Question 1

What does Proverbs 20:26 mean?

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 20:26 says that a wise king deals firmly with wicked people, removing their harmful influence and bringing judgment upon them, pictured as running a wheel over them. The verse uses strong imagery to show that wise leadership includes actively confronting and breaking up evil. In the book of Proverbs, these sayings are collected as wisdom for everyday life, often attributed to Solomon and directed at those seeking to rule or live wisely. Here, the focus is on a king’s responsibility to protect his people by not tolerating wrongdoing, using decisive action to keep society just and orderly.

Question 2

The Hebrew behind Proverbs 20:26

Accepted Answer

"scattereth" (זָרָה, zarah): This word means to disperse or scatter, like separating grain from chaff. The image is of breaking up the power or unity of the wicked, not just moving them aside but thoroughly removing their influence. "wheel" (אוֹפַן, ofan): The wheel refers to a threshing wheel, a heavy tool used to crush and separate grain. Bringing the wheel over the wicked is a vivid picture of judgment and destruction, not just mild correction. "bringeth" (שׁוּב, shuv): This word often means "to turn" or "to return." Here, it is used for "bringing" the wheel over the wicked, suggesting an active, deliberate action by the king.

Question 3

Why Proverbs 20:26 matters

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 20:26 clarifies that wisdom in leadership is not passive; it requires confronting and removing evil, not just avoiding it. The verse uses agricultural and judicial imagery familiar to its original readers, making the seriousness of dealing with wickedness unmistakable. This proverb fits into a larger biblical theme: justice and order are essential for a community’s well-being, and those in authority have a duty to uphold them.

Proverbs 20:26 (KJV)