What Does Proverbs 23:9 Mean in the King James?
Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
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
The barrier to wisdom here is contempt that can hear the words and still count their insight as worthless.
THE MEANING
This verse names a present reality: a person can hear words while already holding their insight in contempt. The words are not emptied of wisdom; they have met a receiver who discounts what they hear.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that perfect wording can force someone to receive insight they have already decided to despise.
THE ROOT
שֵׂכֶל
sekel
GROWS FROM
שכל
To understand, perceive with insight, and act with prudence.
The word rendered “wisdom” here is sekel: practical insight, not merely information. The fool despises the capacity to recognize and use what is wise, even when that insight is present in the words.
ALSO GROWS
hiskil: To understand, act wisely, or prosper.
הִשְׂכִּיל
This verb shows sekel as insight expressed in how a person acts.
maskil: One who understands or acts with insight; also a term used for an instructive psalm.
מַשְׂכִּיל
This branch connects understanding with the ability to receive or convey instruction.
תְּדַבֵּר
tedabber
GROWS FROM
דבר
To speak or declare; the same root also gives the noun for a word or matter.
“speak” in this verse is tedabber. Hebrew holds speaking and the spoken matter within one root: speech carries something to be considered. Yet words can reach the ears without their insight being received.
ALSO GROWS
davar: A word, matter, or thing.
דָּבָר
The shared root links the act of speaking with what is spoken.
medabber: One who is speaking.
מְדַבֵּר
This form makes the speaker explicit while the verse shows that speaking does not guarantee reception.
THE PATTERN
Words can enter the ear without being received as wisdom when the hearer refuses their insight.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.THE THREAD
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.The verb translated “despise” in both verses comes from the same Hebrew root, בוז (buz), meaning to hold in contempt. Proverbs 1:7 makes clear that the barrier is contempt for wisdom and instruction themselves.
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