A fool despises his father’s correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.
Parallel Translations
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A fool despises his father’s correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.
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A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
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A fool despiseth his father's correction; but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
Cross-references (15)
Passages linked to Proverbs 15:5 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Proverbs 15:31-32 The ear that listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise. He who refuses correction despises his own soul, but he who listens to reproof gets understanding.
- Proverbs 13:18 Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline, but he who heeds correction shall be honored.
- Proverbs 13:1 A wise son listens to his father’s instruction, but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.
- Proverbs 19:20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.
- 1 Chronicles 28:20 David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do it. Don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed; for Yahweh God, even my God, is with you. He will not fail you, nor forsake you, until all the work for the service of Yahweh’s house is finished.
- Titus 2:15 Say these things and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one despise you.
- 1 Chronicles 22:11-13 Now, my son, may Yahweh be with you and prosper you, and build the house of Yahweh your God, as he has spoken concerning you. May Yahweh give you discretion and understanding, and put you in charge of Israel; that so you may keep the law of Yahweh your God. Then you will prosper, if you observe to do the statutes and the ordinances which Yahweh gave Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid, and don’t be dismayed.
- 1 Chronicles 28:9 You, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.
- Psalms 141:5 Let the righteous strike me, it is kindness; let him reprove me, it is like oil on the head; don’t let my head refuse it; Yet my prayer is always against evil deeds.
- Titus 1:13 This testimony is true. For this cause, reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
- 1 Samuel 2:23-25 He said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people. No, my sons; for it is not a good report that I hear! You make Yahweh’s people disobey. If one man sins against another, God will judge him; but if a man sins against Yahweh, who will intercede for him?” Notwithstanding, they didn’t listen to the voice of their father, because Yahweh intended to kill them.
- 2 Samuel 15:1-6 After this, Absalom prepared a chariot and horses for himself, and fifty men to run before him. Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate. When any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, “What city are you from?” He said, “Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.” Absalom said to him, “Behold, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputized by the king to hear you.” Absalom said moreover, “Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!” It was so, that when any man came near to bow down to him, he stretched out his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him. Absalom did this sort of thing to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
- Proverbs 1:23 Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.
- Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,
- Proverbs 10:1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father; but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (15 sources)
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Pro 15:5 A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but…
Pro 15:5 A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
Ver. 5. A fool despiseth his father’s instruction.] Heb., Entertains it with contumelious and opprobrious language; as a madman doth a potion offered him for his health. Jerome oft renders the word, "to blaspheme"; and indeed to reject good counsel, of a father especially, with scorn and reproach, is blasphemy in the second table.
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But he that regardeth reproof, is prudent.] Wise he is, and wiser he will be. This made David prize and pray for a reprover. {Psa 141:5} And it is said of Gerson, that great and wise chancellor of Paris, that he took pleasure in nothing more, quam si ab aliquo fraterne et charitative redargueretur, {a} than in a friendly reproof. The like is reported of Sir Anthony Cope, by Dr Harris, who preached his funeral; {b} and of that famous man of God, Mr William Wheatly, by Mr Scudder, who writes his life. He was glad, saith he, when any of the righteous smote him, and would take it well, not from his superiors only, but from his equals, and far inferiors. {c}
{a} In vita Gers.
{b} Samuel’s Fun. Epist.
{c} Mr Wheatly’s Archetyp., Pref.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain A fool despiseth, doth not regard nor obey, which…
A fool despiseth, doth not regard nor obey, which is an evidence of contempt,
his father’s instruction; who hath both love to him, and authority over him; which greatly aggravates his folly.
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Reproof; the reproof of any person whatsoever, and much more of a father.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain Hence, 1. Let superiors be admonished to give instruction…
Hence, 1. Let superiors be admonished to give instruction and reproof to those that are under their charge, as they will answer it in the day of account. They must not only instruct with the light of knowledge, but reprove with the heat of zeal; and both these must be done with the authority and affection of a father, and must be continued, though the desired effect be not immediately perceived. If the instruction be despised, give reproof, and rebuke sharply. It is indeed against the grain with good-humoured men to find fault, and make those about them uneasy; but better so than to suffer them to go on undisturbed in the way to ruin. 2. Let inferiors be admonished, not only to submit to instruction and reproof (even hardships must be submitted to), but to value them as favours and not despise them, to make use of them for their direction, and always to have a regard to them; this will be an evidence that they are wise and a means of making them so; whereas he that slights his good education is a fool and is likely to live and die one.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain A fool despiseth his father's instruction,.... They are fools…
