Proverbs 20:26
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
Original Language Analysis
מְזָרֶ֣ה
scattereth
H2219
מְזָרֶ֣ה
scattereth
Strong's:
H2219
Word #:
1 of 7
to toss about; by implication, to diffuse, winnow
רְ֭שָׁעִים
the wicked
H7563
רְ֭שָׁעִים
the wicked
Strong's:
H7563
Word #:
2 of 7
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
וַיָּ֖שֶׁב
and bringeth
H7725
וַיָּ֖שֶׁב
and bringeth
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
5 of 7
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern kings held absolute judicial power. Israel's kings were supposed to govern according to God's law, executing justice impartially and protecting the vulnerable from oppression.
Questions for Reflection
- Do you exercise appropriate authority to confront evil in your sphere of influence?
- How should Christians view civil government's role in punishing wickedness?
Analysis & Commentary
A wise king exercises judicial discernment to identify and punish evildoers ('scattereth the wicked') and executes judgment decisively ('bringeth the wheel over them'). The wheel imagery likely refers to threshing—separating grain from chaff, a common biblical metaphor for judgment. The righteous ruler doesn't tolerate wickedness but actively roots it out to protect the innocent and maintain justice. This reflects God's own governance: He separates sheep from goats, wheat from tares. While the church must not wield the sword, civil magistrates are ordained by God to punish evil and praise good (Romans 13:1-7). Wisdom in leadership requires both discernment to identify evil and courage to confront it.