Proverbs 20:2 - Exposition

The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion (see Proverbs 19:12 ). The terror which a king causes when his anger is rising is like the roar of a lion, which betokens danger. Septuagint, "The threat of a king differeth not from the wrath of a lion." Whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul; imperils his life, which he has no right wilfully to jeopard. ,Septuagint, "He who enrageth him ( ὁ παροξύνων αὐτόν )." The Complutensian and some Greek versions introduce the words, καὶ ἐπιμιγνύμενος , "and has intercourse with him;" i.e. he who having aroused a king's resentment does not avoid his presence, exposes himself to certain death.