A fool despiseth his father's instruction,.... They are fools that despise any instruction that is wise, good, and profitable; and especially a father's instruction, whose love, tender affection, and care, will not suffer him, knowingly, to give any but what is good and wholesome: wherefore to despise it is not only a contempt of his authority, but a slight of his love; which are both very aggravating, and sufficiently demonstrate his folly; and of which he may be himself convinced when it is too late, and say, "how have I hated instruction and despised reproof?" Pro 5:12. He is a fool that despises the instruction of anyone superior to him in years and experience; of ministers of the word; and especially of our Father which is in heaven, declared in the sacred Scriptures, which are written for instruction in righteousness;
but he that regardeth reproof is prudent; the reproof of a father, whose corrections are to be submitted to, and received with reverence; and especially of the Father of spirits, whose rebukes are in love, and for profit and advantage; yea, he is a wise man that regards the reproof of the word of God, and the ministers of it; and indeed of any Christian, whether his superior, equal, or inferior, as David did, Psa 141:5.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Pro 15:5. A fool despiseth — Doth not regard…
Pro 15:5. A fool despiseth — Doth not regard nor obey; (which is an evidence of contempt;) his father’s instruction — Who hath both love to him and authority over him, which greatly aggravates his folly; but he that regardeth reproof — That is, is willing to receive, and duly regard the reproof of any person whatsoever, and much more of a father; is prudent — Hath already attained a great degree of wisdom, and prudently consults his own welfare and happiness.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Charles Bridges 1846 · Public Domain Alas! we cannot wonder at this folly. Remember the…
Alas! we cannot wonder at this folly. Remember the birth of the fool, "as a wild ass’s colt" (Job 11:12 ), despising discipline and restraint. Yet subjection to parents is the law of nature, recognized by the most uncivilized nations. Much more is it the law of God.†1 The authority of parents is the authority of God. ’The wayward resistance of the ungodly will be fearfully scourged.’ (1Sa 2:22-25 .) And even the Christian penitent has felt the smart of the rod to the end of life.†2 If example would put this folly to shame, do we not read of One child, able to teach, yea to command, his parents, who yet exhibited the lovely pattern of filial subjection?†3 But pride must be broken down, and the "clothing of humility" worn (1Pe 5:5 ), before the child will see that his parents know better than himself, and that to count their word law, — to "bear the yoke in his youth" (Lam 3:27 ), — and to regard reproof, is the path of prudence (Pro 15:31-32 ; Pro 19:20 ), no less than of honour. (Pro 13:18 .) Solomon’s wisdom, though the special gift of God, was doubtless connected with is filial regard to his father’s instruction. (1Ch 22:11-13 ; 1Ch 28:9, 1Ch 28:20 .) Will those, who despise their earthly father’s instruction, listen to their Heavenly Father? How surely therefore will this untractable spirit exclude from the Kingdom of God! (Mat 18:3-4 .)
Footnotes:
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†1 Exo 20:12. Eph 6:1-2 . Compare Deu 21:18-21 . Greek words here. Arist. Eth. ix. 12. Pro 8:14 . Plato De Leg. Lib. iv.
†2 See Memoirs of Mrs. Hawkes, p. 524. — A most instructive biography.
†3 Luk 2:49-51. ’Who was subject? And to whom? God to men.’ Bernard, Homily i.
Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (1846) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain In abundant, &c. Is omitted in Hebrew, Chaldean, and…
In abundant, &c. Is omitted in Hebrew, Chaldean, and many Greek and Latin copies. The same idea is expressed in the following verse.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain (Compare Pro 4:1; Pro 10:17; Pro. 13:1-18).
(Compare Pro 4:1; Pro 10:17; Pro. 13:1-18).
is prudent--acts discreetly.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 5. A fool despiseth… instruction — The sense is:…
5. A fool despiseth… instruction — The sense is: He that rejects the restraint placed upon him by his father, who loves him, is a fool.
But he that regardeth reproof is prudent — Acts discreetly. Comp. Pro_10:1.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 5. is prudent] Rather, becometh prudent, by “regarding reproof.”
5. is prudent] Rather, becometh prudent, by “regarding reproof.”
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (5) A fool (’evîl).—See above, on Pro_1:7.
(5) A fool (’evîl).—See above, on Pro_1:7.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain A fool despiseth his father"s instruction: (Pro_10:1) but he…
A fool despiseth his father"s instruction: (Pro_10:1) but he that regardeth reproof is prudent. (Pro_19:25) The son who attends to his father"s reproof dealeth prudently, or becomes wiser. Astutior fiet, Vulgate; panourgoterov , Septuagint. The Vulgate has here a distich which is not in the Hebrew, but a similar paragraph is found in the Septuagint. Thus Vulgate, "In the abundance of righteousness virtue is greatest; but the imaginations of the wicked shall be rooted up;" Septuagint, "In the abundance of righteousness is much strength; but the impious shall be destroyed from the very root." The addition seems to have been an explanation of the following verse, which has been foisted into the text here.
Contempt and respect for instruction.
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The fool is as a "wild ass"s colt", (Job_11:12) recalcitrant, stubborn; while he who early shows a willingness to listen to good advice has the germ of prudence, the prophecy of a safe career.
I A MURMURING TEMPER, A RELUCTANCE TO SUBMIT TO NECESSITY AND THE COURSE OF LIFE, IS IN REALITY A CONTEMPT OF GOD.
II SUBMISSION TO THE INEVITABLE, COMPLIANCE TO THE LAWS OF LIVING, IS DOCILITY TO GOD. J.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain v. 5. A fool despiseth his father’s instruction, he…
v. 5. A fool despiseth his father’s instruction, he reveals his folly by refusing to be corrected; but he that regardeth reproof, always willing to accept correction, is prudent, shows the proper discretion. cf Pro 19:25; 1Sa 23:22.
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 he who learns from correction
he who learns from correction
The word "correction" can be translated as a verb. AT: "he who learns when someone corrects him" (See: Abstract Nouns)
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is prudent
"is wise"
the earnings of the wicked person give
The word "earnings" can be translated as a verbal phrase. AT: "the wealth that a wicked person earns gives" (See: Abstract Nouns)
translationWords
fool
contempt
discipline
house
evil
trouble
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 15:5 Wisdom requires learning from correction.
15:5 Wisdom requires learning from correction.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.