Proverbs 10:23 — Word Study
WLCכִּשְׂח֣וֹק לִ֭כְסִיל עֲשׂ֣וֹת זִמָּ֑ה וְ֝חָכְמָ֗ה לְאִ֣ישׁ תְּבוּנָֽה׃
BSAThe foolkᵉçîyl [stupid person, one who rejects God] delightssᵉchôwq in shamefulzimmâh [finds pleasure, has fun] conductʻâsâh [mischief, wickedness, evil plans] but a manʼîysh [male person, individual] of understandingtâbûwn [intelligence, insight, discretion] has wisdomchokmâh [possesses, enjoys, skill, prudence, good judgment]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| כִּשְׂח֣וֹק | [is] like sport | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| לִ֭כְסִיל | for a fool | Preposition |
| עֲשׂ֣וֹת | to do | Verb, Qal, infinitive construct common |
| זִמָּ֑ה | wickedness | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| וְ֝חָכְמָ֗ה | and wisdom | Conjunction, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| לְאִ֣ישׁ | for a person of | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| תְּבוּנָֽה׃ | understanding | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The fool delights in shameful conduct, but a man of understanding has wisdom. |
| KJV | It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom. |
| ASV | It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness; And so is wisdom to a man of understanding. |
| YLT | To execute inventions [is] as play to a fool, And wisdom to a man of understanding. |
| WEB | It is a fool’s pleasure to do wickedness, but wisdom is a man of understanding’s pleasure. |
| BBE | It is sport to the foolish man to do evil, but the man of good sense takes delight in wisdom. |
Where they part company is זִמָּה — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence contrasts two main ideas: the actions of a fool and the understanding of a wise person.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectחׇכְמָה
verbעָשָׂה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Proverbs 10:23
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Contrasts of Wisdom and Foolishnessgenerated
Proverbs 10:23 presents a clear distinction between the actions of a fool and those of a wise person. The fool finds joy in shameful conduct, while the wise individual possesses true understanding. This contrast is prevalent throughout the book of Proverbs, emphasizing the importance of wisdom in making choices that align with God's will.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 14:9 | Fools mock the making of amends, but goodwill is found among the upright. |
| 2 | Proverbs 15:21 | Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding walks a straight path. |
| 3 | Proverbs 26:18–19 | Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows, |
| 4 | Ecclesiastes 11:9 | Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — כְּסִיל, Likh.silgenerated
The word כְּסִיל (kciyl) refers to a fool, someone who is often described as simple-minded or lacking understanding. It is derived from a root that implies a lack of wisdom, often used to warn against foolish behavior. In this verse, it highlights the foolishness of delighting in shameful actions.
The parsing indicates that it is a masculine singular noun, emphasizing an individual who embodies this foolishness. This term is frequently encountered in the wisdom literature of the Old Testament, serving as a caution against rejecting God's wisdom.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In the Berean Standard Bible, the verse uses fool for כְּסִיל, which is consistent with the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse contains two main clauses connected by a conjunction. The first clause presents the fool's delight in shameful conduct, while the second contrasts it with the wise man's possession of understanding.
The structure emphasizes the dichotomy between folly and wisdom, with the finite verbs governing their respective subjects and predicates.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates כְּסִיל as ἄφρων (aphron), meaning 'foolish' or 'without sense'. This choice aligns with the Hebrew meaning but may carry a slightly different connotation in Greek.
For זִמָּה, the Septuagint uses κακά (kaka), which translates as 'evil things'. This broadens the understanding of the actions associated with foolishness.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 10:23 shows that fools enjoy doing shameful things, while wise people have true understanding. This verse teaches us about the consequences of our actions and the importance of wisdom in our lives.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
A fool is someone who delights in shameful conduct and lacks understanding, often rejecting God's wisdom.
Wisdom involves understanding and good judgment, leading to actions that align with God's will, unlike the shameful actions of a fool.
Shameful conduct can include actions that are morally wrong or harmful, such as deceit, wicked plans, or mockery.
Cultivating wisdom involves seeking knowledge, understanding God's teachings, and applying them in daily decisions.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I see foolishness manifesting in my life or the lives of those around me?
- How can I actively seek wisdom and understanding in my daily decisions?
- What steps can I take to avoid shameful conduct and align my actions with God's will?
- How does understanding the consequences of foolish behavior help me make better choices?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentary on this verse highlights the folly of delighting in mischief and the value of prudence, as noted by Bede.
