On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found, But a rod is for the back of him who has no sense.
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.
- BSB Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.
- 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.
- 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 is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!
- Prov 6:32He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding. He who does it destroys his own soul.
- Isa 50:4The Lord Yahweh has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with words him who is weary. He wakens morning by morning, he wakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.
- Prov 15:23Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time!
- Prov 19:29Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
- Prov 20:15There is gold and abundance of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
- Prov 27:22Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, yet his foolishness will not be removed from him.
- Prov 10:31The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
- Ps 32:9Don’t be like the horse, or like the mule, which have no understanding, who are controlled by bit and bridle, or else they will not come near to you.
- Prov 10:10–11One winking with the eye causes sorrow, but a chattering fool will fall.
- Prov 15:7The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so with the heart of fools.
- Prov 17:10A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.
- Prov 10:21The lips of the righteous feed many, but the foolish die for lack of understanding.
- Luke 4:22All testified about him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, and they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
- Prov 7:22He followed her immediately, as an ox goes to the slaughter, as a fool stepping into a noose.
- Exod 10:12Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up on the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail has left.”
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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.