Proverbs 23:9

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Speak not in the hearing of a fool; For he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

בְּאָזְנֵ֣י כְ֭סִיל אַל־תְּדַבֵּ֑ר כִּֽי־יָ֝ב֗וּז לְשֵׂ֣כֶל מִלֶּֽיךָ׃

Transliteration

In ʾoznê ḵǝsîl not tǝḏabbēr, for he yāḇûz to śēḵel milleḵā.

Grammar Details

• *ʾoznê*: noun, feminine dual construct - ears of
• *ḵǝsîl*: noun, masculine singular - fool
• *tǝḏabbēr*: piel imperfect, 2nd person masculine singular - speak
• *yāḇûz*: qal imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - despises/scorns
• *śēḵel*: noun, masculine singular - insight/wisdom
• *milleḵā*: noun, feminine plural + 2nd person masculine singular suffix - your words

Word Meanings

• *ʾoznê ḵǝsîl*: ears of a fool/hearing of a stupid person
• *tǝḏabbēr*: speak/talk
• *yāḇûz*: despises/scorns/shows contempt for
• *śēḵel milleḵā*: wisdom of your words/insight of your speech

Referenced Verses

• Matt 7:6 : 6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before the swine, lest haply they trample them under their feet, and turn and rend you.
• Luke 16:14 : 14 And the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things; and they scoffed at him.
• John 8:52 : 52 The Jews said unto him, Now we know that thou hast a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my word, he shall never {G165} taste of death.
• John 9:30-34 : 30 The man answered and said unto them, Why, herein {G1722} is the marvel, that ye know not whence he is, and [yet] he opened mine eyes. 31 We know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and do his will, him he heareth. 32 Since the world began it was never heard that any one opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing. 34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
• John 9:40 : 40 Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said unto him, Are we also blind?
• John 10:20 : 20 And many of them said, He hath a demon, and is mad; why hear ye him?
• Acts 13:45-46 : 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spake out boldly, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you. {G1161} Seeing ye thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy {G3756} of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
• Acts 17:18 : 18 And certain also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, What {G302} would this babbler say? others, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached {G846} Jesus and the resurrection.
• Acts 17:32 : 32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, We will hear thee concerning this {G3303} yet again.
• Acts 28:25-28 : 25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Spirit through Isaiah the prophet unto your fathers, 26 saying, Go thou unto this people, and say, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive: 27 For this people's heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest, haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them. 28 Be it known therefore unto you, that this salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles: they will also hear.
• 1 Cor 1:21-24 : 21 For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe. 22 Seeing {G2532} that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 but we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews {G3303} a stumblingblock, and unto Gentiles foolishness; 24 but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
• 1 Cor 4:10-13 : 10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye have glory, but we have dishonor. 11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place; 12 and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, even until now.
• Prov 1:7 : 7 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; [But] the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
• Prov 9:7-8 : 7 He that correcteth a scoffer getteth to himself reviling; And he that reproveth a wicked man [getteth] himself a blot. 8 Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee: Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.
• Prov 26:4-5 : 4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit.
• Isa 36:21 : 21 But they held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.