Proverbs 13:1
in Proverbs 13A wise son heeds his father’s discipline, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
A wise son heareth his father’s instruction; But a scoffer heareth not rebuke.
KJV
A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
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This verse in Proverbs 13
Commentary
5 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Heareth - The verb of the second clause is inserted in the first, just as in the next verse that of the first is inserted in the second. Stress is laid upon the obstinacy of the scorner who refuses to hear, not only “instruction,” but also the much stronger “rebuke.”
This site's exposition
A wise son heeds his father’s discipline
on Proverbs 13:1-3
“A wise son heeds his father’s discipline,” but “a mocker does not listen to rebuke,” and the chapter returns to the discipline theme. “From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things,” and the same organ that feeds a man can destroy him.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
"A wise son is the instruction of a father," etc. There is such a great difference between the wise and the foolish man, that the latter, at some point, arrives to teach even the one who had taught him with the advantage of learning, while …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
A wise son heareth his father's instruction,.... As he should, and has good reason to do; since it must be cordial, faithful, and disinterested, as well as the effect of age and experience.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A wise son heareth his father’s instruction - The child that has had a proper nurturing, will profit by his father’s counsels; but the child that is permitted to fulfill its own will and have its own way, will jest at the reproofs of its parents.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
A wise son.. his father’s discipline This is an elliptical verse: a wise son asks for and loves his father’s discipline. Some say: Because of the father’s discipline, he is wise.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| בֵּ֣ן | ben | a son | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| חָ֭כָם | chakhom | wise | H2450 → | 138 times |
| מ֣וּסַר | musar | [the] discipline of | H4148 → | 50 times |
| אָ֑ב | ʾav | a father | H1 → | 1212 times |
| וְ֝לֵ֗ץ | veletz | and a mocker | H3887 → | 28 times |
| לֹא־ | lo'- | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| שָׁמַ֥ע | shama' | he listens to | H8085 → | 1159 times |
| גְּעָרָֽה׃ | gearah | a rebuke | H1606 → | 15 times |
בֵּ֣ןa son
benH1121 →4930 times
חָ֭כָםwise
chakhomH2450 →138 times
מ֣וּסַר[the] discipline of
musarH4148 →50 times
אָ֑בa father
ʾavH1 →1212 times
וְ֝לֵ֗ץand a mocker
veletzH3887 →28 times
לֹא־not
lo'-H3808 →5168 times
שָׁמַ֥עhe listens to
shama'H8085 →1159 times
גְּעָרָֽה׃a rebuke
gearahH1606 →15 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 10:1The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.
it leads to
- Proverbs 29:3
A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 23:15–16
My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 1:1
These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,
- Proverbs 29:15
A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.
- Proverbs 17:25
A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
- Proverbs 29:3
Through
Proverbs 15:5A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction is prudent.
it leads to
- Proverbs 15:31–32
He who listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.
- Proverbs 13:18
Poverty and shame come to him who ignores discipline, but whoever heeds correction is honored.
- Proverbs 19:20
Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.
- Proverbs 15:31–32
Where this verse is studied
On this page
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; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.