A wise son heeds his father’s discipline, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.
Parallel translations
- WEB A wise son listens to his father’s instruction, but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.
- KJV A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
- NKJV A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
- NASB A wise son accepts his father’s discipline, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
- NLT A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline; a mocker refuses to listen to correction.
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
A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a scoffer refuses rebuke. Teachability marks the wise; mockery marks the fool.
Overview
This proverb contrasts the wise son who listens to instruction with the scoffer who will not accept correction. Receptiveness to discipline is again presented as the path of wisdom. Such humble listening reflects the posture of a disciple toward God the Father, who instructs His children in the way they should go.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Prov 15:5A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction is prudent.
- Prov 9:7–8He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.
- Prov 15:20A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
- Prov 10:1The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.
- Prov 4:1–14Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
- 1 Sam 2:25If a man sins against another man, God can intercede for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to their father, since the LORD intended to put them to death.
- Prov 4:20–22My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
- Isa 28:14–15Therefore hear the word of the LORD, O scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem.
- Prov 14:6A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 13:1 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.