A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
Parallel translations
- WEB A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
- BSB A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.
- NKJV A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart.
- NASB A fool does not delight in understanding, But in revealing his own mind.
- NLT Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions.
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 fool cares nothing for understanding, only for broadcasting his own opinions. The foolish prize self-expression over genuine learning.
Overview
The fool takes no delight in understanding but only in airing what is in his own mind, eager to talk yet unwilling to listen. This proverb exposes the pride at the root of folly, which values being heard over being wise. By contrast, the wise are teachable, receiving instruction gladly, a humility supremely modeled by Christ and required of all who would follow Him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Prov 1:7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
- Prov 12:23A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
- Ps 1:1–2Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
- Prov 17:16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
- Prov 13:16Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.
- 1 Cor 8:1Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
- Eccl 10:3Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
- Prov 1:22How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
- Phil 1:15Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
- 1 Cor 14:12Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
- 2 Pet 2:15–19Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
- Matt 8:34And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.
- Num 24:15–16And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
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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 18:2 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
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