Proverbs 14:3

American Standard Version (1901)

In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for [his] pride; But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

בְּֽפִי־אֱ֭וִיל חֹ֣טֶר גַּאֲוָ֑ה וְשִׂפְתֵ֥י חֲ֝כָמִ֗ים תִּשְׁמוּרֵֽם׃

Transliteration

In pî-ʾĕwîl ḥōṭer gaʾăwâ wə-śiptê ḥăḵāmîm tišmûrēm

Grammar Details

• *pî-ʾĕwîl*: construct noun + noun - mouth of fool
• *ḥōṭer*: masculine singular noun - rod/shoot
• *gaʾăwâ*: feminine singular noun - pride
• *wə-śiptê*: conjunction + construct plural noun - and lips of
• *ḥăḵāmîm*: masculine plural noun - wise ones
• *tišmûrēm*: 3rd person feminine plural imperfect + 3rd person masculine plural suffix - they will preserve them

Word Meanings

• *ḥōṭer*: rod/shoot/branch/offspring
• *gaʾăwâ*: pride/arrogance/haughtiness
• *tišmûrēm*: preserve/guard/protect

Referenced Verses

• Prov 12:6 : 6 The words of the wicked are of lying in wait for blood; But the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
• Prov 18:6 : 6 A fool's lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for stripes.
• Prov 21:24 : 24 The proud and haughty man, scoffer is his name; He worketh in the arrogance of pride.
• Prov 22:8 : 8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap calamity; And the rod of his wrath shall fail.
• Prov 28:25 : 25 He that is of a greedy spirit stirreth up strife; But he that putteth his trust in Jehovah shall be made fat.
• Dan 7:20 : 20 and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other [horn] which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows.
• Rom 10:9-9 : 9 because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus [as] Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved: 10 for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
• Jas 3:5-6 : 5 So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.
• 2 Pet 2:18 : 18 For, uttering great swelling [words] of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error;
• Rev 3:10 : 10 Because thou didst keep the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, that [hour] which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
• Rev 12:11 : 11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death.
• Rev 15:5-6 : 5 And after these things I saw, and the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: 6 and there came out from the temple the seven angels that had the seven plagues, arrayed with [precious] stone, pure [and] bright, and girt about their breasts with golden girdles.
• 1 Sam 2:3 : 3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; Let not arrogancy come out of your mouth; For Jehovah is a God of knowledge, And by him actions are weighed.
• Job 5:21 : 21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue; Neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
• Ps 12:3 : 3 Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips, The tongue that speaketh great things;
• Ps 31:18 : 18 Let the lying lips be dumb, Which speak against the righteous insolently, With pride and contempt.
• Ps 52:1-2 : 1 [For the Chief Musician. Maschil of David; when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech]. Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God [endureth] continually. 2 Thy tongue deviseth very wickedness, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
• Ps 57:4 : 4 My soul is among lions; I lie among them that are set on fire, Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.