By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

PROVERBS 8:15KJV
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Proverbs 8:15 (KJV)

What does Proverbs 8:15 mean?

Proverbs 8:15 presents wisdom as essential to good government. Kings hold power, but the verse credits wisdom with helping rulers exercise that power and make just decisions.

Wisdom speaks as if she were a person, so “by me” means “by wisdom.” Following her claim in verse 14, she turns to public rule, naming both kings and princes.

The Hebrew behind Proverbs 8:15

  • “decree” — חָקַק (chaqaq): The word can mean to prescribe or set down a rule. Here, it gives a picture of princes establishing decisions for others to follow.
  • “justice” — צֶדֶק (tsedeq): The word carries the sense of what is right or fair. It describes the standard of the decisions the princes make.

Why Proverbs 8:15 matters

  • Wisdom’s reach includes public authority, not just private choices. The verse places her alongside kings and princes, the people who govern.
  • The verse joins power with fair decisions. The phrase “decree justice” focuses on what rulers establish, not merely on their title or rank.
  • The surrounding words connect wisdom with sound judgment. In verse 14, wisdom claims “counsel” and “understanding”; verse 15 shows those qualities at work in government.

Where else these words appear

“princes” Hebrew H7336 · used in 6 verses

  • Judges 5:3 Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.
  • Psalms 2:2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
  • Isaiah 40:23 That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.

“decree” Hebrew H2710 · used in 19 verses

  • Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
  • Psalms 60:7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;
  • Isaiah 22:16 What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for himself in a rock?

“justice” Hebrew H6664 · used in 109 verses

  • Leviticus 19:15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.
  • Psalms 52:3 Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.
  • Ecclesiastes 7:15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.