Proverbs 20:27

NETBible

The human spirit 1  is like 2  the lamp 3  of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts. 4 

NIV ©

The lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being.

NASB ©

The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the innermost parts of his being.

NLT ©

The LORD’s searchlight penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.

MSG ©

GOD is in charge of human life, watching and examining us inside and out.

BBE ©

The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.

NRSV ©

The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD, searching every innermost part.

NKJV ©

The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart.

KJV
The spirit
<05397>
of man
<0120>
[is] the candle
<05216>
of the LORD
<03068>_,
searching
<02664> (8802)
all the inward parts
<02315>
of the belly
<0990>_.
{candle: or, lamp}
NASB ©
The spirit
<5397>
of man
<120>
is the lamp
<5216>
of the LORD
<3068>
, Searching
<2664>
all
<3605>
the innermost
<2315>
parts
<2315>
of his being
<990>
.
LXXM
fwv
<5457> 
N-NSN
kuriou
<2962> 
N-GSM
pnoh
<4157> 
N-NSF
anyrwpwn
<444> 
N-GPM
ov
<3739> 
R-NSM
ereuna
<2045> 
V-PAI-3S
tamieia {N-APN} koiliav
<2836> 
N-GSF
NET [draft] ITL
The human
<0120>
spirit
<05397>
is like the lamp
<05216>
of the Lord
<03068>
, searching
<02664>
all
<03605>
his innermost parts
<02315>
.
HEBREW
Njb
<0990>
yrdx
<02315>
lk
<03605>
vpx
<02664>
Mda
<0120>
tmsn
<05397>
hwhy
<03068>
rn (20:27)
<05216>
NETBible

The human spirit 1  is like 2  the lamp 3  of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts. 4 

NET Notes

1 sn The expression translated “the human spirit” is the Hebrew term נִשְׁמַת (nishmat), a feminine noun in construct. This is the inner spiritual part of human life that was breathed in at creation (Gen 2:7) and that constitutes humans as spiritual beings with moral, intellectual, and spiritual capacities.

2 tn The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor; it is supplied for the sake of clarity.

3 tn The “lamp” is the metaphor in the line; it signifies that the human spirit functions as a conscience, enabling people to know and please God, and directing them in choices that will be life-giving. E. Loewenstamm unnecessarily reads נִיר (nir, “to plow”) instead of נֵר (ner, “lamp”) to say that God plows and examines the soul (“Remarks on Proverbs 17:12 and 20:27,” VT 37 [1967]: 233). The NIV supplies a verb (“searches”) from the second half of the verse, changing the emphasis somewhat.

4 tn Heb “all the chambers of the belly.” This means “the inner parts of the body” (BDB 293 s.v. חֶדֶר); cf. NASB “the innermost parts of his being.”