What Does Proverbs 13:15 Mean in the King James?
Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.
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
In Hebrew, the “transgressors” are betrayers: their broken trust becomes a hard road to keep walking.
THE MEANING
Good understanding opens favor because it sees how to meet the moment with discernment. The opposing path is formed by betrayal: when trust is broken as a way of moving through life, the way itself is hard underfoot. The verse describes two lived routes, one that makes room in relationship and one that closes it.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that “transgressors” are simply rulebreakers: the word names betrayers, whose conduct hardens into a road.
THE ROOT
בֹּגְדִים
bōgədîm
GROWS FROM
בגד
b-g-d
To deal treacherously, act faithlessly, or betray.
“Transgressors” can sound like people who merely cross a rule. This word names betrayers, tying the hard way to broken trust that becomes a whole course of conduct.
ALSO GROWS
bāgad: To deal treacherously; to betray.
בָּגַד
The verb names the breach of trust carried by the people described in the verse.
bōgēd: A betrayer; one who deals treacherously.
בּוֹגֵד
The plural in the verse describes people marked by betrayal, sharpening the contrast with good understanding.
שֵׂכֶל
sekel
GROWS FROM
שׂכל
ś-k-l
To act with insight or prudence; as a noun, understanding and discernment.
English can make understanding sound like information stored in the mind. This word shares its root with acting wisely and prospering, so the verse points to discernment that works in the way a person meets life.
ALSO GROWS
hiśkîl: To act wisely, show insight, or prosper.
הִשְׂכִּיל
The verb shows that understanding is active discernment, not knowledge held apart from action.
maśkîl: Insightful or skillful; also a term for an instructive psalm.
מַשְׂכִּיל
The word can describe a person or a teaching, showing how insight can be embodied and shared.
חֵן
ḥēn
GROWS FROM
חנן
ḥ-n-n
To show favor or be gracious.
“favour” in this verse is ḥēn. This word for favor belongs to the same family as the Hebrew word for “gracious.” Favor here is relational: good understanding opens a space for a gracious response, rather than naming a badge someone earns.
ALSO GROWS
ḥānan: To show favor; to be gracious.
חָנַן
This verb gives the root’s action: favor is shown in a relationship.
ḥannûn: Gracious; showing favor.
חַנּוּן
This form appears in the description of the LORD in Exodus 34:6, linking the verse’s favor to the language of graciousness.
THE PATTERN
Discernment and integrity open a way toward favor, while betrayal hardens into a path of hardship and ruin.
So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.THE THREAD
And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,The “favour” in Proverbs (חֵן, ḥēn, favor) and “gracious” here (חַנּוּן, ḥannûn, gracious) share the root חנן (ḥ-n-n), “to show favor or be gracious.” That shared word-family lets favor read as a gracious response, not merely social approval.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us