Proverbs 14:16
in Proverbs 14A wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.
KJV
A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
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This verse in Proverbs 14
Commentary
6 notes on this verseThe fear of God is Deoj [in Greek]. But if fear is perturbation of mind, as some will have it that fear is perturbation of mind, yet all fear is not perturbation. Superstition is indeed perturbation of mind; being the fear of demons, that produce and are subject to the excitement of passion. On the other hand, consequently, the fear of God, who is not subject to perturbation, is free of perturbation. For it is not God, but failing away from God, that the man is terrified for.
This site's exposition
The simple man believes every word
on Proverbs 14:15-16
“The simple man believes every word,” an open door with no guard at it, while “the prudent man watches his steps” and tests the ground. “A wise man fears and turns from evil,” but “a fool is careless and reckless” in a confidence he has never earned.
This site's exposition
A wise man fears and turns from evil
The wise man's fear has a direction, and it carries him away from evil. Clement of Alexandria set the fear of God apart from anxious dread, holding that the godly man dreads falling away from God. That fear steadies a man.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
The wise man fears and departs from evil, etc. Just as it is foolish to trust in one's own eagerness and wish to leap a fast river or a wider abyss, but wise to turn to a plain or bridge, so he who avoids sins …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A wise man feareth - He can never trust in himself, though he be satisfied from himself. He knows that his suffiency is of God; and he has that fear that causes him to depart from evil, which is a guardian to the love he feels. Love renders him cautious; the other makes him confident. His caution leads him from sin; his confidence leads him to God.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
A fool believes their words and is enticed after them. Another explanation: with laughter the heart aches It is sport for a fool to carry out a sinful plot (above:23), and ultimately, his heart will ache.
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. 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| חָכָ֣ם | chakham | a wise [person] | H2450 → | 138 times |
| יָ֭רֵא | yare' | [is] fearing | H3373 → | 64 times |
| וְסָ֣ר | vesar | and [is] turning aside | H5493 → | 299 times |
| מֵרָ֑ע | mera' | from evil | H7451 → | 662 times |
| וּ֝כְסִ֗יל | ukhesil | and a fool | H3684 → | 70 times |
| מִתְעַבֵּ֥ר | mitaber | [is] arrogant | H5674 → | 556 times |
| וּבוֹטֵֽחַ׃ | uvoteach | and [is] confident | H982 → | 120 times |
חָכָ֣םa wise [person]
chakhamH2450 →138 times
יָ֭רֵא[is] fearing
yare'H3373 →64 times
וְסָ֣רand [is] turning aside
vesarH5493 →299 times
מֵרָ֑עfrom evil
mera'H7451 →662 times
וּ֝כְסִ֗ילand a fool
ukhesilH3684 →70 times
מִתְעַבֵּ֥ר[is] arrogant
mitaberH5674 →556 times
וּבוֹטֵֽחַ׃and [is] confident
uvoteachH982 →120 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 3:7Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
it leads to
- Job 28:28
And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
- Romans 12:16
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited.
- Proverbs 26:12
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
- Proverbs 16:6
By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.
- Job 1:1
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And this man was blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil.
- Job 28:28
Through
Proverbs 22:3The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.
it leads to
- Proverbs 27:12
The prudent see danger and take cover; but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
- Proverbs 27:12
Through
1 Thessalonians 5:22Abstain from every form of evil.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 6:3
We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry.
- Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.
- 2 Corinthians 6:3
Where this verse is studied
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata Book 2 and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).