Proverbs 18:4

biblecontext

{ "verseID": "Proverbs.18.4", "source": "מַ֣יִם עֲ֭מֻקִּים דִּבְרֵ֣י פִי־אִ֑ישׁ נַ֥חַל נֹ֝בֵ֗עַ מְק֣וֹר חָכְמָֽה׃", "text": "*mayim* *ʿămuqqîm* *diḇrê* *pî*-*ʾîš* *naḥal* *nōḇēaʿ* *məqôr* *ḥāḵmāh*", "grammar": { "*mayim*": "noun, masculine plural - waters", "*ʿămuqqîm*": "adjective, masculine plural - deep", "*diḇrê*": "noun, masculine plural construct - words of", "*pî*": "noun, masculine singular construct - mouth of", "*ʾîš*": "noun, masculine singular - man/person", "*naḥal*": "noun, masculine singular - stream/river/wadi", "*nōḇēaʿ*": "verb, qal participle, masculine singular - flowing/bubbling up", "*məqôr*": "noun, masculine singular construct - source/spring/fountain", "*ḥāḵmāh*": "noun, feminine singular - wisdom" }, "variants": { "*mayim*": "waters/liquid", "*ʿămuqqîm*": "deep/profound", "*naḥal*": "stream/river/wadi/torrent", "*nōḇēaʿ*": "flowing/bubbling up/gushing", "*məqôr*": "source/spring/fountain/wellspring", "*ḥāḵmāh*": "wisdom/skill/insight" } }

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

מַ֣יִם עֲ֭מֻקִּים דִּבְרֵ֣י פִי־אִ֑ישׁ נַ֥חַל נֹ֝בֵ֗עַ מְק֣וֹר חָכְמָֽה׃

Transliteration

mayim ʿămuqqîm diḇrê pî-ʾîš naḥal nōḇēaʿ məqôr ḥāḵmāh

Grammar Details

• *mayim*: noun, masculine plural - waters
• *ʿămuqqîm*: adjective, masculine plural - deep
• *diḇrê*: noun, masculine plural construct - words of
• *pî*: noun, masculine singular construct - mouth of
• *ʾîš*: noun, masculine singular - man/person
• *naḥal*: noun, masculine singular - stream/river/wadi
• *nōḇēaʿ*: verb, qal participle, masculine singular - flowing/bubbling up
• *məqôr*: noun, masculine singular construct - source/spring/fountain
• *ḥāḵmāh*: noun, feminine singular - wisdom

Word Meanings

• *mayim*: waters/liquid
• *ʿămuqqîm*: deep/profound
• *naḥal*: stream/river/wadi/torrent
• *nōḇēaʿ*: flowing/bubbling up/gushing
• *məqôr*: source/spring/fountain/wellspring
• *ḥāḵmāh*: wisdom/skill/insight

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  The words of a person's mouth are like deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing stream.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellsing of wisdom as a flowing brook.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  The words of a man's mouth are [as] deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is [as] a flowing brook.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  The wordes of a mas mouth are like depe waters, and the well of wy?dome is like a full streame.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  The words of a mans mouth are like deepe waters, and the welspring of wisdome is like a flowing riuer.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  The wordes of a wyse mans mouth are lyke deepe waters: and the well of wisdome is like a full streame.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ The words of a man's mouth [are as] deep waters, [and] the wellspring of wisdom [as] a flowing brook.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  Deep waters `are' the words of a man's mouth, The fountain of wisdom `is' a flowing brook.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  The words of a man's mouth are `as' deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is `as' a flowing brook.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  The words of a man's mouth are [as] deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is [as] a flowing brook.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters: the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing stream.

• World English Bible (2000)

  The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  The words of a person’s mouth are like deep waters, and the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.

