Proverbs 13:15
in Proverbs 13Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the faithless is difficult.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Good understanding giveth favor; But the way of the transgressor is hard.
KJV
Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.
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This verse in Proverbs 13
Commentary
6 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Hard - The primary meaning of the original word is permanence (compare Deu 21:4; Mic 6:2). This may be applied as here to the hard dry rock, to running streams, or to stagnant pools. In either case, the idea is that of the barren dry soil, or the impassable marsh, in contrast with the fountain of life, carrying joy and refreshment with it.
This site's exposition
He who despises instruction will pay the penalty
on Proverbs 13:13-15
“He who despises instruction will pay the penalty,” but “the one who respects a command will be rewarded”. “Good understanding wins favor,” but “the way of the faithless is difficult,” and difficult describes the path itself, with no outside punishment added to it.
This site's exposition
the way of the faithless is difficult
Albert Barnes says the word behind difficult first means permanent, used of hard dry rock and of stagnant pools. The way of the faithless is barren ground or impassable marsh, set against the fountain of life in verse 14. Good understanding wins favor.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Good understanding giveth favour,.... A good understanding in things natural and civil gives favour among men; and so a good understanding in divine and spiritual things gives a man favour among religious people, makes him taken notice of by them, and acceptable to them: and such an understanding no man has, unless it be given him; and such appear to have one that do the commandments of God, Psa 111:
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
The way of transgressors is hard - Never was a truer saying; most sinners have more pain and difficulty to get their souls damned, than the righteous have, with all their cross-bearings, to get to the kingdom of heaven.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Right perception and action secure good will, while evil ways are difficult as a stony road. The wicked left of God find punishment of sin in sinning. hard--or, "harsh" (compare Hebrew: De 21:4;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
The instruction of a wise man is a spring of life for he teaches him to turn away from the snares of death.
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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| שֵֽׂכֶל־ | sekhel- | insight | H7922 → | 16 times |
| ט֭וֹב | tov | good | H2896 → | 538 times |
| יִתֶּן־ | yiten- | it gives | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| חֵ֑ן | chen | favor | H2580 → | 69 times |
| וְדֶ֖רֶךְ | vederekh | and [the] way of | H1870 → | 707 times |
| בֹּגְדִ֣ים | bogedim | treacherous [people] | H898 → | 49 times |
| אֵיתָֽן׃ | ʾeitan | [is] enduring | H386 → |
שֵֽׂכֶל־insight
sekhel-H7922 →16 times
ט֭וֹבgood
tovH2896 →538 times
יִתֶּן־it gives
yiten-H5414 →2011 times
חֵ֑ןfavor
chenH2580 →69 times
וְדֶ֖רֶךְand [the] way of
vederekhH1870 →707 times
בֹּגְדִ֣יםtreacherous [people]
bogedimH898 →49 times
אֵיתָֽן׃[is] enduring
ʾeitanH386 →
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 15:10Discipline is harsh for him who leaves the path; he who hates correction will die.
it leads to
- Proverbs 12:1
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
- Proverbs 13:1
A wise son heeds his father’s discipline, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.
- Proverbs 12:1
Through
Proverbs 4:19But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.
it leads to
- John 12:35
Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the…
- Isaiah 59:9–10
Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We hope for light, but there is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in gloom.
- John 12:35
Through
Romans 6:21What fruit did you reap at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death.
it leads to
- Romans 1:32
Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them.
- Romans 7:5
For when we lived according to the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, bearing fruit for death.
- Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Romans 1:32
Through
Jeremiah 2:19Your own evil will discipline you; your own apostasies will reprimand you. Consider and realize how evil and bitter it is for you to forsake the LORD your God and to have no fear…
it leads to
- Isaiah 3:9
The expression on their faces testifies against them, and like Sodom they flaunt their sin; they do not conceal it. Woe to them, for they have brought disaster upon themselves.
- Isaiah 3:9
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); Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).