Proverbs 2:20 · Bible study
Proverbs 2:20 Commentary: Walking the Way of Good People
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Is this a command or a promise? A study of Proverbs 2:20 shows how wisdom leads us to walk with the righteous and keep their paths.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Walking in the way of good people and keeping the paths of the righteous is the positive outcome of wisdom's work, not a command to earn it.
- Key words: l'ma'an (so that), tēlēkh (you may walk), tishmōr (you will keep), imperfect verbs of purpose, not imperatives.
- Main debate: Whether v.20 is a direct command or a purpose clause describing what wisdom produces; the Hebrew grammar strongly supports the latter.
- Theological theme: The two ways, wisdom leads away from evil and into a community of righteous examples, with a promised home in the land.
- Best use: A positive complement to warnings against sin; shows that the Christian life is apprenticeship to the saints, not mere avoidance.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
So you will follow in the ways of the good, and keep to the paths of the righteous.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Therefore walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
KJV King James Version 1769
That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, And keep the paths of the righteous.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
That thou dost go in the way of the good, And the paths of the righteous dost keep.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
— that thou mayest walk in the way of the good, and keep the paths of the righteous.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
That thou mayst walk in a good way: and mayst keep the paths of the just.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Para que andes por el camino de los buenos, y guardes las veredas de los justos.
- Para andares no caminho dos bons, e te guardares nas veredas dos justos.
Tu marcheras ainsi dans la voie des gens de bien,
auf daß du wandelst auf gutem Wege und bleibst auf der rechten Bahn.
Opdat gij wandelt op den weg der goeden, en houdt de paden der rechtvaardigen.
Così camminerai per la via dei buoni, e rimarrai nei sentieri dei giusti.
A przetoż będziesz chodził drogą dobrych, a ścieżek sprawiedliwych będziesz przestrzegał.
Посему ходи путем добрых и держись стезей праведников,
智慧必使 你行 善人 的道，守 義人 的路。
So that you may go in the way of good men, and keep in the footsteps of the upright.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Proverbs 2:20
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Proverbs 2:20 is not a freestanding command but a purpose clause that unfolds the positive outcome of wisdom's protection. The Hebrew l'ma'an ("so that") ties this verse directly to the preceding promises of wisdom entering the heart (v.10) and delivering from evil men and the strange woman (vv.12, 19). As Wesley notes, the verse "depends upon verse 11" and is "another happy fruit of wisdom." Keil and Delitzsch explain that the third purpose statement after two negative ones completes the picture: wisdom keeps the disciple from seductions in order that he may walk in the good way. Matthew Henry calls it a benefit wisdom confers, it guards us from sin and then guides us into virtuous company. The verbs tēlēkh ("you may walk") and tishmōr ("you will keep") are Qal imperfects, describing the habitual, ongoing life that wisdom makes possible. So the verse does not so much command as describe the destination to which wisdom leads.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Walking in the way of good people and keeping the paths of the righteous is the life wisdom leads to — the positive moral goal of the entire chapter.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Grammar: command or purpose | All see the verse as describing a positive, desirable outcome, walking with the righteous. | Some English translations (e.g., WEB) render it as an imperative 'Therefore walk,' while most commentators argue the Hebrew l'ma'an + imperfect makes it a purpose/result clause, not a command. |
| Relation to preceding warnings | The verse forms a positive counterpart to the negative deliverances from evil men and the strange woman. | Some see it as a separate, third purpose statement (Keil & Delitzsch), others as an additional benefit that flows from the same conditional structure (Wesley, Cambridge). |
| Interpretation of 'good men' and 'righteous' | These refer to people whose character and conduct align with God's wisdom, examples to follow. | Gill specifies they are 'not so by nature, but made so by grace,' emphasizing regeneration; others focus on observable behavior and covenant community. |
| The land promise (vv.21, 22) and the way | The path of the righteous leads to dwelling in the land, a stable, blessed life. | Whether 'land' refers literally to Canaan (Keil & Delitzsch) or is a type of the new creation (Matthew Henry, N.T. expansions) is understood differently across traditions. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The book of Proverbs is set within the household instruction of ancient Israel. A father or teacher addresses a son, training him in the skills of wise living, skills that begin with "the fear of the LORD" (Prov 1:7). The two-ways motif runs throughout Proverbs: the path of wisdom (life, blessing) and the path of folly (death, ruin). Chapter 2 presents wisdom not merely as intellectual skill but as a moral guide that enters the heart, turns it toward discretion, and then protects the young man from destructive enticements.
The "way of good men" and "paths of the righteous" stand in deliberate contrast to the earlier warnings. Good men (tovim) are those whose character aligns with God's order; righteous ones (tsaddiqim) live in right relationship with God and neighbour. In the ancient Near East, one's community defined one's path. To walk with the wise was to absorb their habits, values, and destiny, a principle echoed across the Old Testament (Jer 6:16) and into the New (Heb 6:12; 3 John 11).
The surrounding promise of dwelling in the land (vv.21, 22) ties this personal guidance to Israel's covenant story. The land was God's gift, but continued residence required faithfulness. A life lived among the righteous, shaped by their example, was part of the larger pattern of covenant loyalty that kept a person in the place of blessing. The teacher is not offering abstract advice; he is laying out the concrete shape of a life that stays within God's good order.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Proverbs 2:20. The Masoretic Text is stable, and the ancient versions (LXX, Vulgate) support the reading without substantial disagreement. The main interpretive challenge is not textual but grammatical: how to render the purpose clause in English without losing the dependency on the preceding context.