Referenced Verses

• Prov 20:5 : 5 { "verseID": "Proverbs.20.5", "source": "מַ֣יִם עֲ֭מֻקִּים עֵצָ֣ה בְלֶב־אִ֑ישׁ וְאִ֖ישׁ תְּבוּנָ֣ה יִדְלֶֽנָּה׃", "text": "*mayim* *ʿamūqqîm* *ʿēṣâ* in-*lēb*-*ʾîš* and-*ʾîš* *təbûnâ* *yidlennâ*", "grammar": { "*mayim*": "noun, masculine plural - waters", "*ʿamūqqîm*": "adjective, masculine plural - deep", "*ʿēṣâ*": "noun, feminine singular - counsel/advice/plan", "*lēb*": "noun, masculine singular construct - heart", "*ʾîš*": "noun, masculine singular - man", "*təbûnâ*": "noun, feminine singular - understanding/discernment", "*yidlennâ*": "verb, Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular with 3rd feminine singular suffix - will draw it out" }, "variants": { "*mayim*": "waters/water", "*ʿamūqqîm*": "deep/profound", "*ʿēṣâ*": "counsel/advice/plan/purpose", "*lēb*": "heart/mind/inner self", "*ʾîš*": "man/person", "*təbûnâ*": "understanding/discernment/intelligence", "*yidlennâ*": "will draw it out/will bring it up" } }
• Prov 10:11 : 11 { "verseID": "Proverbs.10.11", "source": "מְק֣וֹר חַ֭יִּים פִּ֣י צַדִּ֑יק וּפִ֥י רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים יְכַסֶּ֥ה חָמָֽס׃", "text": "*məqôr* *ḥayyîm* *pî* *ṣaddîq* *û-pî* *rəšāʿîm* *yəkasseh* *ḥāmās*", "grammar": { "*məqôr*": "masculine singular construct - fountain/source of", "*ḥayyîm*": "masculine plural noun - life", "*pî*": "masculine singular construct - mouth of", "*ṣaddîq*": "masculine singular adjective - righteous", "*û-pî*": "conjunction + masculine singular construct - and mouth of", "*rəšāʿîm*": "masculine plural adjective - wicked ones", "*yəkasseh*": "Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular - covers/conceals", "*ḥāmās*": "masculine singular noun - violence" }, "variants": { "*məqôr*": "fountain/source/spring", "*ḥayyîm*": "life/living/existence", "*pî*": "mouth/speech/command", "*ṣaddîq*": "righteous/just/lawful", "*rəšāʿîm*": "wicked ones/evil people/wrongdoers", "*yəkasseh*": "covers/conceals/hides", "*ḥāmās*": "violence/wrong/cruelty/injustice" } }
• Prov 13:14 : 14 { "verseID": "Proverbs.13.14", "source": "תּוֹרַ֣ת חָ֭כָם מְק֣וֹר חַיִּ֑ים לָ֝ס֗וּר מִמֹּ֥קְשֵׁי מָֽוֶת׃", "text": "*tôrat ḥākām məqôr ḥayyîm lāsûr mimmōqəšê māwet*", "grammar": { "*tôrat*": "noun, feminine singular construct - instruction/law of", "*ḥākām*": "adjective, masculine singular - wise person", "*məqôr*": "noun, masculine singular construct - fountain/source of", "*ḥayyîm*": "noun, masculine plural - life", "*lāsûr*": "preposition + verb, qal infinitive construct - to turn away from", "*mimmōqəšê*": "preposition + noun, masculine plural construct - from snares of", "*māwet*": "noun, masculine singular - death" }, "variants": { "*tôrat*": "instruction/law/teaching", "*ḥākām*": "wise person/sage", "*məqôr*": "fountain/source/wellspring", "*ḥayyîm*": "life/living", "*lāsûr*": "to turn away from/to depart from", "*mōqəšê*": "snares/traps", "*māwet*": "death/mortality" } }
• Prov 16:22 : 22 { "verseID": "Proverbs.16.22", "source": "מְק֣וֹר חַ֭יִּים שֵׂ֣כֶל בְּעָלָ֑יו וּמוּסַ֖ר אֱוִלִ֣ים אִוֶּֽלֶת׃", "text": "*mᵉqôr* *ḥayyîm* *śēkel* to-*bᵉʿālāyw* and-*mûsar* *ʾĕwîlîm* *ʾiwwelet*", "grammar": { "*mᵉqôr*": "noun, masculine, singular construct - fountain/spring of", "*ḥayyîm*": "noun, masculine, plural - life", "*śēkel*": "noun, masculine, singular - insight/prudence/understanding", "*bᵉʿālāyw*": "noun, masculine, plural with 3rd masculine singular suffix - its possessors/its owners", "*wᵉ*": "conjunction - and", "*mûsar*": "noun, masculine, singular construct - discipline/correction/instruction of", "*ʾĕwîlîm*": "noun, masculine, plural - fools", "*ʾiwwelet*": "noun, feminine, singular - folly/foolishness" }, "variants": { "*mᵉqôr ḥayyîm*": "fountain of life/source of life/wellspring of life", "*śēkel*": "insight/prudence/good sense/understanding", "*mûsar ʾĕwîlîm*": "discipline of fools/instruction of fools" } }
