Proverbs 16:22

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.

Cross-references · 12

• Prov 13:14The teaching of the wise is a spring of life, to turn from the snares of death.
• John 5:24“Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
• Matt 15:14Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
• John 6:63It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.
• Prov 18:4The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
• Prov 10:11The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
• Matt 23:16–26“Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.’
• Prov 14:27The fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life, turning people from the snares of death.
• Prov 15:28The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.
• John 6:68Simon Peter answered him, “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 fools gush out folly.
• Luke 6:39–40He spoke a parable to them. “Can the blind guide the blind? Won’t they both fall into a pit?

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.