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.

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

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.

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

NET Bible
Even a young man is known by his actions, whether his activity is pure and whether it is 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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Even by his actions a youth makes himself known, "" Whether his work is pure or upright.

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

Smith's Literal Translation
Also a youth shall be known by his doings, if pure and straight his work.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and right.

Catholic Public Domain Version
A child may be understood by his interests: whether his works may be clean and upright.

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

New Revised Standard Version
Even children make themselves known by their acts, by whether what they do is pure and right.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his works are pure and whether they are right.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Even by his work a boy is known, if he is pure, and if his works are right.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Even a child is known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be 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.

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 7:16-20
By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? / Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. / A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ...

Luke 6:43-45
No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. / For each tree is known by its own fruit. Indeed, figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor grapes from brambles. / The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

James 3:11-12
Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? / My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Matthew 12:33-35
Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is known by its fruit. / You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. / The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.

1 John 3:7-10
Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous. / The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil. / Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. ...

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, / gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Ephesians 5:8-10
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, / for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. / Test and prove what pleases the Lord.

1 Timothy 4:12
Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

1 Peter 2:12
Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.

Colossians 1:10
so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

Psalm 15:1-2
A Psalm of David. O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy mountain? / He who walks with integrity and practices righteousness, who speaks the truth from his heart,

Psalm 119:9
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.

Jeremiah 17:10
I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.

Isaiah 3:10-11
Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor. / Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.

Job 14:4
Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one!


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.

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Proverbs 20
1. Proper Living














Even a young man
The phrase "even a young man" emphasizes that age does not exempt one from moral accountability. In Hebrew, the word for "young man" is "na'ar," which can refer to a boy, lad, or youth. This term is often used in the Old Testament to describe individuals who are in the formative years of their life, a time when character is being developed. The Bible consistently teaches that wisdom and righteousness are not reserved for the elderly but are accessible to the young who seek God. This phrase challenges the cultural notion that youth is a time for indiscretion, instead asserting that young people can and should be known for their integrity.

is known by his actions
The Hebrew root for "known" is "nakar," which means to recognize or discern. This suggests that one's actions are a clear indicator of their character. In a conservative Christian perspective, this aligns with the teaching that faith without works is dead (James 2:26). Actions are the visible manifestation of one's inner beliefs and values. The Bible frequently emphasizes that what we do is a reflection of who we are, and thus, a young person's actions serve as a testament to their character and faith.

whether his conduct
The word "conduct" in Hebrew is "ma'aseh," which refers to deeds or works. This term is used throughout the Old Testament to describe the actions that stem from one's character. Conduct is not merely about isolated actions but encompasses the habitual behavior that defines a person's life. In the biblical context, conduct is a critical measure of one's righteousness and alignment with God's will. It is through consistent, godly conduct that believers demonstrate their commitment to living according to biblical principles.

is pure and upright
The terms "pure" and "upright" are significant in the Hebrew language. "Pure" comes from the root "zak," meaning clean or innocent, while "upright" is derived from "yashar," meaning straight or right. Together, these words describe a life that is morally and ethically sound, free from corruption and deceit. In the conservative Christian tradition, purity and uprightness are seen as fruits of a life transformed by the Holy Spirit. They are not merely external behaviors but reflect an inner sanctification process. The call to purity and uprightness is a call to live in a way that honors God and reflects His holiness to the world.

(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


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