Proverbs 15:20

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

A wise son maketh a glad father; But a foolish man despiseth his mother.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

בֵּ֣ן חָ֭כָם יְשַׂמַּח־אָ֑ב וּכְסִ֥יל אָ֝דָ֗ם בּוֹזֶ֥ה אִמּֽוֹ׃

Transliteration

Bēn ḥāḵām yəśammaḥ-ʾāḇ ûḵəsîl ʾādām bôzeh ʾimmô

Grammar Details

*Bēn*: noun, masculine singular - son
*ḥāḵām*: adjective, masculine singular - wise
*yəśammaḥ*: piel imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - makes glad/rejoices
*ʾāḇ*: noun, masculine singular - father
*ûḵəsîl*: conjunction + noun, masculine singular - but fool
*ʾādām*: noun, masculine singular - man/person
*bôzeh*: qal participle, masculine singular - despises/disdains
*ʾimmô*: noun, feminine singular + 3rd masculine singular suffix - his mother

Word Meanings

*Bēn ḥāḵām*: wise son/prudent child
*yəśammaḥ-ʾāḇ*: makes father glad/brings joy to father
*ûḵəsîl ʾādām*: but foolish man/yet stupid person
*bôzeh ʾimmô*: despises his mother/shows contempt for his mother

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

🔄 Compare with

ESVNIVCSBNLTNASBNET

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Prov 10:1 : 1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father; But a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
Prov 29:3 : 3 Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father; But he that keepeth company with harlots wasteth [his] substance.
Prov 30:17 : 17 The eye that mocketh at his father, And despiseth to obey his mother, The ravens of the valley shall pick it out, And the young eagles shall eat it.
Phil 2:22 : 22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a child [serveth] a father, [so] he served with me in furtherance of the gospel.
Prov 23:15-16 : 15 My son, if thy heart be wise, My heart will be glad, even mine: 16 Yea, my heart will rejoice, When thy lips speak right things.
Prov 23:22 : 22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, And despise not thy mother when she is old.
Exod 20:12 : 12 Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.
Lev 19:3 : 3 Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father; and ye shall keep my sabbaths: I am Jehovah your God.
1 Kgs 1:48 : 48 And also thus said the king, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, who hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.
1 Kgs 2:9 : 9 Now therefore hold him not guiltless, for thou art a wise man; and thou wilt know what thou oughtest to do unto him, and thou shalt bring his hoar head down to Sheol with blood.
1 Kgs 5:7 : 7 And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be Jehovah this day, who hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Prov 10:1
89%
1The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father; But a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
Prov 17:25
86%
25A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bare him.
Prov 15:21
83%
21Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding maketh straight his going.
Prov 15:5
83%
5A fool despiseth his father's correction; But he that regardeth reproof getteth prudence.
Prov 17:21
81%
21He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow; And the father of a fool hath no joy.
Prov 19:26-27
2 verses
81%
26He that doeth violence to his father, and chaseth away his mother, Is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach.
27Cease, my son, to hear instruction [Only] to err from the words of knowledge.
Prov 27:11
79%
11My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him that reproacheth me.
Prov 23:24-25
2 verses
78%
24The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; And he that begetteth a wise child will have joy of him.
25Let thy father and thy mother be glad, And let her that bare thee rejoice.
Prov 13:1
78%
1A wise son [heareth] his father's instruction; But a scoffer heareth not rebuke.
Prov 23:15
78%
15My son, if thy heart be wise, My heart will be glad, even mine:
Prov 19:13
78%
13A foolish son is the calamity of his father; And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
Prov 29:15
77%
15The rod and reproof give wisdom; But a child left to himself causeth shame to his mother.
Prov 23:22
77%
22Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, And despise not thy mother when she is old.
Prov 22:15
77%
15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; [But] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Prov 6:20
77%
20My son, keep the commandment of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:
Prov 1:8
77%
8My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:
Deut 21:18
77%
18If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, that will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and, though they chasten him, will not hearken unto them;
Prov 15:19
76%
19The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns; But the path of the upright is made a highway.
Prov 28:7
76%
7Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son; But he that is a companion of gluttons shameth his father.
Prov 17:2
76%
2A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.
Prov 12:15-16
2 verses
76%
15The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; But he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsel.
16A fool's vexation is presently known; But a prudent man concealeth shame.
Eccl 4:13
75%
13Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.
Prov 29:17
75%
17Correct thy son, and he will give thee rest; Yea, he will give delight unto thy soul.
Prov 21:20
74%
20There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man swalloweth it up.
Prov 13:16
74%
16Every prudent man worketh with knowledge; But a fool flaunteth [his] folly.
Prov 14:8
74%
8The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; But the folly of fools is deceit.
Prov 14:16-17
2 verses
74%
16A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.
17He that is soon angry will deal foolishly; And a man of wicked devices is hated.
Prov 11:29
74%
29He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind; And the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
Prov 13:24
74%
24He that spareth his rod hateth his son; But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
Prov 19:3
74%
3The foolishness of man subverteth his way; And his heart fretteth against Jehovah.
Prov 19:18
74%
18Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope; And set not thy heart on his destruction.
Prov 30:11
74%
11There is a generation that curse their father, And bless not their mother.
Prov 20:20
73%
20Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
Prov 17:5-6
2 verses
73%
5Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; [And] he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
6Children's children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers.
Prov 14:3
73%
3In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for [his] pride; But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
Prov 10:5
73%
5He that gathereth in summer is a wise son; [But] he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.
Prov 29:20
73%
20Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
Prov 3:35
73%
35The wise shall inherit glory; But shame shall be the promotion of fools.
Prov 14:1
73%
1Every wise woman buildeth her house; But the foolish plucketh it down with her own hands.
Prov 13:20
73%
20Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise; But the companion of fools shall smart for it.
Prov 30:17
73%
17The eye that mocketh at his father, And despiseth to obey his mother, The ravens of the valley shall pick it out, And the young eagles shall eat it.
Prov 15:2
73%
2The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright; But the mouth of fools poureth out folly.
Prov 29:3
73%
3Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father; But he that keepeth company with harlots wasteth [his] substance.
Prov 22:6
72%
6Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Prov 10:23
72%
23It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness; And [so is] wisdom to a man of understanding.