Proverbs 20:7 — Word Study
WLCמִתְהַלֵּ֣ךְ בְּתֻמּ֣וֹ צַדִּ֑יק אַשְׁרֵ֖י בָנָ֣יו אַחֲרָֽיו׃
BSAThe righteous mantsaddîyq [just, morally upright] walkshâlak [lives, conducts himself] with integritytôm [in his simplicity, with moral purity] blessed [are]ʼesher [happy, fortunate] his childrenbên [sons, descendants] after himʼachar [following, coming behind]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| מִתְהַלֵּ֣ךְ | [one who] goes about | Verb, Hithpael, participle (active) masculine singular |
| בְּתֻמּ֣וֹ | in integrity his | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| צַדִּ֑יק | a righteous [person] | Adj |
| אַשְׁרֵ֖י | how blessed! | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| בָנָ֣יו | [are] sons his | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| אַחֲרָֽיו׃ | after him | Suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him. |
| KJV | The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. |
| ASV | A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him. |
| YLT | The righteous is walking habitually in his integrity, O the happiness of his sons after him! |
| WEB | A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him. |
| BBE | An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him! |
Where they part company is אַשְׁרֵ֖י — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause followed by a predicate and a prepositional phrase, establishing a clear relationship between the man's actions and the blessings for his children.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectצַדִּיק
verbהָלַךְ
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Proverbs 20:7
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Wisdom on Righteousnessgenerated
Proverbs 20:7 emphasizes the importance of living a life of integrity and righteousness. The righteous man is portrayed as someone who conducts himself morally and is rewarded with blessings for his descendants. This reflects a broader theme in Proverbs regarding the consequences of one’s actions on future generations, as also seen in related verses like Proverbs 14:2 and Psalm 15:2.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 14:2 | He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him. |
| 2 | Proverbs 19:1 | Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse. |
| 3 | Psalm 15:2 | He who walks with integrity and practices righteousness, who speaks the truth from his heart, |
| 4 | Psalm 26:1–11 | Vindicate me, O LORD! For I have walked with integrity; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. |
| 5 | Isaiah 33:15 | He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, who refuses gain from extortion, whose hand never takes a bribe, who stops his ears against murderous plots and shuts his eyes tightly against evil— |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 15 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — צַדִּ֑יק, tza.Dikgenerated
The word צַדִּ֑יק (tzaddik) is an adjective meaning 'righteous' or 'just'. It describes a person who is morally upright and just in their actions, often in relation to God's standards. The parsing indicates it is used here as a simple adjective, describing the subject of the verse.
This concept of righteousness is central to biblical teachings, highlighting the importance of moral conduct and integrity in one's life. The righteous are often seen as those who align their lives with God's will and commandments.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is presented in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the word righteous for צַדִּ֑יק.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb governing the verse is מִתְהַלֵּ֣ךְ, he walks, which is the main action. The subject צַדִּ֑יק, the righteous, is clearly defined, and the predicate אַשְׁרֵ֖י, blessed, describes the state of his children.
The structure presents a straightforward cause-and-effect relationship: the righteous man's integrity leads to blessings for his descendants. The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the subject and the action.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates צַדִּ֑יק as δικαιοσύνῃ (dikaiosynē), which also conveys the concept of righteousness but can carry broader implications of justice and moral rectitude in the Greek context.
This choice reflects a consistent understanding of righteousness across both Hebrew and Greek texts, emphasizing the moral character of the individual.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 20:7 explains that a righteous man lives with integrity, and as a result, his children are blessed. This verse teaches that the way a person lives can have a lasting impact on their family.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Walking with integrity means living a life that is consistent with moral and ethical principles, being honest and upright in all actions.
The children of a righteous man are blessed through the positive influence of their father's integrity and moral example, which sets a foundation for their own lives.
Righteousness is emphasized in Proverbs as it reflects a life aligned with God's will, leading to wisdom, blessings, and a good reputation.
Yes, a person's integrity can have a profound impact on future generations, shaping their values and guiding their actions.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I demonstrate integrity in my daily life?
- How can I be a positive influence on my children or those around me?
- What does it mean to be righteous in today's world?
- How can I learn from the examples of righteous individuals in the Bible?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Bede comments on this verse, noting that even a righteous man may have unworthy sons, illustrating the complexities of moral legacy.
The just man who walks in his simplicity, etc. This cannot always stand according to the letter. For even the blessed Samuel, a just and simple man, left unlike sons behind him;Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 20 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 20:7 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe just [man] walketh in his integrity,.... This is the faithful and upright man, who is made righteous by the obedience of Christ; and walks by faith in him, and according to the truth of the
Read John Gill on Proverbs 20 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. The just (man) walketh in his integrity: his children (are) blessed after him.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 20 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThe just man walketh in his integrity; he proveth himself to be so not only by his profession, of which he spoke in the former verse, but by his sincere and unblamable conversation. His children are blessed after him, by virtue of that covenant which God hath made with such men, which is not confined to their persons, but entaileth blessings upon their posterity.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 20 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 20:7 The just [man] walketh in his integrity: his children [are] blessed after him.Ver. 7. The just man walketh in his integrity.] Walketh constantly; not for a step or two only, when the good fit is upon him. His children are blessed after him.] Personal goodness is profitable to posterity; yet not of merit, but of free grace, and for the promise’ sake; which Jehu’ s children found and felt to the fourth generation, though himself were a wicked idolater. Continenter ambulat.
