Proverbs 26:12
in Proverbs 26Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
KJV
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
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This verse in Proverbs 26
Commentary
7 notes on this verseThere is an evil which I have seen under the sun, a person wise in his own conceit; and a still greater evil is to charge with the instruction of others a person who is not even aware of his own ignorance.
This site's exposition
As a dog returns to its vomit
on Proverbs 26:11-12
The dog returning to its vomit is quoted at 2 Peter 2:22 as a true proverb and applied there to those who turned back. After eleven verses on the fool, the self-satisfied man ranks below him, for "There is more hope for a fool than for him."
This site's exposition
Do you see a man who is wise
Verse 12 ranks a man who thinks himself wise below the fool of verses 1 to 11. There is more hope for the fool. Gregory of Nazianzus calls self-conceit an evil under the sun, and a greater evil still is to set such a man to teach others.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
This is not a small fault either to consider oneself wise and to refer everything back to one's own judgment.… Paul addresses this same reproach to the pagan philosophers: "Professing to be wise, they become fools." This is the reason for their folly. The author of the Proverbs said on his part, "Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him." Again, it is Paul who gives this advice: "Do not be wise in your own opinion."
The Medieval Church1 voice
Have you seen a man who thinks he is wise in his own eyes, etc. The Lord explaining this, says: For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind (John IX).
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit,.... Or "in his own eyes" (b); as multitudes may be seen, by looking round; man is a creature but of small knowledge in things natural, civil, mechanical, philosophical, moral, or divine; yet greatly conceited for the most part of his knowledge and wisdom.
He that sins in just must repent in earnest, or his sin will be his ruin. Truth is too valuable a thing to be sold for a jest, and so is the reputation of our neighbour.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| רָאִ֗יתָ | raita | you see | H7200 → | 1300 times |
| אִ֭ישׁ | ʾish | a person | H376 → | 1663 times |
| חָכָ֣ם | chakham | wise | H2450 → | 138 times |
| בְּעֵינָ֑יו | beeinav | in own eyes his | H5869 → | 887 times |
| תִּקְוָ֖ה | tikvah | hope | H8615 → | 34 times |
| לִכְסִ֣יל | likhsil | [belongs] to a fool | H3684 → | 70 times |
| מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ | mimenu | more than him | H4480 → | 1188 times |
רָאִ֗יתָyou see
raitaH7200 →1300 times
אִ֭ישׁa person
ʾishH376 →1663 times
חָכָ֣םwise
chakhamH2450 →138 times
בְּעֵינָ֑יוin own eyes his
beeinavH5869 →887 times
תִּקְוָ֖הhope
tikvahH8615 →34 times
לִכְסִ֣יל[belongs] to a fool
likhsilH3684 →70 times
מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃more than him
mimenuH4480 →1188 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 12:16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited.
it leads to
- Proverbs 3:7
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.
- James 3:13–17
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
- Philippians 2:2–3
then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose.
- Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”
- Proverbs 3:7
Through
Proverbs 29:20Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
it leads to
- James 1:19
My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
- Proverbs 14:29
A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
- Ecclesiastes 5:2
Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God. After all, God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your…
- James 1:19
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Proverbs
This page draws on Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; Gregory of Nazianzus, IN DEFENSE OF HIS FLIGHT, ORATION 2:50; John Chrysostom, COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 5:21; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.