What Does Proverbs 16:23 Mean in the King James?
The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
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
Even the wise person’s mouth is a student: understanding within keeps teaching speech and adding instruction to the lips.
THE MEANING
Your inner understanding trains the words you speak and keeps adding substance to what your lips carry. Wisdom in you is not finished; it continues to shape speech into instruction.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse undoes the belief that wisdom is complete before speech begins: the lips themselves keep gaining instruction.
THE ROOT
יַשְׂכִּיל
yaskil
GROWS FROM
שׂכל
ś-k-l
To understand, be prudent, or act with insight; in this verb form, to give insight or make wise.
“teacheth” in this verse is yaskil. The verb reaches beyond speaking wisdom: the wise heart makes its mouth discerning. The mouth appears as a learner formed by the heart, so speech bears the trace of what has been understood.
ALSO GROWS
śēḵel: Understanding; insight.
שֵׂכֶל
This noun names the discernment the heart brings to the mouth.
maśkîl: One who understands or acts wisely.
מַשְׂכִּיל
The same root describes a person shaped by insight, linking wise speech to an inner way of seeing.
לֶקַח
leqaḥ
GROWS FROM
לקח
l-q-ḥ
To take, receive, or grasp.
The word for instruction is linked to the root meaning to take or receive. What reaches the lips is pictured as something taken in and held, so learning can keep accumulating in speech.
ALSO GROWS
lāqaḥ: To take; to receive.
לָקַח
This verb gives the root’s basic image of taking in, which deepens the sense of learning as received instruction.
lāqaḥat: To take; to receive (infinitive form).
לָקַחַת
This form preserves the same action of receiving, illuminating how instruction can continue to enter and shape what is said.
THE PATTERN
What fills and forms the heart trains the mouth, making speech an outward expression of inward understanding.
The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.THE THREAD
The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.The same Hebrew word לֶקַח (leqaḥ, instruction or learning) appears in both verses. This line adds that sweetness of the lips increases that instruction, showing how heart-taught speech grows in both substance and tenderness.
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