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 20 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(7) The just man.—Comp. Proverbs 10:2. His children are blessed after him.—Comp. 1 Kings 15:4, Jeremiah 33:20-21.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 20 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges7. walketh] Rather, that walketh, R.V. ὄςἀναστρέφεταιἄμωμοςἐνδικαιοσύνῃ, μακαρίουςτοὺςπαῖδαςαὐτοῦκαταλείψει, LXX.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 20 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible7. The just man — An upright man. The critics transpose: He that walks in his integrity, a righteous man, (or is a righteous man,) happy are his children after him. Comp. Proverbs 14:26; Genesis 24:67; Job 21:21.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 20 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.
A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.
The righteous person behaves in integrity; blessed are his children after him.
Tyndale line
The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him.
A just man that walketh in his integrity, blessed are his children after him.
The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
He that walketh in his integritie, is iust: and blessed shall his children be after him.
Strictly literal
The righteous walketh in his integrity: blessed are his children after him!
The righteous is walking habitually in his integrity, O the happiness of his sons after him!
The righteous is habitually walking in his integrity, || O the blessedness of his sons after him!
The righteous walketh in his integrity: happy will be his children after him.
The righteous person walks in his integrity, and his sons who follow after him will be blessed.
From the Latin
The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him blessed children.
Simplified
Good people live honestly; how happy are their children if they follow them.
An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads מִתְהַלֵּ֣ךְ בְּתֻמּ֣וֹ צַדִּ֑יק אַשְׁרֵ֖י בָנָ֣יו אַחֲרָֽיו׃. The Septuagint matches four of the six words, indicating a strong agreement between the two texts, though variations exist in the exact wording.
מִתְהַלֵּ֣ךְ בְּתֻמּ֣וֹ צַדִּ֑יק אַשְׁרֵ֖י בָנָ֣יו אַחֲרָֽיו׃
4 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 20:7
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
הָלַךְ (halak) means 'to go,' 'come,' or 'walk,' and covers a wide range of literal and figurative uses, including aspects of life and death. It can describe physical movement, moral conduct, and even influence on character. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances like leading or traversing.
הָלַךְ 1546 vb. go, come, walk
Qal Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך
lit.
of persons
Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations
in like manner of inanimate things
The inf. abs. is often used
as in other vbs., quite independently
to intensify meaning of finite form
most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs.
with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance
with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)
in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. adj. denoting progress, advance
twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion
quite by itself
13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.
akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.
In combination with other verbal forms
Fig.; the most common uses follow; in most the origin in a literal meaning is evident:
pass away, die
H1980 הָלַךְ go, come, walk .Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך . lit. . of persons
. Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations
. in like manner of inanimate things
. The inf. abs. is often used . as in other vbs., quite independently
. to intensify meaning of finite form
. most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs. . with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance
. with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)
. in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. + adj. denoting progress, advance
. twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion
. quite by itself
. 13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.
. akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.
. In combination with other verbal forms
1980 halak haw-lak'
akin to 3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety
of applications, literally and figuratively):--(all) along,
apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant,
depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow, forth,
forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on,
out, up and down), + greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead,
march, X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away),
be at the point, quite, run (along), + send, speedily, spread,
still, surely, + tale-bearer, + travel(-ler), walk (abroad,
on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax,
(way-)faring man, X be weak, whirl.
see HEBREW for 03212
הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: went.
: went/go[away]
1) to go, walk, come
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to walk
1b2) to walk (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to traverse
1c2) to walk about
1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk
הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: come.
: come[nearer]
1) to go, walk, come
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to walk
1b2) to walk (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to traverse
1c2) to walk about
1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk
הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: walk.
: walk/move
1) to go, walk, come
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to walk
1b2) to walk (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to traverse
V-Hithpael — Verb · Hithpael · participle (active) masculine singularHVtrmsa
a-bout': The use of this word as a preposition, in the sense of "around," is confined to the Old Testament. In the New Testament, generally an adverb, for Greek hos or "hosei." The Revised Version (British and American) adopts it in several idiomatic translations of mello, referring to what is about to be, i.e. on the point of occurring, or immediately impending, amending the King James Version, in Ac 5:35; 27:2; Re 12:4, etc.
תֹּם (tom) refers to completeness or integrity, encompassing notions of fullness, innocence, and simplicity. It is derived from a root meaning to be complete or perfect. The word appears in contexts related to moral uprightness and wholeness, though the specific verses are not detailed in the entries.
