Proverbs 30:20 (KJV)

What does Proverbs 30:20 mean?

Proverbs 30:20 describes how a woman who commits adultery can act as if nothing wrong has happened, hiding her actions and denying any wrongdoing. The verse uses the image of someone eating, wiping her mouth, and claiming innocence to show how easily and casually she covers up her behavior.

In this part of Proverbs, Agur is speaking, listing things that are hard to understand. Here, he points out the mysterious way some people can do wrong and then act as if they are completely innocent. The verse is not just about one woman but uses her as an example of how people can hide sin and deceive even themselves.

The Hebrew behind Proverbs 30:20

• The word "way" (דֶּרֶךְ, derek, H1870) means a path or manner of life. Here, it highlights the pattern or habit of the adulterous woman, not just a single act.
• "Adulterous" (נָאַף, na'af, H5003) refers to unfaithfulness in marriage. The word carries the idea of breaking trust, which is central to the verse’s warning.
• "Eateth" (אָכַל, akal, H398) is a common word for eating, but here it is used as a metaphor for committing the act of adultery—something done as casually as eating a meal.
• "Wipeth" (מָחָה, machah, H4229) means to wipe or clean, showing how the woman removes any evidence of her actions, suggesting an effort to erase guilt or suspicion.
• "Wickedness" (אָוֶן, aven, H205) means trouble, evil, or wrongdoing. The woman’s claim, “I have done no wickedness,” shows her denial and self-justification.

Why Proverbs 30:20 matters

• Proverbs 30:20 warns against the danger of self-deception and the ability to hide wrongdoing, not just from others but even from oneself.
• The verse fits into a larger section where Agur lists things that are hard to understand, highlighting the puzzling nature of human behavior and moral blindness.
• This proverb helps clarify that the problem is not just the act itself, but the attitude of denial and the ease with which someone can cover up and excuse their actions.