As if through laughter a fool works mischief, etc. Prudence takes its name from providence. Therefore, it is foolish to rejoice in mischief (Proverb. XIV).Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 10 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 10:23 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible[It is] as sport to a fool to do mischief,.... To do any injury to the persons and properties of men; which shows a most wicked and malicious spirit, a very depraved nature indeed: or rather "to
Read John Gill on Proverbs 10 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryIt is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 10 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleAs sport; he doth it with ease and delight, and without any shame, or remorse, or fear. To do mischief or, as others, to work wickedness; yea, great and premeditated wickedness, as the Hebrew word properly signifies. Hath wisdom; whereby he is kept from committing wickedness, and especially from sporting himself with it. But this clause is by divers learned interpreters rendered thus, and or so is wisdom to a man of understanding, it is a sport or pleasure to him to practise wisdom or piety; which translation makes the opposition more evident.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 10 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 10:23 [It is] as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.Ver. 23. It is a sport to a fool to do mischief.] He is then merriest when he hath the devil for his playfellow. He danceth to hell in his bolts, and as passing well apaid for his woeful bondage. Was he a father or a monster, think you, that, playing with his own child for a pastime, put his thumbs in the boy’ s eyes, and thrust out the balls thereof This was Robert de Beliasme, Earl of Shrewsbury, in the reign of our Henry I, A.D. 1111. And what a mad sport was that of Joab and Abner, to see and set those youngsters of Helkath Hazzurim to sheath their swords in their fellows’ bowels! And that…
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 10 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(23) But a man of understanding hath wisdom.—Rather, But wisdom (is sport) to a man of understanding, i.e., one rejoices in mischief, the other (comp. Proverbs 8:30) in wise thoughts and deeds.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 10 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 23. It is a sport to a fool to do mischief] What a millstone weight of iniquity hangs about the necks of most of the jesters, facetious and witty people! "How many lies do they tell in jest, to go to the devil in earnest!"
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 10 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges23. hath wisdom] Rather, And so is wisdom (a sport or pastime) to a man of understanding. She imparts to him her own joy, or exultation. Comp. Proverbs 8:30, where the Heb. word is the same. See John 15:11.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 10 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleAs the fool finds his sport in doing mischief, so the man of understanding finds in wisdom his truest refreshment and delight.
Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 10 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
The fool delights in shameful conduct, but a man of understanding has wisdom.
It is a fool’s pleasure to do wickedness, but wisdom is a man of understanding’s pleasure.
The fool delights in shameful conduct, but a man of understanding has wisdom.
Carrying out a wicked scheme is enjoyable to a fool, and so is wisdom for the one who has discernment.
Tyndale line
It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness; And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.
It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness: and so is wisdom to a man of understanding.
It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
It is as a pastime to a foole to doe wickedly: but wisedome is vnderstanding to a man.
Strictly literal
It is as sport to a foolish [man] to do wickedness; but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
To execute inventions [is] as play to a fool, And wisdom to a man of understanding.
To execute inventions [is] as play to a fool, || And wisdom to a man of understanding.
It is as sport to a fool to do wicked deeds; but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
Wickedness is a game a fool plays, but wisdom is a pleasure to a man of understanding.
From the Latin
A fool worketh mischief as it were for sport: but wisdom is prudence to a man.
Simplified
Stupid people think it's fun to do wrong, but someone who has wisdom understands what's right.
It is sport to the foolish man to do evil, but the man of good sense takes delight in wisdom.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with all seven words matched. This consistency suggests a shared understanding of the contrast between foolishness and wisdom.
כִּשְׂח֣וֹק לִ֭כְסִיל עֲשׂ֣וֹת זִמָּ֑ה וְ֝חָכְמָ֗ה לְאִ֣ישׁ תְּבוּנָֽה׃
7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 10:23
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
שְׂחֹק (sechok) refers to laughter, encompassing both joyful and mocking expressions. It can denote merriment, derision, or being a laughing stock. The word is derived from a root meaning to laugh, and it appears in contexts of both joy and scorn.
שְׂחֹק, שְׂחוֹק n.[m.] laughter, derision, sport
base
H7814 שְׂחֹק, שְׂחוֹק
7814 schowq sekh-oke'
or schoq {sekh-oke'}; from 7832; laughter (in merriment or
defiance):--derision, laughter(-ed to scorn, -ing), mocked,
sport.
see HEBREW for 07832
שְׂחֹק (se.choq) — laughter.
