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Proverbs 20:28

Some rulers think that they should be cruel. Solomon’s own son, Rehoboam, thought this (1 Kings 12:13-14). He was wrong. Cruelty does not make a king safe. If a ruler is cruel, then the people hate him. They want a revolution and a new government.

Love protects a king. A ruler should love the people. He should look after them and protect them. Then the people will love him. See 1 John 3:7-12.

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See also Proverbs 20:28 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Proverbs 20:28. _MERCY AND TRUTH PRESERVE THE KING_] These are the brightest jewels in the royal crown; and those kings who are most governed by them have the stablest government....

  • 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

    MERCY. lovingkindness, grace, or favour....

  • 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...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy. MERCY (TOWARD THE MISERABLE AND NEEDY) AND TRUTH (in fulfilling his word) preserve the king. Truth is not to be sacrificed t...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    20:28 Mercy (l-1) mercy. (l-13) Or 'kindness,' 'bounty;' _ chesed_ , and so ch. 21.21....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    It is the king's goodness and reliableness that are meant. 30. The blueness, etc.] RV 'Stripes that wound cleanse,' etc. (Psalms 119:67)....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

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

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    MERCY AND TRUTH PRESERVE THE KING. — See above on Proverbs 3:3. The love and faithfulness he shows to his subjects draw out the same qualities in them, and these are the safeguard of his throne. So (P...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    חֶ֣סֶד וֶ֭ אֱמֶת יִצְּרוּ ־מֶ֑לֶךְ וְ סָעַ֖ד

  • 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

    _Clemency. Such a king need not fear rebellion. (Calmet)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry. A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them. The spirit of man is the candle of the L...

  • 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

    MERCY AND TRUTH PRESERVE THE KING,.... Which are two good qualifications in a prince; not ruling his subjects with rigour and cruelty, but with tenderness and clemency; easing them as much as he can o...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy. Ver. 28. _Mercy and truth preserve the king._] These are the best guard of his body, and supporters of his throne. Mildness and...

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

    _Mercy_ Clemency to offenders, and bounty to worthy indigent persons; _and truth_ Faithfulness in keeping his word and promises inviolably; _preserve the king_ Because they engage God to guard him, an...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    V. 28. MERCY AND TRUTH PRESERVE THE KING, they are the attributes or virtues which make his reign successful, AND HIS THRONE IS UPHOLDEN BY MERCY, by gracious kindness and favor....

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    MERCY; clemency to offenders, and bounty to worthy and to indigent persons; and truth; faithfulness in keeping his word and promises inviolably; preserve the king, because they engage God to guard him...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Proverbs 20:28 Mercy H2617 truth H571 preserve H5341 (H8799) king H4428 lovingkindness H2617 upholds H5582 (H8804

  • 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 ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PROVERBS—NOTE ON PROVERBS 20:28 God’s STEADFAST LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS was the foundation of the Davidic dynasty (1 Kings 3:6;...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 20:26. THE WHEEL, _i.e._, the wheel of the threshing, instrument which blows away the chaff. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 20:26; Proverbs 20:28_ PILLARS OF GOVERNMEN

  • 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

    Isaiah 16:5; Proverbs 16:12; Proverbs 16:6; Proverbs 29:14; Psalm

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