The Meaning of Proverbs 16:10 Explained

Proverbs 16:10

KJV: A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.

YLT: An oath is on the lips of a king, In judgment his mouth trespasseth not.

Darby: An oracle is on the lips of the king: his mouth will not err in judgment.

ASV: A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; His mouth shall not transgress in judgment.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

A divine sentence  [is] in the lips  of the king:  his mouth  transgresseth  not in judgment. 

What does Proverbs 16:10 Mean?

Verse Meaning

A king"s edict becomes law for his people. [1] His ordinances are the will of God for them (unless he commands contrary to God"s revealed will; cf. Acts 4:19-20). Consequently it is very important that the ruler not err in his judgment. [2]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 16

1  The Plans of the heart

What do the individual words in Proverbs 16:10 mean?

Divination [is] on the lips of the king in judgment Not must transgress His mouth
קֶ֤סֶם ׀ עַֽל־ שִׂפְתֵי־ מֶ֑לֶךְ בְּ֝מִשְׁפָּ֗ט לֹ֣א יִמְעַל־ פִּֽיו

קֶ֤סֶם ׀  Divination  [is] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֶסֶם  
Sense: divination, witchcraft.
שִׂפְתֵי־  the  lips 
Parse: Noun, fdc
Root: שָׂפָה  
Sense: lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding.
מֶ֑לֶךְ  of  the  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
בְּ֝מִשְׁפָּ֗ט  in  judgment 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
יִמְעַל־  must  transgress 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָעַל  
Sense: to act unfaithfully, act treacherously, transgress, commit a trespass.
פִּֽיו  His  mouth 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.