Proverbs 1:7

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

יִרְאַ֣ת יְ֭הוָה רֵאשִׁ֣ית דָּ֑עַת חָכְמָ֥ה וּ֝מוּסָ֗ר אֱוִילִ֥ים בָּֽזוּ׃ פ

Transliteration

yir'at YHWH reshit da'at ḥokmah umusar 'ewilim bazu

Grammar Details

• *yir'at*: construct state, feminine singular - fear of
• *YHWH*: proper noun - LORD
• *reshit*: feminine singular construct - beginning of
• *da'at*: feminine singular noun - knowledge
• *ḥokmah*: feminine singular noun - wisdom
• *umusar*: conjunction + masculine singular noun - and instruction
• *'ewilim*: masculine plural noun - fools
• *bazu*: qal perfect, 3rd common plural - they have despised

Word Meanings

• *yir'at*: fear/reverence/awe
• *reshit*: beginning/first/chief
• *da'at*: knowledge/perception/skill
• *ḥokmah*: wisdom/skill/prudence
• *musar*: instruction/discipline/correction
• *'ewilim*: fools/stupid ones
• *bazu*: despise/disdain/hold in contempt

Referenced Verses

• Job 28:28 : 28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
• Prov 9:10 : 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
• Eccl 12:13 : 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
• Prov 15:33 : 33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
• Prov 18:2 : 2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
• Ps 111:10-112:1 : 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. 1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
• Prov 1:22 : 22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
• Prov 1:29-30 : 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
• Prov 5:12-13 : 12 And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; 13 And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!
• Prov 15:5 : 5 A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
• John 3:18-21 : 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
• Rom 1:28 : 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;