Proverbs 19:12

12 A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

Proverbs 19:12 in Other Translations

12 The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.

12 A king's wrath is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

12 The king’s anger is like a lion’s roar, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

12 Mean-tempered leaders are like mad dogs; the good-natured are like fresh morning dew.

12 A king's rage is like a lion's roar, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

Proverbs 19:12 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 19:12

The king's wrath [is] as the roaring of a lion
Which is very terrible when hungry, and is after its prey, and has got it. Kings, especially tyrannical ones, are compared to lions; as Nebuchadnezzar by Jeremiah, ( Jeremiah 4:17 ) ( 50:17 ) ; and Nero by the Apostle Paul, ( 2 Timothy 4:7 ) ; and the rage of such is very dreadful, as Ahasuerus's was to Haman. Jarchi interprets the king, of the holy blessed God. It may be applied to Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah; who is said to cry with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth; and whose wrath is terrible to wicked men, and even to the kings of the earth, ( Revelation 5:5 ) ( 10:3 ) ( 6:15-17 ) ; but his favour [is] as dew upon the grass;
which refreshes and revives it, and causes it to grow and flourish: and so the favour and good will of a king to his subjects delights them, and causes joy and cheerfulness in them; and such an effect has the love of God and Christ on the children of men, ( Hosea 14:6 ) .

Proverbs 19:12 In-Context

10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury— how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!

11 A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.

12 A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

13 A foolish child is a father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like the constant dripping of a leaky roof.

14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

Cross References

• 1. Proverbs 20:2
• 2. S Psalms 133:3
• 3. S Esther 1:12; S Esther 7:7; Psalms 72:5-6; Proverbs 16:14-15