Proverbs 18:2
in Proverbs 18A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
A fool hath no delight in understanding, But only that his heart may reveal itself.
KJV
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
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This verse in Proverbs 18
Commentary
4 notes on this verseBut that his heart may discover itself - It is a fact that most vain and foolish people are never satisfied in company, but in showing their own nonsense and emptiness. But this verse may be understood as confirming the view already given of the preceding, and may be translated thus: “But a fool doth not delight in understanding, though it should even manifest itself:” so I understand כי אם בהתגלות ki im behithgalloth.
This site's exposition
A fool does not delight in understanding
on Proverbs 18:2-5
A fool does not delight in understanding but "only in airing his opinions," and where the wicked man comes, contempt and disgrace come with him. Showing partiality to the wicked and depriving the innocent of justice name the corruption the chapter keeps circling back to.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
A fool hath no delight in understanding,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Another form of egotism. In “understanding,” i. e., self-knowledge, the “fool” finds no pleasure; but self-assertion, talking about himself and his own opinions, is his highest joy.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
He who is separated seeks lust He who is separated from the Holy One, blessed be He, not keeping His precepts, pursues the lust of his heart and his evil inclination, and finally.. in all sound wisdom, he is exposed Among the wise, his disgrace will be revealed.
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. 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לֹֽא־ | lo'- | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יַחְפֹּ֣ץ | yachpotz | he delights | H2654 → | |
| כְּ֭סִיל | kesil | a fool | H3684 → | 70 times |
| בִּתְבוּנָ֑ה | bitvunah | in understanding | H8394 → | 42 times |
| כִּ֝֗י | ki | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| אִֽם־ | ʾim- | except | H518 → | 1069 times |
| בְּהִתְגַּלּ֥וֹת | behitgalot | in revealing itself | H1540 → | 186 times |
| לִבּֽוֹ׃ | libo | heart his | H3820 → | 595 times |
לֹֽא־not
lo'-H3808 →5168 times
יַחְפֹּ֣ץhe delights
yachpotzH2654 →
כְּ֭סִילa fool
kesilH3684 →70 times
בִּתְבוּנָ֑הin understanding
bitvunahH8394 →42 times
כִּ֝֗יthat
kiH3588 →4482 times
אִֽם־except
ʾim-H518 →1069 times
בְּהִתְגַּלּ֥וֹתin revealing itself
behitgalotH1540 →186 times
לִבּֽוֹ׃heart his
liboH3820 →595 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 1:7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
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.’”
- Psalms 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever!
- Ecclesiastes 12:13
When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
- Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
- Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
- Job 28:28
Through
Proverbs 13:16Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.
it leads to
- Proverbs 15:2
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 15:2
Through
Proverbs 12:23A shrewd man keeps his knowledge to himself, but a foolish heart proclaims its folly.
it leads to
- Proverbs 13:16
Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.
- Proverbs 13:16
Through
Proverbs 17:16Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
it leads to
- Proverbs 21:25–26
The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
- Proverbs 21:25–26
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
On this verse
On this chapter
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; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Proverbs of Solomon and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).