Proverbs 24:7
in Proverbs 24Wisdom is too high for a fool; he does not open his mouth in the meeting place.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Wisdom is too high for a fool: He openeth not his mouth in the gate.
KJV
Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
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This verse in Proverbs 24
Commentary
5 notes on this verseWisdom is too high for a fool,.... It is out of his reach, he cannot attain it; natural wisdom, or the knowledge of many things in nature; at least it seems so to himself, and therefore will not take any pains, or make use of any means, to obtain it; as the knowledge of human laws; of medicine, of philosophy, of languages, or of any of the liberal arts and sciences; or he has not really a capacity for it.
This site's exposition
Wisdom is too high for a fool
on Proverbs 24:7-9
"Wisdom is too high for a fool," so "he does not open his mouth in the meeting place," the city gate. Wisdom's reach is beyond him. The unit then calls the plan itself sin, since "A foolish scheme is sin," and "a mocker is detestable to men."
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
Wisdom is high for a fool, etc. A fool cannot attain wisdom. For it is high from him who lies in the depths of vices; who even if he thinks he has some knowledge now, at the gate of the city, that is, at the …
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A fool - openeth not his mouth in the gate - Is not put into public offices of trust and responsibility.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
In the gate - Compare the Pro 22:22 note.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| רָאמ֣וֹת | ramot | [are] high | H7311 → | 190 times |
| לֶֽאֱוִ֣יל | leevil | for a fool | H191 → | 26 times |
| חָכְמ֑וֹת | chakhemot | wisdom<s> | H2451 → | 153 times |
| בַּ֝שַּׁ֗עַר | bashaar | in the gate | H8179 → | 374 times |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יִפְתַּח־ | yiftach- | he opens | H6605 → | 144 times |
| פִּֽיהוּ׃ | pihu | mouth his | H6310 → | 498 times |
רָאמ֣וֹת[are] high
ramotH7311 →190 times
לֶֽאֱוִ֣ילfor a fool
leevilH191 →26 times
חָכְמ֑וֹתwisdom<s>
chakhemotH2451 →153 times
בַּ֝שַּׁ֗עַרin the gate
bashaarH8179 →374 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
יִפְתַּח־he opens
yiftach-H6605 →144 times
פִּֽיהוּ׃mouth his
pihuH6310 →498 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
1 Corinthians 2:14The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
- Romans 8:5–8
Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
- Matthew 13:11–17
He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
- 2 Corinthians 4:4–6
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
- 1 John 2:27
And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all…
- 1 Corinthians 1:18
Through
Proverbs 14:6A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
it leads to
- James 1:5
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
- Matthew 13:11–12
He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
- James 1:5
Through
Psalms 10:5He is secure in his ways at all times; Your lofty judgments are far from him; he sneers at all his foes.
it leads to
- Isaiah 26:11
O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them!
- Isaiah 26:11
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
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); Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament.