What Does Proverbs 24:9 Mean in the King James?
The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
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 verse locates the miss in folly’s design, before any outward act appears.
THE MEANING
When folly takes shape as a plan, the miss is already present; it does not begin only when the plan is carried out. The scorner’s contempt makes the person repellent within human community.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It dissolves the belief that a foolish intention is harmless until it becomes an action.
THE ROOT
זִמַּת
zimmat
GROWS FROM
זמם
z-m-m
To devise, plot, or form a purpose.
The KJV’s “thought” is זִמַּת (zimmat, a plan or design), an intention taking shape. Joined to folly, it names a foolish design, locating the miss before the act.
ALSO GROWS
zamam: To devise, plan, or plot.
זָמַם
The verb shows that zimmat is an intention deliberately formed, not merely a passing notion.
mezimmah: Plan, purpose, or device.
מְזִמָּה
This related noun shows that the root can name a formed purpose; here, the verse marks the design by its foolishness.
חַטָּאת
ḥaṭṭāʾt
GROWS FROM
חטא
ḥ-ṭ-ʾ
To miss, or miss the mark.
“sin” in this verse is ḥaṭṭāʾt. חַטָּאת (ḥaṭṭāʾt, a miss) frames folly’s design as already off course. The root draws attention to the aim of the thought: it can miss the mark before becoming an outward deed.
ALSO GROWS
ḥāṭāʾ: To miss or miss the mark.
חָטָא
The verb makes the verse’s image of a failed aim visible inside the word rendered “sin.”
ḥēṭʾ: A miss or offense.
חֵטְא
This related noun echoes that the failure is already present in folly’s formed design.
לֵץ
lēṣ
GROWS FROM
לוץ
l-w-ṣ
To mock or scoff.
“scorner” in this verse is lēṣ. לֵץ (lēṣ, a scoffer) names a person characterized by mockery, not just a single mocking remark. The verse places that posture within human life as something repellent.
ALSO GROWS
lîṣ: To mock or scoff.
לִיץ
The verb shows the action carried by the scorner’s name.
lāṣôn: Scorn or mockery.
לָצוֹן
The related noun makes the scorner’s defining posture explicit.
THE PATTERN
A formed inner intention already bears the moral character of what it is set to produce.
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.THE THREAD
I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.Job names God’s purpose as מְזִמָּה (mezimmah, a plan or purpose), from the same root זמם (z-m-m, to devise) as זִמַּת (zimmat, a plan) here. The shared root names formed intent; Proverbs marks folly’s design as a miss, while Job speaks of purpose that cannot be thwarted.
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