What Does Proverbs 10:13 Mean in the King James?
In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Hebrew contrasts discernment with “lacking heart,” placing wisdom in speech and the rod on the back.
THE MEANING
Wisdom is found on the lips of one who discerns; understanding has a voice. The opposite is phrased as lacking heart, with the rod placed on the back. The verse holds spoken wisdom and bodily correction in the same frame.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the idea that understanding is only information in the mind: Hebrew names discernment on one side and a person “lacking heart” on the other.
THE ROOT
נָבוֹן
nāḇôn
GROWS FROM
בין
b-y-n
To discern, distinguish, or perceive between things.
The KJV uses “understanding” on both sides, but the Hebrew describes the first person as discerning and the other as “lacking heart.” Wisdom appears in the discerning person’s speech, while its opposite is named as an absence of the inner person.
ALSO GROWS
binah: Discernment, understanding.
בִּינָה
It shares the root’s sense of distinguishing, showing the kind of understanding associated with wisdom on the lips.
bein: Between, among.
בֵּין
This related form makes the root’s sense of perceiving distinctions audible: discernment sees between things.
חֲסַר־לֵב
ḥăsar-lēḇ
GROWS FROM
חסר
ḥ-s-r
To lack, be without, or be deficient.
“void of understanding” in this verse is ḥăsar-lēḇ. The phrase literally says “lacking heart,” not simply missing information. Set beside the rod for the back, this lack is given a physical consequence.
ALSO GROWS
ḥāsēr: Lacking, deficient.
חָסֵר
It is the form used in the verse to describe what is absent.
maḥsôr: Lack, want, need.
מַחְסוֹר
This noun from the same root reinforces the verse’s image of an absence at the center of a person.
THE PATTERN
Wisdom becomes visible in speech and conduct, while its absence becomes visible through its consequences.
The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.THE THREAD
Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.Both verses use נָבוֹן (nāḇôn), describing the person with discernment. Proverbs 10:13 places wisdom on that person’s lips; here it rests in the heart, echoing the first verse’s stark phrase “lacking heart.”
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