A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
Parallel translations
- WEB A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother.
- KJV A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
- NKJV A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother.
- NASB A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother.
- NLT Sensible children bring joy to their father; foolish children despise their mother.
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 child brings joy to a parent, while a foolish one brings shame and dishonor. It matters because wisdom or folly affects not only the individual but the whole family.
Overview
This proverb restates a recurring theme in Proverbs (cf. 10:1), tying a child's wisdom to a father's gladness and folly to contempt for a mother. Honoring parents is bound up with the fifth commandment and with godly wisdom itself. It points toward the perfectly wise Son who always pleased His Father (John 8:29).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Prov 29:3A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
- Prov 10:1The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.
- Prov 23:15–16My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice.
- Lev 19:3Each of you must respect his mother and father, and you must keep My Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God.
- 1 Kgs 5:7When Hiram received Solomon’s message, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the LORD this day! He has given David a wise son over this great people!”
- Prov 23:22Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
- 1 Kgs 1:48saying, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel! Today He has provided one to sit on my throne, and my eyes have seen it.’”
- Phil 2:22But you know Timothy’s proven worth, that as a child with his father he has served with me to advance the gospel.
- Prov 30:17As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.
- 1 Kgs 2:9Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You know what you ought to do to him to bring his gray head down to Sheol in blood.”
- Exod 20:12Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
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 15:20 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.