How many times is proverb mentioned in the Bible?
The word proverb appears 20 times in the King James Version, in 19 verses. Counting every form (proverb, proverbs), it appears 29 times in 26 verses across 15 of the 66 books. The World English Bible uses proverb 17 times (25 with every form).
Proverb in the King James Version and the World English Bible
Each form of proverb counted in each translation.
| Form | KJV | WEB |
|---|---|---|
| proverb | 20 | 17 |
| proverbs | 9 | 8 |
| Total | 29 | 25 |
Which books mention proverb most
Proverb appears in 15 books of the 66 in the King James Version. Ezekiel has the most (8), then Proverbs (4) and John (3).
First and last mention of proverb
Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared:
But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
The verse that uses it most is Ezekiel 12:23, 2 times (tied with Ezekiel 16:44, John 16:25):
Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.
Where the two translations differ
5 verses match in the KJV but not in the World English Bible, and 2 verses match only in the World English Bible, usually because the other translation chose a different word there.
Psalm 69:11: counted in the KJV only
I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.
When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.
Isaiah 14:4: counted in the KJV only
That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!
that you will take up this parable against the king of Babylon, and say, “How the oppressor has ceased! The golden city has ceased!”
Job 13:12: counted in the World English Bible only
Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay.
Psalm 49:4: counted in the World English Bible only
I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my riddle on the harp.
Verses with proverb on our topic pages
1 verse that uses proverb in the World English Bible is in our topic collections.
The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father; but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
On: Family
Common questions
How many times is proverb in the Old Testament and the New Testament?
In the King James Version, counting every form, 24 of the 29 uses are in the Old Testament and 5 in the New Testament. Proverb appears in 15 books of the 66 in the King James Version. Ezekiel has the most (8), then Proverbs (4) and John (3).
Where is proverb first mentioned in the Bible?
The first use in the King James Version is Numbers 21:27: "Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared:" The last is 2 Peter 2:22.
More word counts: love, God, Jesus, Christ, Lord, Holy Spirit, faith, hope, or all 484 words.
Counted by Bible Says About from the full public-domain text of the King James Version (1769 edition) and the World English Bible. Verse text only: headings and psalm titles are left out. A word is a run of letters: a hyphenated name like Beer-sheba counts as two, and an apostrophe stays inside its word (LORD'S is one). Matching ignores capital letters. Data compiled 2026-10-22.