Proverbs 8:5
in Proverbs 8O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
O ye simple, understand prudence; And, ye fools, be of an understanding heart.
KJV
O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
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This verse in Proverbs 8
Commentary
8 notes on this verseO ye simple - פתאים pethaim, ye that are deceived, and with flattering words and fair speeches deluded and drawn away. Ye fools - כסילים kesilim, ye stupid, stiffnecked, senseless people. That preaching is never likely to do much good, that is not pointed; specifying and describing vices, and charging them home on the consciences of transgressors.
This site's exposition
Does not wisdom call out
on Proverbs 8:1-5
Against the adulteress of chapter 7, wisdom calls from “the heights overlooking the road”: “To you, O men, I call out”. Sin whispers in private and wisdom calls in public. Her audience is named, “O simple ones” and “O fools,” the very ones chapter 7 watched walk into the trap.
This site's exposition
learn to be shrewd
Clarke defines the simple as those deceived by flattering words and the fools as stubborn and senseless. Wisdom prescribes a cure for each. The shrewdness she offers is the prudence she dwells with in verse 12.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Those among us who are ambassadors of Christianity sufficiently declare that they are debtors to Greeks and barbarians, to wise men and fools (for they do not deny their obligation to cure the souls even of foolish persons), in order that as far as possible they may lay aside their ignorance and endeavor to obtain greater prudence, by listening also to the words of Solomon: "O fools, be of an understanding heart," and "Whoever is the most simple among you, let him turn unto me."
The Medieval Church1 voice
Understand, you simple ones, craftiness, etc. It is evident concerning the Lord, that when he was in the world, he spoke the word to every age, sex, and condition; indeed, even cried out standing in the temple, If anyone thirsts, let him come to me …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
The redeemer is the eternal Word and wisdom, the Logos. He is the Wisdom that speaks to the children of men in the former part of the chapter. All divine revelation passes through his hand, and centres in him; but of him as the personal Wisdom, the second person in the Godhead, in the judgment of many of the ancients, Solomon here speaks,
Though you are ever so simple, Wisdom will take you for her scholars, and not only so, but, if you will be ruled by her, will undertake to give you an understanding heart. " When sinners leave their sins, and become truly religious, then the simple understand wisdom. The things revealed are worthy to be known, well worthy of all acceptation. We are concerned to hear; for, 1.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
O ye simple, understand wisdom,....
The words behind it
6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הָבִ֣ינוּ | havinu | understand | H995 → | 170 times |
| פְתָאיִ֣ם | fetayim | O naive people | H6612 → | 19 times |
| עָרְמָ֑ה | ʾaremah | prudence | H6195 → | 5 times |
| וּ֝כְסִילִ֗ים | ukhesilim | and O fools | H3684 → | 70 times |
| הָבִ֥ינוּ | havinu | understand | H995 → | 170 times |
| לֵֽב׃ | lev | heart | H3820 → | 595 times |
הָבִ֣ינוּunderstand
havinuH995 →170 times
פְתָאיִ֣םO naive people
fetayimH6612 →19 times
עָרְמָ֑הprudence
ʾaremahH6195 →5 times
וּ֝כְסִילִ֗יםand O fools
ukhesilimH3684 →70 times
הָבִ֥ינוּunderstand
havinuH995 →170 times
לֵֽב׃heart
levH3820 →595 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 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
Acts 26:18to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified…
it leads to
- 1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
- Ephesians 1:18
I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,
- Acts 20:32
And now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.
- Ephesians 5:8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,
- Isaiah 42:7
to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon and those sitting in darkness out from the prison house.
- 1 Peter 2:9
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; Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Origen of Alexandria, AGAINST CELSUS 3:54.