Proverbs 16:22

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

מְק֣וֹר חַ֭יִּים שֵׂ֣כֶל בְּעָלָ֑יו וּמוּסַ֖ר אֱוִלִ֣ים אִוֶּֽלֶת׃

Transliteration

mᵉqôr ḥayyîm śēkel to-bᵉʿālāyw and-mûsar ʾĕwîlîm ʾiwwelet

Grammar Details

• *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

Word Meanings

• *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

Referenced Verses

• Prov 10:11 : 11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
• Prov 13:14 : 14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
• Luke 6:39-40 : 39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? 40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
• John 5:24 : 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
• John 6:63 : 63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
• John 6:68 : 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
• Prov 14:27 : 27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
• Prov 15:2 : 2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
• Prov 15:28 : 28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
• Prov 18:4 : 4 The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
• Matt 15:14 : 14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
• Matt 23:16-26 : 16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! 17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? 18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. 19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? 20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. 21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. 22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. 23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. 25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.