Key Verse Spotlight
Proverbs 20:12 - Meaning and Application
Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing and how to apply it today
Translation: World English Bible — Catholic Edition
" The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them. "
Proverbs 20:12
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
10 Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
13 Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
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Note, first, that God is the God of nature. All the powers and abilities of nature come from him and depend on him, so they should be used for him. He formed the eye and made the ear (Psalm 94:9), and the way both are made is wonderful. He also preserves our ability to use them. We owe it to his care that our eyes can see and our ears can hear.
Hearing and seeing are the senses by which we learn, so we should especially thank God for them. Second, God is the God of grace. He gives the ear that hears God’s voice and the eye that sees his beauty, because he is the one who opens the understanding.
From This Chapter
Proverbs 20:1
"Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise."
Proverbs 20:2
"The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life."
Proverbs 20:3
"It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling."
Proverbs 20:4
"The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing."
Proverbs 20:5
"Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out."
Proverbs 20:6
"Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?"
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