1) laughter, laughing stock, mocking, derision
1a) laughter
1a1) joyful
1a2) hollow
1b) derision (of object)
1c) sport
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
כְּסִיל (kciyl) refers to a fool or a stupid person. It is derived from a root meaning 'fat' and is used figuratively to describe someone who is foolish, simple-minded, or arrogant. The term appears in various contexts in the Old Testament, emphasizing a lack of wisdom or understanding.
כְּסִיל 70 n.m. stupid fellow, dullard, fool
base
H3684 כְּסִיל
3684 kciyl kes-eel'
from 3688; properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or
silly:--fool(-ish).
see HEBREW for 03688
כְּסִיל (ke.sil) — fool.
fool, stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one
Prep | Adj — PrepositionHR/Aamsa
Any person who does not act wisely, that is, does not follow the warnings and requirements of God, which are founded in infinite wisdom. Hence "a fool" is put for a wicked man, an enemy or neglecter of God, Ps 14:1 Pr 19:1. So folly is put for wickedness, 2Sa 13:12,13 Ps 38:5, foolish lusts for wicked lusts, etc. Foolish talking, foolish questions, are vain, empty, unprofitable conversation, 2Ti 2:23.
עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.
עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make
Qal 2524
do (1560 t.)
deal with
oft. in phr. do kindness with
abs. act, act with effect
make (670 t.)
produce, yield
prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
make offering
attend to, put in order
observe, celebrate, religious festival
acquire property of various kinds
appoint priests
bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
use
spend, pass, days of life
Niph.
97be done
be made, of concr. things
be produced from vine
be prepared, of food
be offered
be observed, passover
be used
Pu. I was made
base
[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze
base
H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)
. deal with
. oft. in phr. do kindness with
. abs. act, act with effect
. . make (670 + t.)
. produce, yield
. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
. make offering
. attend to, put in order
. observe, celebrate, religious festival
. acquire property of various kinds
. appoint priests
. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
. use
. spend, pass, days of life
. . be done
. . be made, of concr. things
. be produced from vine
. be prepared, of food
. be offered
. be observed, passover
. be used
. I was made
H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze
6213 `asah aw-saw'
a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and
widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,
appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,
bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal
(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)
execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +
finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go
about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X
indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,
make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,
bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,
provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,
spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be
(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.
: do/perform
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
1a2c) to prepare
1a2d) to make (an offering)
1a2e) to attend to, put in order
1a2f) to observe, celebrate
1a2g) to acquire (property)
1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute
1a2i) to bring about
1a2j) to use
1a2k) to spend, pass
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be done
1b2) to be made
1b3) to be produced
1b4) to be offered
1b5) to be observed
1b6) to be used
1c) (Pual) to be made
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.
(Piel) to press, squeeze
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.
: make(OBJECT)
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
V-Qal-Inf-a — Verb · Qal · infinitive construct commonHVqcc
זִמָּה (zimmah) refers to a plan or device, particularly one that is wicked or malicious. It encompasses meanings related to evil intentions, such as lewdness and mischief. The term is derived from a root meaning to plot or devise, and it captures various forms of moral wrongdoing, including adultery and idolatry.
זִמָּה n.f. plan, device, wickedness
base
H2154 זִמָּה plan, device, wickedness
2154 zimmah zim-maw'
or zammah {zam-maw'}; from 2161; a plan, especially a bad
one:--heinous crime, lewd(-ly, -ness), mischief, purpose,
thought, wicked (device, mind, -ness).
see HEBREW for 02161
זִמָּה (zim.mah) — wickedness.
1) plan, device, wickedness, evil plan, mischievous purpose
1a) plan, purpose
1b) evil device, wickedness
1c) not chaste, incest, licentiousness, adultery, idolatry, harlotry
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
wik'-ed-nes:
1. In the Old Testament:
The state of being wicked; a mental disregard for justice, righteousness, truth, honor, virtue; evil in thought and life; depravity; sinfulness; criminality. See SIN. Many words are rendered "wickedness." There are many synonyms for wickedness in English and also in the Hebrew. Pride and vanity lead to it: "All the proud, and all that work wickedness (rish`ah) shall be stubble" (Mal 4:1). Akin to this is the word `awen, "iniquity," "vanity": "She eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness" (Pr 30:20). Then we have the word hawwah, meaning "mischief," "calamity," coming from inward intent upon evil: "Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in…
חָכְמָה (chokmah) means wisdom and encompasses various forms of skill, including in war and administration, as well as shrewdness and ethical prudence. It is built from the root word for wisdom, חָכַם (chakam). The term appears in contexts related to both practical and religious matters.
