Proverbs 10:8
Proverbs 10:8 in Multiple Translations
A wise heart will receive commandments, but foolish lips will come to ruin.
The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
The wise in heart will receive commandments; But a prating fool shall fall.
The wise-hearted man will let himself be ruled, but the man whose talk is foolish will have a fall.
Those who think wisely pay attention to instruction, but a stupid chatterbox ends up in disaster.
The wise in heart will receiue commandements: but the foolish in talke shalbe beaten.
The wise in heart accepteth commands, And a talkative fool kicketh.
The wise in heart accept commandments, but a chattering fool will fall.
The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
The wise of heart receiveth precepts: a fool is beaten with lips.
Wise people heed good instruction/advice, but people who talk foolishly will ruin themselves.
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 10:8
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Proverbs 10:8 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
חֲכַם
לֵ֭ב
יִקַּ֣ח
מִצְוֺ֑ת
וֶ/אֱוִ֥יל
שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם
יִלָּבֵֽט
חֲכַם
châkâm
H2450
wise
Adj
לֵ֭ב
lêb
H3820
heart
N-ms
יִקַּ֣ח
lâqach
H3947
to take
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
מִצְוֺ֑ת
mitsvâh
H4687
commandment
N-fp
וֶ/אֱוִ֥יל
ʼĕvîyl
H191
fool(ish)
Conj | Adj
שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם
sâphâh
H8193
lips
N-fd
יִלָּבֵֽט
lâbaṭ
H3832
to ruin
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 10:8
חֲכַם
châkâm
H2450
"wise"
Adj
This word means wise or skilled, describing someone intelligent or crafty, like a cunning man or a prudent leader.
Definition: 1) wise, wise (man) 1a) skilful (in technical work) 1b) wise (in administration) 1c) shrewd, crafty, cunning, wily, subtle 1d) learned, shrewd (class of men) 1e) prudent 1f) wise (ethically and religiously)
Usage: Occurs in 133 OT verses. KJV: cunning (man), subtil, (un-), wise((hearted), man). See also: Genesis 41:8; Proverbs 16:14; Psalms 49:11.
לֵ֭ב
lêb
H3820
"heart"
N-ms
Leb refers to the heart, but also represents feelings, will, and intellect in the Bible. It is used figuratively to describe the center of something, and is often translated as heart or mind. Leb is a complex concept that encompasses emotions and thoughts.
Definition: 1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding 1a) inner part, midst 1a1) midst (of things) 1a2) heart (of man) 1a3) soul, heart (of man) 1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory 1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will) 1a6) conscience 1a7) heart (of moral character) 1a8) as seat of appetites 1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage
Usage: Occurs in 552 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] care for, comfortably, consent, [idiom] considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), [idiom] heed, [idiom] I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), [idiom] regard(-ed), [idiom] themselves, [idiom] unawares, understanding, [idiom] well, willingly, wisdom. See also: Genesis 6:5; 2 Samuel 13:33; Psalms 4:8.
יִקַּ֣ח
lâqach
H3947
"to take"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to take or get something, and it is used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to take a wife, to take possession of something, or to receive a gift. For example, in Genesis 2:22, God takes a rib from Adam to create Eve.
Definition: : take 1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to take, take in the hand 1a2) to take and carry along 1a3) to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away 1a4) to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept 1a5) to take up or upon, put upon 1a6) to fetch 1a7) to take, lead, conduct 1a8) to take, capture, seize 1a9) to take, carry off 1a10) to take (vengeance) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be captured 1b2) to be taken away, be removed 1b3) to be taken, brought unto 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to be taken from or out of 1c2) to be stolen from 1c3) to be taken captive 1c4) to be taken away, be removed 1d) (Hophal) 1d1) to be taken unto, be brought unto 1d2) to be taken out of 1d3) to be taken away 1e) (Hithpael) 1e1) to take hold of oneself 1e2) to flash about (of lightning)
Usage: Occurs in 909 OT verses. KJV: accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. See also: Genesis 2:15; Genesis 34:17; Exodus 30:23.
מִצְוֺ֑ת
mitsvâh
H4687
"commandment"
N-fp
This Hebrew word means a command or law given by God or humans, as seen in the Bible's rules and guidelines. It appears in books like Exodus and Deuteronomy. The commandments guide people's actions.