Reception History
Early Jewish commentators read this verse within the wisdom tradition's focus on the two ways, the path of the righteous leading to life. Christian interpreters from the patristic period saw in it a call to imitate the saints, reading "good men" as the patriarchs and prophets. Medieval exegetes often moralized the verse, urging readers to choose virtuous company. The Reformers (Calvin, Luther) emphasized that walking in the good way is a fruit of grace, not a natural achievement; Matthew Henry and Gill continued this tradition, highlighting that good men are made by grace. Modern scholarship focuses on the literary structure of Proverbs 2, noting how v.20 functions as the positive climax of a series of purpose clauses, and has renewed attention to the role of community in moral formation. Across the centuries, the verse has been quoted in sermons on friendship, mentorship, and the Christian's need for godly examples.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Wisdom delivers from evil. The negative warnings (vv.12, 19) show that wisdom protects from destructive company. Preach the reality of temptation and God's power to rescue.
- Wisdom leads to good. The positive call of v.20 reveals the flip side: we are freed for a life of following good examples. Our moral goal is not just avoidance but active imitation of the righteous.
- Wisdom ends in dwelling. The land promise (vv.21, 22) gives permanence to the path. Walking with the righteous now secures a lasting home with God.
Five-point outline
- The grammar of grace: "So that", see v.20 as the intended outcome of wisdom's work, not a performance to achieve on our own.
- Good people as God's classroom: The plural "good men" and "righteous" points to a community of examples. Who are the "good" in your congregation worth following?
- Two kinds of company: Evil men (v.12) and strange woman (v.16) versus good men and righteous. Our associations shape our path profoundly.
- Keep the paths: The verb shamar means to guard, watch, and preserve. Following the righteous requires active, intentional perseverance.
- Not just land but life: The promise in vv.21, 22 looks ahead to a restored creation. Walking the good way participates in God's coming kingdom.
Illustration hooks
- The GPS analogy: A navigation app first warns you of hazards, then guides you onto the best route. Wisdom does both, warning and directing.
- Apprenticeship: Learning a trade by watching a master. The Christian life is an apprenticeship in goodness, with the saints as mentors.
- Community gardening: A plant thrives best in good soil with other healthy plants. Choosing righteous companions nourishes spiritual growth.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How do I know who the "good men" and "righteous" are in my life? Is it about perfection or direction?
- I'm surrounded by bad influences. Can wisdom really deliver me? How does that work practically?
- What if I've already walked with the wrong crowd, is there a way back to the paths of the righteous?
Leading a Discussion
Proverbs 2:20 marks a pivot from deliverance to destination. After warning about the paths of evil men and the strange woman, the teacher now shows us the positive goal: walking in the way of good people. This verse reminds us that wisdom is not just about what we flee but also about whom we follow. In your group, explore how the grammar of "so that" changes the feel of the verse from an order to an invitation.
Discussion questions
- Read Proverbs 2:10, 22. How does v.20 fit into the flow of the passage? What does it add after the warnings about evil men and the strange woman?
- The Hebrew word l'ma'an ("so that") connects v.20 to the promises of wisdom entering the heart. Why does the order matter, wisdom first, then walking?
- Who are "good men" and "righteous" people in your life right now? How do you intentionally "walk" with them and "keep" their paths?
- Compare this verse with Proverbs 13:20 and Jeremiah 6:16. What do these passages teach about the importance of good company and ancient paths?
- The promise of dwelling in the land (vv.21, 22) gives weight to the path. How does the hope of a future home with God motivate your choices today?
- Some translations render v.20 as a command ("Therefore walk"). Others as a purpose ("So that you may walk"). Which reading changes the way you respond? Does it affect your view of God's grace vs. human effort?
- Share a time when someone else's faithful example helped you stay on the right path. How can your group become a community of "good men" for each other?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Psalms 119:63 | I am a friend of all those who fear you, of those who observe your precepts. |
| Psalms 119:115 | Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God. |
| Proverbs 13:20 | One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. |
| Song of Solomon 1:7 | Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you graze your flock, where you rest them at noon; for why should I be as one who is veiled beside the flocks of your companions? |
| Song of Solomon 1:8 | If you don’t know, most beautiful among women, follow the tracks of the sheep. Graze your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents. |
| Jeremiah 6:16 | Yahweh says, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, ‘Where is the good way?’ and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ |
| Hebrews 6:12 | that you won’t be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherited the promises. |
| III John 1:11 | Beloved, don’t imitate that which is evil, but that which is good. He who does good is of God. He who does evil hasn’t seen God. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
That thou mayest mark - Therefore thou shalt walk.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes observes that the earlier description of shame and sin is not merely a warning but is intentionally placed as a motivation. The disciple is meant to look at that negative example and be spurred toward a better, more faithful course of life.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges notes that this verse builds on the instruction given in verses ten to eleven. It shows how the advice there leads directly to the specific action described in this line.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note presents the verse as a direct moral command: actively follow the example of good and righteous people. It treats this imitation not as optional advice but as a necessary path for staying on the right course, urging deliberate choice in whose footsteps one walks.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that the Gospel not only rescues from evil people but also actively moves believers to imitate the examples of good men and to continue in the paths of faith and holiness. For him, those made righteous by Christ are directed by the Spirit to walk in these same old paths.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
Jamieson Fausset Brown notes that this description of the way of good is the specific thing that the proverb warns people about. It shows what they should aim for through these teachings.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch note that wisdom acts as a protector who keeps people from falling under human temptation so they may walk on the good path. This protection allows the upright to remain in the promised land while those who are faithless are removed from it.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that true wisdom protects a person by keeping them away from evil company and harmful practices. It also saves them from the woman who leads others to death.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that the clause introduced by "That" depends on an earlier statement in the passage and is presented as another joyful outcome of possessing wisdom.