Bible Strands
Proverbs 20:11
Even a young man is known by his actions—whether his conduct is pure and upright.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The wisdom teacher addresses the general reader, placing this proverb immediately after a warning against dishonest commerce (Proverbs 20:10) and before an affirmation that God created human sensory faculties (Proverbs 20:12).
The words — יִתְנַכֶּר (yitna ker) means he makes himself known, and נָעַר (na'ar) denotes a youth or young man.
The thread — The principle of discerning character through observable behavior runs through Matthew 7:16, Luke 6:43, and Proverbs 21:8.
Why it lands — The text states that a young man’s true moral condition is revealed by his actions, specifically whether his conduct is pure and upright. It asks the reader to evaluate character by examining actual behavior rather than personal claims.
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
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
Cross-references
- Matthew 7:16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
- Luke 6:43 No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.
- Proverbs 21:8 The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
- Luke 2:46 Finally, after three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
- Psalms 51:5 Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
- Psalms 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb; the liars go astray from birth.
- Luke 1:15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
- Luke 1:66 And all who heard this wondered in their hearts and asked, “What then will this child become?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
- Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.