Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.
Parallel translations
- WEB Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment, but a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.
- KJV In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
- NKJV Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding, But a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding.
- NASB On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found, But a rod is for the back of him who has no sense.
- NLT Wise words come from the lips of people with understanding, but those lacking sense will be beaten with a rod.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Wisdom is on the lips of the discerning, but a rod awaits the senseless. Understanding speaks wisely; folly invites discipline.
Overview
The discerning person's speech reflects the wisdom within, while the one lacking sense brings discipline upon himself. The 'rod' points to the painful correction that folly ultimately reaps. This contrast underscores that wise speech flows from a wise heart and that folly carries its own consequences.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Prov 26:3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
- Prov 6:32He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.
- Isa 50:4The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of discipleship, to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
- Prov 15:23A man takes joy in a fitting reply—and how good is a timely word!
- Prov 19:29Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
- Prov 20:15There is an abundance of gold and rubies, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.
- Prov 27:22Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle, yet his folly will not depart from him.
- Prov 10:31The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out.
- Ps 32:9Do not be like the horse or mule, which have no understanding; they must be controlled with bit and bridle to make them come to you.
- Prov 10:10–11He who winks the eye causes grief, and foolish lips will come to ruin.
- Prov 15:7The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the hearts of fools.
- Prov 17:10A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.
- Prov 10:21The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment.
- Luke 4:22All spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that came from His lips. “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” they asked.
- Prov 7:22He follows her on impulse, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding into a trap,
- Exod 10:12Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt, so that the locusts may swarm over it and devour every plant in the land—everything that the hail has left behind.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 10:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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