Proverbs 27:11
in Proverbs 27Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, so that I can answer him who taunts me.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him that reproacheth me.
KJV
My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.
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This verse in Proverbs 27
Commentary
3 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
The voice of the teacher to his true disciple. He pleads with him that the uprightness of the scholar will be the truest answer to all attacks on the character or teaching of the master.
This site's exposition
Be wise, my son
on Proverbs 27:11-14
"Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart" opens a short group of household counsel. The prudent see danger and take cover while the simple pay the penalty. Verse 14 closes the group, for a neighbor blessed "with a loud voice early in the morning" hears a curse.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,....
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
your friend and your father’s friend The Holy One, blessed be He, Who is called a friend to Israel, and your father’s friend, for He endeared your forefathers.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
A cunning man saw harm He sees the retribution coming upon the earth and hides from it by withdrawing from sin, but the fools did not hide and passed on the way of harm.
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. 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| חֲכַ֣ם | chakham | be wise | H2449 → | 27 times |
| בְּ֭נִי | beni | O son my | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| וְשַׂמַּ֣ח | vesamach | and make glad | H8055 → | 155 times |
| לִבִּ֑י | libi | heart my | H3820 → | 595 times |
| וְאָשִׁ֖יבָה | veashivah | so let me bring back | H7725 → | 1056 times |
| חֹרְפִ֣י | chorefi | [one who] taunts me | H2778 → | 41 times |
| דָבָֽר׃ | davar | a word | H1697 → | 1440 times |
חֲכַ֣םbe wise
chakhamH2449 →27 times
בְּ֭נִיO son my
beniH1121 →4930 times
וְשַׂמַּ֣חand make glad
vesamachH8055 →155 times
לִבִּ֑יheart my
libiH3820 →595 times
וְאָשִׁ֖יבָהso let me bring back
veashivahH7725 →1056 times
חֹרְפִ֣י[one who] taunts me
chorefiH2778 →41 times
דָבָֽר׃a word
davarH1697 →1440 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 10:1The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.
it leads to
- Proverbs 1:1
These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,
- Proverbs 17:25
A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
- Proverbs 29:15
A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.
- Proverbs 29:3
A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
- Proverbs 23:15–16
My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice.
- Proverbs 1:1
Through
2 John 1:4I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded us.
it leads to
- 3 John 1:3–4
For I was overjoyed when the brothers came and testified about your devotion to the truth, in which you continue to walk.
- Ephesians 5:8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,
- 3 John 1:3–4
Through
Psalms 119:42Then I can answer him who taunts, for I trust in Your word.
it leads to
- Acts 27:25
So take courage, men, for I believe God that it will happen just as He told me.
- Acts 27:25
Where this verse is studied
On this page
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); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).