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Commentary Critical and Explanatory

Proverbs 20:24

Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?

Man's (Hebrew, gaaber (H1397 ): a mighty man's) goings (are) of the Lord. Whatever success attends mighty warriors, as Julius Caesar, Alexander, Napoleon, etc., is entirely due to the Lord.

How can a man ( 'aadaam (H120 ): man in general) then understand his own way? As the former clause attributes to the Lord exclusively the ordering of great men's goings, in order to attain success; so this clause attributes to Him, to the exclusion of man, the prescient understanding of man's course. God directs natural actions by ordinary providence, spiritual actions by His special providence, which foreordains from eternity, awakens the sinner, removes obstacles, suggests that state of life wherein He foresees that the man will not fall away, but attain to glory. However a man may understand his way in respect to its beginning and aim, yet he understands not the best means in doubtful cases, nor can he ensure the issue. We ought therefore to call upon God in all our undertakings, for His overruling guidance, and not trust in our own sagacity.

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See also Proverbs 20:24 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Proverbs 20:24. _MAN'S GOINGS_ ARE _OF THE LORD_] He, by his providence, governs all the great concerns of the world. Man often traverses these operations; but he does it to his own damage. An o...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    The order of a man’s life is a mystery even to himself. He knows not where he is going, or for what God is educating him....

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 20 PROVERBS AS TO PERSONAL CONDUCT Proverbs of warning and instructions as to personal conduct are found mostly in this chapter; a number of them are of special interest if applied to Solomon....

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    PROVERBS 20. We have still further traces in Proverbs 20:9; Proverbs 20:24 of the sceptical spirit and the obstinate questionings of self characteristic of the later Greek period of Jewish thought. P...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    MAN'S. A strong man's. Hebrew. _geber._ App-14. MAN. an ordinary man. Hebrew. _'adam._ App-14....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Comp. Proverbs 16:9; Jeremiah 10:23....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    TEXT Proverbs 20:21-30 21. An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed. 22. Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he wil...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    20:24 man (h-5) _ Geber_ . see Job 3:3 ....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    1. RAGING] RV 'a brawler.' IS deceived] RM 'reeleth.' It makes a man sneer, quarrel and reel about....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    LESSONS ABOUT WISDOM PROVERBS _KEITH SIMONS_ CHAPTER 20 V1 Wine is like a man who insults you. Beer is like a man who shouts at you. If wine and beer tempt you, then you are not wise....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    We try to understand our own lives. We try to understand our experiences. Often we do not know why things happen. But God knows. He directs our lives. And he guides us. He is like a farmer who looks a...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    MAN’S GOINGS ARE OF THE LORD. — Comp. Jeremiah 10:23 and the collect, “O God, from whom... all just works do proceed.” HOW CAN A MAN THEN UNDERSTAND HIS OWN WAY? — _i.e._, how he should go. So much th...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    מֵ יְהוָ֥ה מִצְעֲדֵי ־גָ֑בֶר וְ֝ אָדָ֗ם מַה

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 21 IDLENESS "After the autumn gathering the slothful does not plough; he asks in the harvest, and there is nothing."- Proverbs 20:4 WE have already in the sixth lecture caught a glimpse of t...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 17 A JUST BALANCE "A just balance and scales are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are His work."- Proverbs 16:11 "A false balance is an abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 17 A JUST BALANCE "A just balance and scales are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are His work."- Proverbs 16:11 "A false balance is an abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    “THE GLORY OF YOUNG MEN” Proverbs 20:16-30 What a wonderful thought is given in Proverbs 20:27! We stand like a row of unlighted candles until God's Spirit kindles us. Has the Divine Nature ever bent...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Verse Proverbs 20:9. This is the eternal challenge which has but one answer. When a man recognizes this he begins to inquire for a Saviour. Verse Proverbs 20:14. "It is bad, it is bad," is the descrip...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Way? Jeremias x. 23. Independently of God, who can do any good? (Calmet)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. There is...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 10 THROUGH 31. In chapter 10 begin the details which teach those who give ear how to avoid the snares into which the simple might fall, the path to be followe...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    MAN'S GOINGS [ARE] OF THE LORD,.... In a natural and literal sense, the instruments of going are of the Lord; the act of motion from place to place is not without the concourse of his providence; as i...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Man's goings [are] of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? Ver. 24. Man's goings are of the Lord.] _See Trapp on "_ Pro 16:1 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Pro 16:9 _"_ God brought Paul to Rome...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Man's goings are of the Lord_ All men's purposes and actions are so entirely subject to the control of God's overruling providence, and so liable to be frustrated or changed, as he shall see good, an...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    V. 24. MAN'S GOINGS ARE OF THE LORD, he is dependent upon the Lord in all his actions, he is directed by the manner of God's disposal; HOW CAN A MAN, THEN, UNDERSTAND HIS OWN WAY? It is impossible for...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    MAN'S GOINGS, all men's purposes and actions, ARE OF THE LORD; are ordered and overruled by God's wise and powerful providence to accomplish his own counsel and good pleasure, and not what men list or...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Proverbs 20:24 mans H1397 steps H4703 LORD H3068 man H120 understand H995 (H8799) way H1870 Man's -...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Warnings and instructions regarding the ways of folly. CHARACTERS: God. CONCLUSION: Here in this imperfect state, no person can claim to be sinless, but the just man, walking by the rule o...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Proverbs 20:1. _Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging._ In the book of Ecclesiasticus intoxication is connected with poverty, with harlots, with destruction: chap. Proverbs 19:1. Cyrus, after notic...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Man’s goings are of the Lord: how can a man then understand his own way?_ MAN’S GOINGS I. The text in its negative bearings. 1. Appeal to Scripture (Proverbs 16:9; Jeremiah 10:23). 2. Appeal to hi...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PROVERBS—NOTE ON PROVERBS 20:22 These four proverbs teach that God, not people (v. Proverbs 20:22), is the judge and avenger. He detests all unfair bias in human judgment, as represented by

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 20:24. MAN. The first word, _Geber_, denoting _a superior or mighty man_: the second, _Adam, man in general, or an ordinary man_. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 20:24_ GOD O...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION PROVERBS 20:1 WINE IS A MOCKER; or, scorner, the word (_luts_) being taken up from the last chapter. The liquor is, as it were, personified, as doing what men do under its influence. Thus...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Into chapter 20. Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise (Proverbs 20:1). He will have more to say about wine as we move along in our study next week,...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Acts 17:28; Daniel 5:23; Isaiah 10:6; Isaiah 10:7; Jeremiah 10:23;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    His way — What the issue of his designs will be....

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