The Meaning of Proverbs 20:6 Explained

Proverbs 20:6

KJV: Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

YLT: A multitude of men proclaim each his kindness, And a man of stedfastness who doth find?

Darby: Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but a faithful man who shall find?

ASV: Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Most  men  will proclaim  every one  his own goodness:  but a faithful  man  who can find? 

What does Proverbs 20:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 20:1-15 - Sobriety Industry Honesty
Strong drink is the greatest of all foes to human happiness. It gains an influence over men by fair promises, but when once it is entrenched, it mocks at the misery of its abject slave. It promises strength for the arm, joy for the heart, brilliance for the mind; but those fair promises are not kept, and the end is impotence, misery, and imbecility. Let each reader of these words henceforth utterly abjure it!
The sluggard is depicted throughout this book to stir us to diligent industry. After all, it is not by great gifts but by patient persistence that men succeed. Indeed, the highest genius is left behind by the careful plodder, if the one lacks and the other possesses this invaluable quality. "Diligent in business, serving the Lord."
All our life lies open to the eye of God. He is closely acquainted with the transactions of the bank, the office, the ledger, and the weights in the store. No lapse from perfect honesty escapes his notice; and for every act of deception there is an inevitable Nemesis. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 20

1  Proper Living

What do the individual words in Proverbs 20:6 mean?

Most men will proclaim each his own goodness but a man of faithfulness who can find
רָב־ אָדָ֗ם יִ֭קְרָא אִ֣ישׁ חַסְדּ֑וֹ וְאִ֥ישׁ אֱ֝מוּנִ֗ים מִ֣י ؟ יִמְצָֽא

רָב־  Most 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹב  
Sense: multitude, abundance, greatness.
אָדָ֗ם  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
יִ֭קְרָא  will  proclaim 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
אִ֣ישׁ  each 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
חַסְדּ֑וֹ  his  own  goodness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חֶסֶד 
Sense: goodness, kindness, faithfulness.
וְאִ֥ישׁ  but  a  man 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
אֱ֝מוּנִ֗ים  of  faithfulness 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֵמוּן 
Sense: faithfulness, trusting.
؟ יִמְצָֽא  can  find 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.