:
Mic 6:11
71%
11Shall I be pure with wicked balances, and with a bag of deceitful weights?
Job 9:2
71%
2Of a truth I know that it is so: But how can man be just with God?
Ps 130:3
71%
3If thou, Jehovah, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
Job 34:32
70%
32That which I see not teach thou me: If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?
Ps 38:18
70%
18For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
Ps 26:6
70%
6I will wash my hands in innocency: So will I compass thine altar, O Jehovah;