תֹּם n.[m.] completeness, integrity
completeness, fulness
innocence, simplicity
integrity
תֻּמִּים
base
H8537 תֹּם completeness, integrity
8537 tom tome
from 8552; completeness; figuratively, prosperity; usually
(morally) innocence:--full, integrity, perfect(-ion),
simplicity, upright(-ly, -ness), at a venture. See 8550.
see HEBREW for 08552
see HEBREW for 08550
תֹּם (tom) — integrity.
1) integrity, completeness
1a) completeness, fulness
1b) innocence, simplicity
1c) integrity
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
צַדִּיק (tsaddiyq) means just or righteous, covering various aspects such as lawful behavior, moral conduct, and being justified by God. It is derived from a related root and is used to describe individuals who are upright in character and actions.
צַדִּיק 206 adj. just, righteous
base
H6662 צַדִּיק just, righteous
6662 tsaddiyq tsad-deek'
from 6663; just:--just, lawful, righteous (man).
see HEBREW for 06663
צַדִּיק (tsad.diq) — righteous.
1) just, lawful, righteous
1a) just, righteous (in government)
1b) just, right (in one's cause)
1c) just, righteous (in conduct and character)
1d) righteous (as justified and vindicated by God)
1e) right, correct, lawful
Adj — AdjHAamsa
אֶ֫שֶׁר (esher) refers to happiness or blessedness, often used as an interjection to express joy. It is derived from a related root and appears primarily in a masculine plural form. The entries consistently highlight its meaning related to happiness and blessing.
[אֶ֫שֶׁר, or אָשָׁר] n.[m.] happiness, blessedness
base
H835 [אֶ֫שֶׁר, or אָשָׁר] happiness, blessedness
835 'esher eh'-sher
from 833; happiness; only in masculine plural construction as
interjection, how happy!:--blessed, happy.
see HEBREW for 0833
אֶ֫שֶׁר (e.sher) — blessed.
1) happiness, blessedness
1a) often used as interjection
1b) blessed are
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
bles'-ed (barukh): Where God is referred to, this word has the sense of "praise," as in 1Sa 25:32, "Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel." But where man is in mind it is used in the sense of "happy" or "favored," and most frequently so in the Psalms and the Gospels, as for example, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked" (Ps 1:1); "Blessed art thou among women" (Lu 1:42); "Blessed are the poor in spirit" (Mt 5:3).
See BEATITUDES.
בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.
בֵּן 4870 n.m. son
son, male child, born of a woman
children (male and female)
youth, young men
the young of animals
of plant shoots
fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
member of a guild, order or class
of animals son of (the) herd
ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
n. relat. of age
base
בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.
done
H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman
. children (male and female)
. youth, young men
. the young of animals
. of plant shoots
. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
. . member of a guild, order or class
. of animals son of (the) herd
. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
. n. relat. of age
H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son
1121 ben bane
from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the
widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,
including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,
etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)
(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,
(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,
bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X
came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of
first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +
kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)
people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +
spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous
one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
see HEBREW for 01129
see HEBREW for 01
see HEBREW for 0251
בֵּן (ben) — son: child.
: child/son
בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;
son of: Jaaziah (H3269);
brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)
§ Beno = "his son"
the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)
בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.
: descendant, people, tribe, nation
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : child/son
בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.
: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : descendant
בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.
: rebel/son(Belial)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : people/men/nation/tribe
בֵּן (ben) — son.
: [inheriting]son/heir
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.
: warrior/son(strong)
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word אַחַר (*achar*) primarily denotes the concept of 'after' or 'behind' in both spatial and temporal contexts. It functions as a substantive, adverb, preposition, and conjunction, indicating a following part or time. The related form אַחֲרַי (*acharai*) refers to a person who turns backwards. There is a reference to Proverbs 28:23 in relation to the latter.
אַחַר prop. subst. the hinder or following part
adv.
of place, behind
of time, afterwards
prep.
of place, behind, after
of time, after
conj. after that.
H310a אַחַר prop. subst. the hinder or following part . adv. . of place, behind
. of time, afterwards
. prep. . of place, behind, after
. of time, after
. conj. after that.
H310b אַחֲרַי a man that turneth backwards.
310 'achar akh-ar'
from 309; properly, the hind part; generally used as an
adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses):--after
(that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side),
behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from,
hereafter, hinder end, + out (over) live, + persecute,
posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth),
when, with.
see HEBREW for 0309
אַחַר (a.char) — after.
1) after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time)
1a) as an adverb
1a1) behind (of place)
1a2) afterwards (of time)
1b) as a preposition
1b1) behind, after (of place)
1b2) after (of time)
1b3) besides
1c) as a conjunction
1c) after that
1d) as a substantive
1d1) hinder part
1e) with other prepositions
1e1) from behind
1e2) from following after
אַחֲרַי (a.cha.ray) — backwards.
backwards (of a man that turns backwards)
Prep | Suff — SuffixHAcmpc/Sp3ms