Proverbs 20:20

20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp[a] shall be put out in obscure* darkness.

Proverbs 20:20 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 20:20

Whoso curseth his father or his mother
This is dreadful indeed! a person must be got to a great pitch of wickedness to do this; to curse his parents, one or other of them, that have been the instruments of his being, and by whom he has been brought up and put out into the world; to slight them, despise them, and mock at them, is highly base and criminal, but to curse them is shocking! what can such expect but the curse of God upon them? his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness;
he shall be deprived of his natural sight; see ( Proverbs 30:17 ) ; or the very light of nature shall be extinct in him; and indeed such an one acts as if not guided by it, nor under its influence; or whatsoever favour from the Lord he has enjoyed, it shall be taken from him; his lamp or candle of outward felicity shall be quenched, and burn no longer; see ( Job 18:5 ) ( 22:17 ) ; or his soul, the candle of the Lord, in him, ( Proverbs 20:27 ) ; shall be removed; or he "shall die", not only a corporeal but an eternal death; see ( Exodus 21:17 ) ; "blackness of darkness" F8 as the words may be rendered, are reserved for him in the world to come, and which will be his portion, ( Jude 1:13 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F8 (Kvx Nwvyab) "in obscuritate tenebrarum", Pagninus, Mercerus; "in nigredine tenebrarum", Michaelis.

Proverbs 20:20 In-Context

18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
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; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

Footnotes 1

The King James Version is in the public domain.