Bible Strands
Proverbs 16:10
A divine verdict is on the lips of a king; his mouth must not betray justice.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The text addresses kings and rulers, positioned between statements on God’s control over human plans and divine oversight of commercial fairness. It functions as a directive for those in authority regarding their judicial speech.
The words — קֶסֶם (Ke.sem) denotes divination, and מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat) denotes judgment or justice. The Hebrew phrasing links royal speech directly to divinely sanctioned verdicts.
The thread — The practice of divination appears in Genesis 44:5 and 44:15 regarding a cup used to discern truth. The expectation of righteous rule appears in Isaiah 32:1.
Why it lands — It requires leaders to ensure their judicial declarations align with established standards of justice rather than personal whim. It places earthly authority under the same divine oversight that governs human plans and honest commerce.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 32:1 Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice.
- Genesis 44:5 Is this not the cup my master drinks from and uses for divination? What you have done is wicked!’”
- Genesis 44:15 “What is this deed you have done?” Joseph declared. “Do you not know that a man like me can surely divine the truth?”
- Deuteronomy 17:18 When he is seated on his royal throne, he must write for himself a copy of this instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.
- 2 Samuel 23:3 The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, ‘He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God,
- 1 Kings 3:28 When all Israel heard of the judgment the king had given, they stood in awe of him, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.
- Psalms 45:6 Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.
- Psalms 72:1 Of Solomon. Endow the king with Your justice, O God, and the son of the king with Your righteousness.
- Proverbs 16:12 Wicked behavior is detestable for kings, for a throne is established through righteousness.
- Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land.