Proverbs 16:21
in Proverbs 16The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
The wise in heart shall be called prudent; And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
KJV
The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
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This verse in Proverbs 16
Commentary
5 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
Whoever heeds instruction will find success
on Proverbs 16:20-21
“Whoever heeds instruction will find success, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD,” naming the two as if the second explains the first. “The wise in heart are called discerning,” and “pleasant speech promotes instruction,” since a pleasant teacher keeps students a harsh one would lose.
This site's exposition
The wise in heart are called discerning
The wise in heart earn the name discerning from those who watch them. A pleasant teacher keeps students a harsh one would lose, and Henry reads verses 20 and 21 as wisdom in manner as well as knowledge. Pleasant speech promotes instruction.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
The wise in heart shall be called prudent,....
Quaint expressions please the ear, and humour the fancy, but it is learning in the lips that must convince the judgment, and sway that, to which wisdom in the heart is necessary. 24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The words point to the conditions of all true growth in wisdom; and he who has the gift of uttering it in winning speech increases it in himself and others.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לַחֲכַם־ | lachakham- | to [the] wise of | H2450 → | 138 times |
| לֵ֭ב | lev | heart | H3820 → | 595 times |
| יִקָּרֵ֣א | yikare' | it is called | H7121 → | 733 times |
| נָב֑וֹן | navon | discerning | H995 → | 170 times |
| וּמֶ֥תֶק | umetek | and sweetness of | H4986 → | |
| שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם | sefatayim | lips | H8193 → | 176 times |
| יֹסִ֥יף | yosif | it increases | H3254 → | 212 times |
| לֶֽקַח׃ | lekach | teaching | H3948 → | 9 times |
לַחֲכַם־to [the] wise of
lachakham-H2450 →138 times
לֵ֭בheart
levH3820 →595 times
יִקָּרֵ֣אit is called
yikare'H7121 →733 times
נָב֑וֹןdiscerning
navonH995 →170 times
וּמֶ֥תֶקand sweetness of
umetekH4986 →
שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִםlips
sefatayimH8193 →176 times
יֹסִ֥יףit increases
yosifH3254 →212 times
לֶֽקַח׃teaching
lekachH3948 →9 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
James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
it leads to
- Galatians 5:22–23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- Proverbs 2:6
For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
- 1 Corinthians 13:4–7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
- James 3:15
Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
- Romans 12:9
Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.
- Galatians 5:22–23
Through
Isaiah 50:4The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of discipleship, to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
it leads to
- Luke 21:15
For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
- Jeremiah 1:9
Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
- Proverbs 25:11
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
- Luke 21:15
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies11
About Proverbs
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.