The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
Parallel translations
- WEB The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
- BSB The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.
- NKJV The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion; Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.
- NASB The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; One who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
- NLT The king’s fury is like a lion’s roar; to rouse his anger is to risk your life.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A king's terror is like a lion's roar; provoking him risks one's life. Wisdom counsels prudence before those in power.
Overview
Echoing 19:12, this proverb likens the dread a king inspires to the roaring of a lion and warns that provoking him to anger endangers one's very life. It counsels respectful prudence toward those who hold authority. Beyond earthly rulers, the verse reminds us of the fearfulness of provoking the King of kings, and the wisdom of seeking peace with God through Christ before the day of His wrath.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Prov 19:12The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
- Eccl 10:4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
- 1 Kgs 2:23Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.
- Prov 8:36But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
- Prov 16:14–15The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
- Amos 3:8The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
- Hos 11:10They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.
- Hab 2:10Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.
- Num 16:38The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 20:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.