Definition: 1) commandment 1a) commandment (of man) 1b) the commandment (of God) 1c) commandment (of code of wisdom)
Usage: Occurs in 177 OT verses. KJV: (which was) commanded(-ment), law, ordinance, precept. See also: Genesis 26:5; 1 Chronicles 28:8; Psalms 19:9.
וֶ/אֱוִ֥יל
ʼĕvîyl
H191
"fool(ish)"
Conj | Adj
The Hebrew word for a foolish person, someone who despises wisdom or mocks when guilty. It appears in the Bible to describe those who are quarrelsome or licentious. The KJV translates it as 'fool' or 'foolish man'.
Definition: 1) be foolish, foolish 1a) (subst) 1a1) of one who despises wisdom 1a2) of one who mocks when guilty 1a3) of one who is quarrelsome 1a4) of one who is licentious
Usage: Occurs in 26 OT verses. KJV: fool(-ish) (man). See also: Job 5:2; Proverbs 14:9; Psalms 107:17.
שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם
sâphâh
H8193
"lips"
N-fd
This word refers to lips or language, and can also mean the edge or border of something. It is used in the Bible to describe the shore of a sea or the edge of a cup.
Definition: : lips/mouth 1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding 1a) lip (as body part) 1b) language 1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
Usage: Occurs in 164 OT verses. KJV: band, bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip, prating, (sea-)shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words. See also: Genesis 11:1; Psalms 120:2; Psalms 12:3.
יִלָּבֵֽט
lâbaṭ
H3832
"to ruin"
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to overthrow or throw down, and it can also mean to fall. It's used in different contexts, including battles and failures. The word is about being cast aside or thrust down.
Definition: 1) to throw down, thrust down, thrust out, thrust away 1a) (Niphal) to be thrust down, be thrust away, be thrown down, be cast aside
Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: fall. See also: Proverbs 10:8; Proverbs 10:10; Hosea 4:14.
Study Notes — Proverbs 10:8
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 10:8 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 10:8
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 10:8
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 10:8
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 10:8
- Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 10:8
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 10:8
- Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 10:8
- Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 10:8
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 10:8
- Sermons on Proverbs 10:8
Context — Solomon’s Proverbs: The Wise Son
6Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
7The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.
8A wise heart will receive commandments, but foolish lips will come to ruin.
9He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out. 10He who winks the eye causes grief, and foolish lips will come to ruin.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew 7:24–25 | Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock. |
| 2 | Proverbs 12:1 | Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. |
| 3 | James 3:13 | Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. |
| 4 | Proverbs 9:9 | Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning. |
| 5 | Psalms 119:34 | Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart. |
| 6 | Proverbs 1:5 | let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel |
| 7 | Ecclesiastes 10:12 | The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. |
| 8 | Proverbs 18:6–7 | A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul. |
| 9 | Proverbs 13:3 | He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin. |
| 10 | Proverbs 12:13 | An evil man is trapped by his rebellious speech, but a righteous man escapes from trouble. |
Proverbs 10:8 Summary
[This verse is saying that if we want to be wise, we need to be willing to listen to and obey God's commands, like it says in Proverbs 10:8, and this is similar to what Jesus teaches in Matthew 7:24-27, where He says that wise people build their lives on a strong foundation.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to have a wise heart in Proverbs 10:8?
Having a wise heart means being receptive to God's commandments and willing to obey them, as seen in Proverbs 10:8, and this wisdom comes from fearing the Lord, as stated in Proverbs 1:7 and Proverbs 9:10.
How do foolish lips come to ruin according to Proverbs 10:8?
Foolish lips come to ruin because they speak without wisdom, leading to destructive consequences, similar to what is warned against in Proverbs 10:10 and Proverbs 12:13-14, where foolish words lead to trouble and punishment.
Is Proverbs 10:8 saying that only wise people can receive commandments?
No, Proverbs 10:8 is not saying that only wise people can receive commandments, but rather that a wise heart is necessary to truly receive and obey God's commandments, as emphasized in Psalm 119:34, where the psalmist asks for understanding to keep God's law.
How does Proverbs 10:8 relate to the rest of the Bible's teachings on wisdom?
