Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.
Parallel translations
- WEB Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.
- KJV Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
- NKJV Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it. But the correction of fools is folly.
- NASB Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it, But the discipline of fools is foolishness.
- NLT Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it, but discipline is wasted on fools.
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
Understanding is a life-giving fountain to its possessor, but folly only punishes fools. It matters because wisdom nourishes life while folly is its own painful penalty.
Overview
The proverb contrasts understanding as a wellspring of life with folly as the fool's own punishment. Wisdom continually refreshes and sustains, while folly carries built-in consequences. The imagery of a fountain of life recurs in Proverbs and ultimately finds fulfillment in Christ, the source of living water (John 4:14).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Prov 13:14The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning one from the snares of death.
- John 5:24Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life.
- Matt 15:14Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
- John 6:63The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
- Prov 18:4The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
- Prov 10:11The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
- Matt 23:16–26Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’
- Prov 14:27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.
- Prov 15:28The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil.
- John 6:68Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.
- Prov 15:2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.
- Luke 6:39–40Jesus also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?
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 16:22 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.