• Ps 78:2 : 2 { "verseID": "Psalms.78.2", "source": "אֶפְתְּחָ֣ה בְמָשָׁ֣ל פִּ֑י אַבִּ֥יעָה חִ֝יד֗וֹת מִנִּי־קֶֽדֶם׃", "text": "*ʾep̄təḥâ* in *māšāl* my *pî* *ʾabbîʿâ* *ḥîḏôt* from *minnî-qeḏem*", "grammar": { "*ʾep̄təḥâ*": "qal imperfect cohortative, 1st person singular - I will open", "*bᵉmāšāl*": "preposition + noun, masculine singular - in/with a parable/proverb", "*pî*": "noun, masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix - my mouth", "*ʾabbîʿâ*": "hiphil imperfect cohortative, 1st person singular - I will pour forth/utter", "*ḥîḏôt*": "noun, feminine plural - riddles/dark sayings/enigmas", "*minnî-qeḏem*": "preposition + adverb - from ancient times/of old" }, "variants": { "*māšāl*": "parable/proverb/similitude/figurative discourse", "*ʾabbîʿâ*": "I will pour forth/utter/gush forth/bubble up", "*ḥîḏôt*": "riddles/dark sayings/enigmas/mysteries", "*minnî-qeḏem*": "from ancient times/from of old/from antiquity" } }
• Matt 12:34 : 34 { "verseID": "Matthew.12.34", "source": "Γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν, πῶς δύνασθε, ἀγαθὰ λαλεῖν, πονηροὶ ὄντες; ἐκ γὰρ τοῦ περισσεύματος τῆς καρδίας τὸ στόμα λαλεῖ.", "text": "*Gennēmata* *echidnōn*, how *dynasthe*, *agatha* *lalein*, *ponēroi* *ontes*? For from the *perisseumatos* of the *kardias* the *stoma* *lalei*.", "grammar": { "*Gennēmata*": "nominative, neuter, plural - offspring/brood", "*echidnōn*": "genitive, feminine, plural - of vipers", "*dynasthe*": "present, middle/passive, indicative, 2nd plural - you are able", "*agatha*": "accusative, neuter, plural - good things", "*lalein*": "present, active, infinitive - to speak", "*ponēroi*": "nominative, masculine, plural - evil/wicked", "*ontes*": "present participle, nominative, masculine, plural - being", "*perisseumatos*": "genitive, neuter, singular - abundance/overflow", "*kardias*": "genitive, feminine, singular - of the heart", "*stoma*": "nominative, neuter, singular - mouth", "*lalei*": "present, active, indicative, 3rd singular - speaks" }, "variants": { "*Gennēmata*": "offspring/brood/children/generation", "*echidnōn*": "vipers/poisonous snakes", "*dynasthe*": "you are able/you can", "*agatha*": "good things/good words/beneficial things", "*lalein*": "to speak/to talk/to utter", "*ponēroi*": "evil/wicked/malicious/corrupt", "*ontes*": "being/existing", "*perisseumatos*": "abundance/overflow/surplus", "*kardias*": "heart/mind/inner self", "*stoma*": "mouth/speech", "*lalei*": "speaks/talks/utters" } }
• John 4:14 : 14 { "verseID": "John.4.14", "source": "Ὃς δʼ ἂν πίῃ ἐκ τοῦ ὕδατος οὗ ἐγὼ δώσω αὐτῷ οὐ μὴ διψήσῃ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα· ἀλλὰ τὸ ὕδωρ ὃ δώσω αὐτῷ γενήσεται ἐν αὐτῷ πηγὴ ὕδατος ἁλλομένου εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον.", "text": "Whoever *d' an piē ek* the *hydatos hou egō dōsō autō ou mē dipsēsē eis* the *aiōna*; but the *hydōr ho dōsō autō genēsetai en autō pēgē hydatos hallomenou eis zōēn aiōnion*.", "grammar": { "*d'*": "postpositive conjunction - but/and", "*an*": "conditional particle - ever/if [with subjunctive]", "*piē*": "aorist active subjunctive, 3rd singular - drinks/may drink", "*ek*": "preposition + genitive - from/out of", "*hydatos*": "genitive neuter singular - water", "*hou*": "relative pronoun, genitive neuter singular - which", "*egō*": "nominative 1st singular pronoun - I", "*dōsō*": "future active indicative, 1st singular - will give", "*autō*": "dative masculine singular - to him", "*ou mē*": "emphatic negation - certainly not/never", "*dipsēsē*": "aorist active subjunctive, 3rd singular - thirst/may thirst", "*eis*": "preposition + accusative - into/for", "*aiōna*": "accusative masculine singular - age/eternity", "*hydōr*": "nominative neuter singular - water", "*ho*": "relative pronoun, accusative neuter singular - which", "*genēsetai*": "future middle indicative, 3rd singular - will become", "*en*": "preposition + dative - in", "*pēgē*": "nominative feminine singular - spring/fountain", "*hallomenou*": "present middle participle, genitive neuter singular - springing up/leaping up", "*zōēn*": "accusative feminine singular - life", "*aiōnion*": "accusative feminine singular - eternal/everlasting" }, "variants": { "*aiōna*": "age/eternity/forever", "*pēgē*": "spring/fountain/source/well", "*hallomenou*": "springing up/leaping up/bubbling up/gushing", "*zōēn*": "life/existence", "*aiōnion*": "eternal/everlasting/endless" } }
• John 7:38-39 : 38 { "verseID": "John.7.38", "source": "Ὁ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμέ, καθὼς εἶπεν ἡ γραφή, ποταμοὶ ἐκ τῆς κοιλίας αὐτοῦ ῥεύσουσιν ὕδατος ζῶντος.", "text": "The one *pisteuōn eis eme*, *kathōs eipen* the *graphē*, *potamoi* from the *koilias* of him *rheusousin hydatos zōntos*.", "grammar": { "*pisteuōn*": "present, participle, active, nominative, masculine, singular - believing", "*eis*": "preposition + accusative - in/into", "*eme*": "accusative, 1st person singular pronoun - me", "*kathōs*": "adverb - just as/according as", "*eipen*": "aorist, indicative, active, 3rd singular - said/spoke", "*graphē*": "nominative, feminine, singular - scripture/writing", "*potamoi*": "nominative, masculine, plural - rivers/streams", "*koilias*": "genitive, feminine, singular - belly/innermost being", "*rheusousin*": "future, indicative, active, 3rd plural - will flow", "*hydatos*": "genitive, neuter, singular - of water", "*zōntos*": "present, participle, active, genitive, neuter, singular - living" }, "variants": { "*pisteuōn*": "believing/trusting/having faith in", "*kathōs*": "just as/according as/even as", "*eipen*": "said/spoke/stated", "*graphē*": "scripture/writing/sacred text", "*potamoi*": "rivers/streams/flowing waters", "*koilias*": "belly/innermost being/inner self/heart", "*rheusousin*": "will flow/will stream/will gush forth", "*hydatos*": "of water/water's", "*zōntos*": "living/alive/life-giving" } } 39 { "verseID": "John.7.39", "source": "(Τοῦτο δὲ εἶπεν περὶ τοῦ Πνεύματος, οὗ ἔμελλον λαμβάνειν οἱ πιστεύοντες εἰς αὐτόν: οὔπω γὰρ ἦν Πνεῦμα Ἅγιον· ὅτι Ἰησοῦς οὐδέπω ἐδοξάσθη.)", "text": "(This *de eipen peri* the *Pneumatos*, *hou emellon lambanein* the ones *pisteuontes eis* him: *oupō gar ēn Pneuma Hagion*; *hoti Iēsous oudepō edoxasthē*.)", "grammar": { "*de*": "postpositive particle - but/and/now", "*eipen*": "aorist, indicative, active, 3rd singular - said/spoke", "*peri*": "preposition + genitive - about/concerning", "*Pneumatos*": "genitive, neuter, singular - Spirit", "*hou*": "genitive, neuter, singular, relative pronoun - which/whom", "*emellon*": "imperfect, indicative, active, 3rd plural - were about to/going to", "*lambanein*": "present, infinitive, active - to receive", "*pisteuontes*": "present, participle, active, nominative, masculine, plural - believing/trusting", "*eis*": "preposition + accusative - in/into", "*oupō*": "adverb - not yet", "*gar*": "postpositive, causal conjunction - for/because", "*ēn*": "imperfect, indicative, 3rd singular - was", "*Pneuma*": "nominative, neuter, singular - Spirit", "*Hagion*": "nominative, neuter, singular - Holy", "*hoti*": "conjunction - because/that", "*Iēsous*": "nominative, masculine, singular - Jesus", "*oudepō*": "adverb - not yet", "*edoxasthē*": "aorist, indicative, passive, 3rd singular - was glorified" }, "variants": { "*de*": "but/and/now/yet", "*eipen*": "said/spoke/stated", "*peri*": "about/concerning/regarding", "*Pneumatos*": "Spirit/breath/wind", "*emellon*": "were about to/were going to/intended to", "*lambanein*": "to receive/to take/to obtain", "*pisteuontes*": "believing/trusting/having faith in", "*oupō*": "not yet/still not", "*gar*": "for/because/since", "*ēn*": "was/existed", "*Pneuma*": "Spirit/breath/wind", "*Hagion*": "Holy/Set apart", "*oudepō*": "not yet/still not", "*edoxasthē*": "was glorified/was exalted/was honored" } }