חָכְמָה n.f. wisdom
skill in war
wisdom, in administration
shrewdness, wisdom
wisdom, prudence in religious affairs
wisdom, ethical and religious
base
H2451 חָכְמָה wisdom . skill in war
. wisdom, in administration
. shrewdness, wisdom
. wisdom, prudence in religious affairs
. wisdom, ethical and religious
2451 chokmah khok-maw'
from 2449; wisdom (in a good sense):--skilful, wisdom,
wisely, wit.
see HEBREW for 02449
חׇכְמָה (chokh.mah) — wisdom.
1) wisdom
1a) skill (in war)
1b) wisdom (in administration)
1c) shrewdness, wisdom
1d) wisdom, prudence (in religious affairs)
1e) wisdom (ethical and religious)
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absoluteHC/Ncfsa
wiz'-dum:
1. Linguistic
2. History
3. Religious Basis
4. Ideals
5. Teaching of Christ
6. Remainder of the New Testament
(1) James
(2) Paul
7. Hypostasis
LITERATURE
1. Linguistic:
In the Revised Version (British and American) the noun "wisdom" and its corresponding adjective and verb ("be wise," "act wisely," etc.) represent a variety of Hebrew words: bin (binah, and in the English Revised Version tebunah), sakhal (sekhel, sekhel), lebh (and in the English Revised Version labhabh), tushiyah (and in the English Revised Version Te`em, `ormah, piqqach. None of these, however, is of very frequent occurrence and by far the most common group is the verb chakham, with the adjective chakham, and the nouns chokhmah, chokhmoth, with something over 300 occurrences in the Old Testament (of which rather more than half are in Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes). Cokhmah, accordingly, may be treated as the Hebrew…
The Hebrew word אִישׁ (iysh) means 'man' and can refer to an individual male, a husband, or a human being in general. It encompasses various meanings, including champion and great man, and can also imply 'whosoever' or 'each.' The word is built from a root suggesting existence and is used throughout the Old Testament.
אִישׁ 2166 n.m. man (= vir)
base
H376 אִישׁ man (= vir)
376 'iysh eesh
contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root
meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male
person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and
in such cases frequently not expressed in
translation):--also, another, any (man), a certain, +
champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-,
husband-)man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree),
him (that is), husband, man(-kind), + none, one, people,
person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy.
Compare 802.
see HEBREW for 0582
see HEBREW for 0802
אִישׁ (ish) — man.
: man
1) man
1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)
1b) husband
1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)
1d) servant
1e) mankind
1f) champion
1g) great man
2) whosoever
3) each (adjective)
אִישׁ (ish) — man: husband.
: husband
1) man
1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)
1b) husband
1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)
1d) servant
1e) mankind
1f) champion
1g) great man
2) whosoever
3) each (adjective)
אִישׁ (ish) — man: anyone.
: anyone/someone
1) man
1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)
1b) husband
1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)
1d) servant
1e) mankind
1f) champion
1g) great man
2) whosoever
3) each (adjective)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
תְּבוּנָה (tebunah) means understanding and encompasses intelligence, skill, and insight. It can refer to both the act of understanding and the faculty itself, as well as the object of knowledge. The term is personified as a teacher in some contexts.
תְּבוּנָה n.f. understanding
the act
the faculty
the object of knowledge
personified as teacher.
base
H8394 תְּבוּנָה understanding
8394 tabuwn taw-boon'
and (feminine) tbuwnah {teb-oo-naw'}; or towbunah
{to-boo-naw'}; from 995; intelligence; by implication, an
argument; by extension, caprice:--discretion, reason,
skilfulness, understanding, wisdom.
see HEBREW for 0995
תְּבוּנָה (ta.vu.nah) — understanding.
1) understanding, intelligence
1a) the act of understanding
1a1) skill
1b) the faculty of understanding
1b1) intelligence, understanding, insight
1c) the object of knowledge
1d) teacher (personification)
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa