Proverbs 16:23
in Proverbs 16The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth, And addeth learning to his lips.
KJV
The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
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This verse in Proverbs 16
Commentary
7 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
Understanding is a fountain of life
on Proverbs 16:22-24
“Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.” “The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth,” training his speech, “and adds persuasiveness to his lips”. “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
This site's exposition
instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness
The speech of the wise man is trained from within before a word is spoken. His lips gain persuasiveness over time. Verse 24 then names what that training yields, pleasant words that heal the bones.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church2 voices
The fountain of life is the instruction of the possessor, etc. When he said, of the possessor, he did not add, what the possessor holds. What then do we think was meant to be understood, except perhaps the very instruction itself? so that the full …
He who is wise in heart, etc. He who keeps the wisdom of the Catholic faith, which he learned, unblemished in his heart, deservedly receives the name of prudent; but he who knows also to preach the same wisdom learnedly and to defend it against …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth,....
Grace is the glory of old age. 32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. This recommends the grace of meekness to us, which will well become us all, particularly the hoary head,
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth - He has a wise heart; he speaks as it dictates; and therefore his speeches are all speeches of wisdom.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לֵ֣ב | lev | [the] heart of | H3820 → | 595 times |
| חָ֭כָם | chakhom | a wise [person] | H2450 → | 138 times |
| יַשְׂכִּ֣יל | yaskil | it gives insight to | H7919 → | 62 times |
| פִּ֑יהוּ | pihu | mouth his | H6310 → | 498 times |
| וְעַל־ | veals- | and to | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו | sefatav | lips his | H8193 → | 176 times |
| יֹסִ֥יף | yosif | it adds | H3254 → | 212 times |
| לֶֽקַח׃ | lekach | teaching | H3948 → | 9 times |
לֵ֣ב[the] heart of
levH3820 →595 times
חָ֭כָםa wise [person]
chakhomH2450 →138 times
יַשְׂכִּ֣ילit gives insight to
yaskilH7919 →62 times
פִּ֑יהוּmouth his
pihuH6310 →498 times
וְעַל־and to
veals-H5921 →5755 times
שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יוlips his
sefatavH8193 →176 times
יֹסִ֥יףit adds
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
Colossians 3:16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to…
it leads to
- Psalms 119:11
I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.
- Ephesians 5:19
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,
- John 15:7
If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
- Romans 10:17
Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
- Jeremiah 15:16
Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became my joy and my heart’s delight. For I bear Your name, O LORD God of Hosts.
- Psalms 119:11
Through
Psalms 45:1My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses to the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
it leads to
- Psalms 49:3
My mouth will impart wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding.
- 2 Samuel 23:2
The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; His word was on my tongue.
- Job 33:3
My words are from an upright heart, and my lips speak sincerely what I know.
- Psalms 49:3
Where this verse is studied
On this page
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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; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.