• Col 3:16 : 16 { "verseID": "Colossians.3.16", "source": "Ὁ λόγος τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐνοικείτω ἐν ὑμῖν πλουσίως ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ· διδάσκοντες καὶ νουθετοῦντες ἑαυτοὺς ψαλμοῖς καὶ ὕμνοις καὶ ᾠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς, ἐν χάριτι ᾄδοντες ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν τῷ Κυρίῳ.", "text": "The *logos* of the *Christou* *enoikeitō* in you *plousiōs* in all *sophia*; *didaskontes* and *nouthetountes* *heautous* with *psalmois* and *hymnois* and *ōdais* *pneumatikais*, in *chariti* *adontes* in the *kardia* of you to the *Kyriō*.", "grammar": { "*logos*": "nominative, masculine, singular - word", "*Christou*": "genitive, masculine, singular - of Christ", "*enoikeitō*": "present active imperative, 3rd person singular - let dwell/indwell", "*hymin*": "dative, 2nd person plural pronoun - in you", "*plousiōs*": "adverb - richly/abundantly", "*pasē*": "dative, feminine, singular - all/every", "*sophia*": "dative, feminine, singular - wisdom", "*didaskontes*": "present active participle, nominative, masculine, plural - teaching", "*nouthetountes*": "present active participle, nominative, masculine, plural - admonishing", "*heautous*": "accusative, masculine, plural, reflexive pronoun - yourselves/one another", "*psalmois*": "dative, masculine, plural - psalms", "*hymnois*": "dative, masculine, plural - hymns", "*ōdais*": "dative, feminine, plural - songs/odes", "*pneumatikais*": "dative, feminine, plural - spiritual", "*chariti*": "dative, feminine, singular - grace/gratitude", "*adontes*": "present active participle, nominative, masculine, plural - singing", "*kardia*": "dative, feminine, singular - heart", "*hymōn*": "genitive, 2nd person plural pronoun - of you/your", "*Kyriō*": "dative, masculine, singular - to the Lord" }, "variants": { "*logos*": "word/message/teaching", "*enoikeitō*": "let dwell/inhabit/live in", "*plousiōs*": "richly/abundantly/fully", "*sophia*": "wisdom/skill/insight", "*didaskontes*": "teaching/instructing/educating", "*nouthetountes*": "admonishing/warning/instructing", "*psalmois*": "psalms/songs from scripture", "*hymnois*": "hymns/songs of praise", "*ōdais pneumatikais*": "spiritual songs/divinely inspired songs", "*chariti*": "grace/gratitude/thankfulness", "*adontes*": "singing/chanting/making melody" } }
• Col 4:6 : 6 { "verseID": "Colossians.4.6", "source": "Ὁ λόγος ὑμῶν πάντοτε ἐν χάριτι, ἅλατι ἠρτυμένος, εἰδέναι πῶς δεῖ ὑμᾶς ἑνὶ ἑκάστῳ ἀποκρίνεσθαι.", "text": "The *logos* of you *pantote* in *chariti*, with *halati* *ērtymenos*, to *eidenai* how *dei* you to each one to *apokrinesthai*.", "grammar": { "*logos*": "nominative, masculine, singular - word/speech", "*pantote*": "adverb - always/at all times", "*chariti*": "dative, feminine, singular - grace/favor", "*halati*": "dative, neuter, singular - salt", "*ērtymenos*": "perfect participle, passive, nominative, masculine, singular - seasoned/flavored", "*eidenai*": "perfect infinitive, active - to know", "*dei*": "present indicative, active, 3rd singular, impersonal - it is necessary", "*apokrinesthai*": "present infinitive, middle - to answer/respond" }, "variants": { "*logos*": "word/speech/message/utterance", "*pantote*": "always/at all times/ever", "*chariti*": "grace/favor/kindness/goodwill", "*halati*": "salt/wisdom/preservation agent", "*ērtymenos*": "seasoned/flavored/prepared", "*eidenai*": "to know/understand/recognize", "*apokrinesthai*": "to answer/respond/reply" } }