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Proverbs 13:20

13:19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. destroyed: Heb. broken

KJV

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One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

He that walks with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

13:21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

What does Proverbs 13:20 mean?

Proverbs 13:20 is a verse in the book of Proverbs, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include הָלַךְ (hâlak), חָכָם (châkâm), חָכַם (châkam). It connects to 13 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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He
that
walkethהָלַךְhâlak/haw-lak'/H1980to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
with
wiseחָכָםchâkâm/khaw-kawm'/H2450wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful)
men
shall
be
wise:חָכַםchâkam/khaw-kam'/H2449to be wise (in mind, word or act)
but
a
companionרָעָהrâʻâh/raw-aw'/H7462to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a friend)
of
foolsכְּסִילkᵉçîyl/kes-eel'/H3684properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or silly
shall
be
destroyed.רוּעַrûwaʻ/roo-ah'/H7321to mar (especially by breaking); figuratively, to split the ears (with sound), i.e. shout (for alarm or joy)
destroyed:
Heb.
broken

Commentary on Proverbs 13:20

HENRY_FULL · Proverbs 13:20
a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Note, 1. Those that would be good must keep good company, which is an evidence for them that they would be good (men's character is known by the company they choose) and will be a means of making them good, of showing them the way and of quickening and encouraging them in it. He that would be himself wise must walk with those that are so, must choose such for his intimate acquaintance, and converse with them accordingly; must ask and receive instruction from them, and keep up pious and profitable talk with them. Miss not the discourse of the elders, for they also learned of their fathers, Ecclesiasticus viii. 9. And ( Ecclesiasticus vi. 35 ), Be willing to hear every godly discourse, and let not the parables of understanding escape thee. 2. Multitudes are brought to ruin by bad company: A companion of fools shall be broken (so some), shall be known (so the LXX.), known to be a fool; noscitur ex socio—he is known by his company. He will be like them (so some), will be made wicked (so others); it comes all to one, for all those, and those only, that make themselves wicked, will be destroyed, and those that associate with evil-doers are debauched, and so undone, and at last ascribe their death to it. 21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Deuteronomy 28:37

And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee.

1 Kings 9:7

Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:

Nehemiah 2:19

But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?

Nehemiah 4:1

But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.

Jeremiah 24:9

And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them. to be removed: Heb. for removing, or, vexation

Jeremiah 25:18

To wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse; as it is this day;

Jeremiah 42:18

For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As mine anger and my fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem; so shall my fury be poured forth upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt: and ye shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach; and ye shall see this place no more.

Lamentations 2:15

All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth? by: Heb. by the way

Lamentations 2:16

All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed her up: certainly this is the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it.

Lamentations 5:1

Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach.

Ezekiel 35:12

And thou shalt know that I am the LORD, and that I have heard all thy blasphemies which thou hast spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, They are laid desolate, they are given us to consume. to consume: Heb. to devour

Ezekiel 36:3

Therefore prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that ye might be a possession unto the residue of the heathen, and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers, and are an infamy of the people: Because: Heb. Because for because are: or, ye are made to come up on the lip of the tongue

Ezekiel 36:15

Neither will I cause men to hear in thee the shame of the heathen any more, neither shalt thou bear the reproach of the people any more, neither shalt thou cause thy nations to fall any more, saith the Lord GOD.

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Proverbs 13:20.

Genesis 48:15

And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,

Frequently asked questions

What does Proverbs 13:20 say?

Proverbs 13:20 (King James Version) reads: "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. destroyed: Heb. broken"

Is Proverbs 13:20 in the Old or New Testament?

Proverbs 13:20 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Proverbs.

Reflect

As you read Proverbs 13:20, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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