When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
Parallel translations
- KJV When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
- BSB When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.
- ESV When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
- NKJV When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
- NASB When the scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
- NLT If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded become wise; if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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
Punishing a mocker teaches the simple, and instructing the wise increases their knowledge. It matters because both correction and teaching advance wisdom.
Overview
The naive learn caution by seeing the scoffer judged, while the wise grow simply by being taught (Proverbs 19:25; 9:9). The verse shows two ways wisdom spreads — through warning examples and direct instruction. The wise welcome correction, while the foolish must learn the hard way.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Prov 19:25Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
- Prov 18:15The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
- Prov 9:9Instruct a wise man, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
- Acts 5:5Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things.
- Deut 21:21All the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall remove the evil from among you. All Israel shall hear, and fear.
- Prov 18:1An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
- Num 16:34All Israel that were around them fled at their cry; for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up!”
- 1 Cor 10:6–11Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
- Deut 13:11All Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall not do any more wickedness like this among you.
- Ps 64:7–9But God will shoot at them. They will be suddenly struck down with an arrow.
- Heb 2:1–3Therefore we ought to pay greater attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away.
- Prov 1:5that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel:
- Acts 5:11–14Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things.
- Heb 10:28–29A man who disregards Moses’ law dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses.
- Rev 11:13In that day there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
- Prov 15:14The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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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 21:11 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.