A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart.
Parallel translations
- WEB A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
- KJV A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
- BSB A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.
- 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 Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
- Prov 12:23A prudent man keeps his knowledge, but the hearts of fools proclaim foolishness.
- Ps 1:1–2Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers;
- Prov 17:16Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?
- Prov 13:16Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.
- 1 Cor 8:1Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
- Eccl 10:3Yes also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
- Prov 1:22“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?
- Phil 1:15Some indeed preach Christ even out of envy and strife, and some also out of good will.
- 1 Cor 14:12So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.
- 2 Pet 2:15–19forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of wrongdoing;
- Matt 8:34Behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged that he would depart from their borders.
- Num 24:15–16He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;
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 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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