Proverbs 10:8 is part of a larger biblical theme that emphasizes the importance of wisdom, as seen in books like Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes, and is also connected to the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament, such as in Matthew 7:24-27, where He teaches about the wisdom of building on a strong foundation.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I can cultivate a wise heart, receptive to God's commandments, in my own life?
- How do I balance speaking the truth with speaking wisely, so I don't come to ruin like the foolish lips in Proverbs 10:8?
- What are some commandments or instructions from God that I have been neglecting or resisting, and how can I start to receive and obey them?
- In what ways do I see the consequences of foolish lips playing out in my own life or in the lives of those around me?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 10:8
The wise in heart will receive commandments,.... Such who have true wisdom in the hidden part of the heart, of which the fear of the Lord is the beginning: these will not only, as good subjects,
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 10:8
The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 10:8
Will receive commandments; is ready to hear and obey the counsels and precepts of God, and of men, by which means he shall stand fast and live. A prating fool; one who is slow to hear and swift to speak, who, instead of receiving good admonitions, cavils and disputes against them. In the Hebrew he is called a fool of lips, either because he discovers the folly of his heart by his lips, and thereby exposeth himself to the mischief here following; or because he is without heart, as is said of Ephraim, , or his heart is little worth, as is said here, ; or because he speaks rashly, without any consideration. Or it may be rendered, a fool by his lips, i.e. by his foolish and wicked speeches, contrary to the commands of God, by talking much and ill, when it is more comely and necessary for him to hear and receive instruction from others. Shall fall, to wit, into mischief; or, be punished, as the word is used, ; or, be beaten, as below, .
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 10:8
Proverbs 10:8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.Ver. 8. The wise in heart shall receive commandment,] i.e., Submit to God’ s holy word without replies and cavils. This is check to the brave gallants of our age, which exercise their ripe heads and fresh wits in wrestling with the truth of God, and take it for a glory to give it a foil. The Athenians encountered with Paul, and had argument for argument against him, that Christ was not the Saviour of the world, that he was not risen from the dead, &c. This shewed they were not wise in heart, though reckoned chief among the world’ s wizards. But a prating fool shall fall.] Or, Be beaten. Such a fool was Diotrephes, who prated or trifled against St John with malicious words, and might have been therefore surnamed Nugax, as Rodulphus, that succeeded Anselm in the see of Canterbury, was. Godwin’ s Catal.
Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 10:8
(8) A prating fool (‘evîl). (See above, on Proverbs 1:7.)
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 10:8
Verse 8. A prating fool shall fall.] This clause is repeated in the tenth verse. The wise man will receive the commandment: but the shallow blabbing fool shall be cast down. See Proverbs 10:10.
Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 10:8
8. a prating fool] A happy rendering, lit. the foolish of lips. shall fall] Or, shall be overthrown, or laid low. R.V. marg.
Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 10:8
A prating ... fall - Better, as in the margin. Inward self-contained wisdom is contrasted with self-exposed folly.
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 10:8
8. Commandments — Probably in the sense of instruction, advice, precept. A prating fool — Foolish of lips; he who is foolish with his lips has more tongue than brains.
Sermons on Proverbs 10:8
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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A Foolish Time Demands an Answer by Carter Conlon | Carter Conlon emphasizes that we are living in a foolish time that demands a response from Christians. He highlights the increasing immorality and mockery of morality in society, u |
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(True Disciple Conference) We Have Forgotten That the Way Is Narrow by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of building one's life on the Word of God. He challenges the common misconception that building on the sand represents a weak |
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'Eyes Right' by C.H. Spurgeon | The sermon transcript is a message from C.H. Spurgeon delivered at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. The main theme is the importance of having a clear and focused purpose in life. Spur |
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Five Solemn Facts by Oswald J. Smith | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes five solemn facts about salvation. Firstly, not everyone will be saved, and the listeners are urged to reflect on their own standing. Secondl |
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(Godly Home) Part 2 - the Foundation of a Godly Home by Denny Kenaston | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of revival, the home, and missions in the Christian life. He shares a story of a couple who attended special meetings to impr |
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A Living Sacrifice - Part 2 by Paul Washer | In this sermon, a young man sitting on the front row repeatedly gets up and runs out of the tent after the preacher reaches his first point. When asked about his behavior, the youn |
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Prayer That Is Pleasing to the Lord by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the issue of complicated prayer and emphasizes the importance of delighting in the Lord. He criticizes the idea of filling up prayer time with |