Proverbs 12:23
in Proverbs 12A shrewd man keeps his knowledge to himself, but a foolish heart proclaims its folly.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
A prudent man concealeth knowledge; But the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
KJV
A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
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This verse in Proverbs 12
Commentary
6 notes on this verseA shrewd man conceals knowledge. Shrewd in this place is understood in a good sense, that is, wise and prudent, who sometimes conceals his knowledge out of prudence: for two reasons, either not being able to speak to weak listeners as to spiritual ones, but …
This site's exposition
A shrewd man keeps his knowledge to himself
on Proverbs 12:23-25
“A shrewd man keeps his knowledge to himself,” while “a foolish heart proclaims its folly” for lack of the same restraint. “The hand of the diligent will rule,” but “laziness ends in forced labor”. “Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man,” and a good word cheers it again.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
And the heart of fools proclaims foolishness. When they either desire to know more than they should, and leap to thinking that foolishness is wisdom; or certainly when trying to teach others who cannot yet understand, they provoke them to greater foolishness, and like forcing …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
A prudent man concealeth knowledge,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A prudent man concealeth knowledge - “If a fool hold his peace he may pass for a wise man.” I have known men of some learning, so intent on immediately informing a company how well cultivated their minds were, that they have passed either for insignificant pedants or stupid asses.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Another aspect of the truth of Pro 10:14.
The words behind it
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אָדָ֣ם | ʾadam | a person | H120 → | 551 times |
| עָ֭רוּם | ʾarum | sensible | H6175 → | 11 times |
| כֹּ֣סֶה | koseh | [is] concealing | H3680 → | 152 times |
| דָּ֑עַת | daat | knowledge | H1847 → | 92 times |
| וְלֵ֥ב | velev | and [the] heart of | H3820 → | 595 times |
| כְּ֝סִילִ֗ים | kesilim | fools | H3684 → | 70 times |
| יִקְרָ֥א | yikra' | it proclaims | H7121 → | 733 times |
| אִוֶּֽלֶת׃ | ʾivelet | foolishness | H200 → | 25 times |
אָדָ֣םa person
ʾadamH120 →551 times
עָ֭רוּםsensible
ʾarumH6175 →11 times
כֹּ֣סֶה[is] concealing
kosehH3680 →152 times
דָּ֑עַתknowledge
daatH1847 →92 times
וְלֵ֥בand [the] heart of
velevH3820 →595 times
כְּ֝סִילִ֗יםfools
kesilimH3684 →70 times
יִקְרָ֥אit proclaims
yikra'H7121 →733 times
אִוֶּֽלֶת׃foolishness
ʾiveletH200 →25 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
Proverbs 10:19When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
it leads to
- James 1:19
My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
- James 3:2
We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.
- Proverbs 17:27–28
A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
- Ecclesiastes 10:13–14
The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
- Ecclesiastes 5:3
As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words.
- James 1:19
Through
Proverbs 11:13A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
it leads to
- Proverbs 20:19
He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
- Proverbs 25:9
Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence,
- Leviticus 19:16
You must not go about spreading slander among your people. You must not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am the LORD.
- Proverbs 20:19
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.