Proverbs 18:15

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

לֵ֣ב נָ֭בוֹן יִקְנֶה־דָּ֑עַת וְאֹ֥זֶן חֲ֝כָמִ֗ים תְּבַקֶּשׁ־דָּֽעַת׃

Transliteration

lēḇ nāḇôn yiqneh-dāʿaṯ and-ʾōzen ḥăḵāmîm təḇaqqēš-dāʿaṯ

Grammar Details

• *lēḇ*: noun, masculine singular - heart/mind
• *nāḇôn*: verb, niphal participle, masculine singular - understanding/discerning
• *yiqneh*: verb, qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - acquires/buys/gets
• *dāʿaṯ*: noun, feminine singular - knowledge/understanding
• *ʾōzen*: noun, feminine singular construct - ear of
• *ḥăḵāmîm*: adjective, masculine plural - wise ones
• *təḇaqqēš*: verb, piel imperfect, 3rd feminine singular - seeks/searches for

Word Meanings

• *lēḇ*: heart/mind/inner person
• *nāḇôn*: understanding/discerning/intelligent/prudent
• *yiqneh*: acquires/buys/gets/obtains
• *dāʿaṯ*: knowledge/understanding/insight
• *ḥăḵāmîm*: wise ones/sages/those skilled

Referenced Verses

• Prov 15:14 : 14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge; But the mouth of fools feedeth on folly.
• Ps 119:97-99 : 97 MEM. Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies; For they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers; For thy testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the aged, Because I have kept thy precepts. 101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, That I might observe thy word. 102 I have not turned aside from thine ordinances; For thou hast taught me. 103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! [Yea, sweeter] than honey to my mouth! 104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: Therefore I hate every false way.
• Prov 1:5 : 5 That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; And that the man of understanding may attain unto sound counsels:
• Prov 4:5 : 5 Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth;
• Prov 4:7 : 7 Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [Therefore] get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding.
• Prov 9:9 : 9 Give [instruction] to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
• Prov 10:14 : 14 Wise men lay up knowledge; But the mouth of the foolish is a present destruction.
• Prov 23:23 : 23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; [Yea], wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
• Luke 8:8-9 : 8 And other fell into the good ground, and grew, and brought forth fruit a hundredfold. As he said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 9 And his disciples asked him what this parable might be. 10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to the rest in parables; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.
• Luke 10:39 : 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at the Lord's feet, and heard his word.
• 2 Tim 3:15-17 : 15 And that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 Every scripture inspired of God [is] also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. 17 That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.
• Jas 1:5 : 5 But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
• 1 Kgs 3:9 : 9 Give thy servant therefore an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this thy great people?