Proverbs 20:30 Meaning and Explanation
“The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Physical punishment through wounds and stripes can purify a person from inner wickedness.
The Context of Proverbs 20:30
Proverbs contemplates physical punishment as a tool for moral correction.
What Does Proverbs 20:30 Mean?
Bruises and wounds inflicted as punishment physically manifest the consequence of wrongdoing. The blueness (bruising) that results from such punishment is described as cleansing away evil. The proverb suggests that physical suffering can serve as correction—it removes or destroys the evil impulse or behavior that led to the punishment.
Stripes (lashings) work similarly on the inward parts—the deeply hidden places where evil impulses dwell. Severe correction reaches into those hidden places and purifies them. The proverb treats corporal punishment as potentially medicinal, capable of eradicating wickedness from the inner person. It reflects an ancient view that physical consequence can reform character.
Proverbs 20:30 in the Original Language
'Blueness' (צִבְעוֹנִים, tzibeonim) — bruises or marks from blows; literally, 'blue marks.'
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 20:30
What does Proverbs 20:30 mean?
Physical punishment through wounds and stripes can purify a person from inner wickedness.
What is the context of Proverbs 20:30?
Proverbs contemplates physical punishment as a tool for moral correction.