Proverbs 13:16 — Word Study
WLCכָּל־ עָ֭רוּם יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה בְדָ֑עַת וּ֝כְסִ֗יל יִפְרֹ֥שׂ אִוֶּֽלֶת׃
BSAEverykôl [all, completely] prudent [man]ʻârûwm [wise, discerning] actsʻâsâh▸ [deals, works] with knowledgedaʻath [from, based on, understanding, wisdom] ◂but a foolkᵉçîyl [stupid, foolish, one who is silly, absurd] displayspâras▸ [lays open, spreads out] [his] follyʼivveleth [own, personal, foolishness, silliness]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| כָּל־ | every | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| עָ֭רוּם | sensible [person] | Adj |
| יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה | he acts | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| בְדָ֑עַת | with knowledge | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| וּ֝כְסִ֗יל | and a fool | Conjunction |
| יִפְרֹ֥שׂ | he spreads out | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| אִוֶּֽלֶת׃ | foolishness | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly. |
| KJV | Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly. |
| ASV | Every prudent man worketh with knowledge; But a fool flaunteth his folly. |
| YLT | Every prudent one dealeth with knowledge, And a fool spreadeth out folly. |
| WEB | Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly. |
| BBE | A sharp man does everything with knowledge, but a foolish man makes clear his foolish thoughts. |
The translations agree on the key terms used in this verse, emphasizing the contrast between the prudent and the fool.
The sentence is structured with a main clause followed by a contrasting clause, highlighting the difference between the actions of the prudent and the fool.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectכְּסִיל
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 13:16
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 — Wisdom and Folly in Proverbsgenerated
Proverbs 13:16 presents a clear distinction between the prudent and the fool, emphasizing the importance of knowledge in decision-making. This verse is part of a larger discourse on the benefits of wisdom and the consequences of foolishness, as seen in the surrounding verses. The author encourages readers to seek understanding and act wisely in their lives.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 12:22–23 | Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight. |
| 2 | Proverbs 15:2 | The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly. |
| 3 | Proverbs 21:24 | Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man— of him who acts with excessive pride. |
| 4 | Psalm 112:5 | It is well with the man who is generous and lends freely, whose affairs are guided by justice. |
| 5 | Isaiah 52:13 | Behold, My Servant will prosper; He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — עָרוּם, 'A.rumgenerated
The Hebrew word עָרוּם ('aruwm) describes a person who is prudent, wise, or discerning. It can also carry a negative connotation, suggesting cunning or craftiness. This duality highlights the complexity of wisdom in biblical literature, where being prudent is often contrasted with foolishness.
In this verse, the prudent person is characterized by their actions, which are based on knowledge. The parsing indicates that this is an adjective describing a person, emphasizing their wise nature in contrast to the foolish behavior of the fool.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations of this verse largely agree, using terms like prudent and fool consistently across versions.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה, he acts, which governs the subject עָרוּם, prudent man. The structure emphasizes the actions of the prudent person in relation to knowledge, while the second part of the verse introduces the fool and his folly.
The sentence is structured to contrast the actions of two types of individuals, with the prudent man acting with knowledge and the fool spreading out his folly. This clear division highlights the moral lesson of the verse.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew עָרוּם is rendered as πανοῦργος, which conveys a sense of cunning or craftiness, similar to the Hebrew meaning but with a slightly different emphasis. This choice reflects the translators' understanding of wisdom as not only prudent but also shrewd.
The Greek word for fool, ἄφρων, aligns closely with the Hebrew כְסִיל, emphasizing the lack of wisdom in the fool's actions.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 13:16 teaches that a wise person acts based on knowledge, while a fool shows his foolishness. This verse emphasizes the value of wisdom and understanding in making decisions.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Being prudent means acting wisely and with good judgment, based on knowledge and understanding.
A fool displays his folly by acting foolishly and without consideration for wisdom or understanding.
Knowledge is important because it guides a person to make wise decisions, leading to favorable outcomes.
We learn that wisdom and knowledge are essential for making good choices, while foolishness leads to negative consequences.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to seek more knowledge to make wise decisions?
- How can I recognize foolish behavior in myself and others?
- What steps can I take to cultivate prudence in my daily actions?
- How does this verse encourage me to value wisdom in my relationships?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentaries on Proverbs, such as those by Bede, highlight the importance of wisdom and counsel in decision-making, drawing from this verse.
"The shrewd man does everything with counsel," etc. Where he teaches that everything should be done with counsel, he understands more the divine counsel, which is clothed with sacred words, than the human counsel.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 13 →
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 13:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleEvery prudent [man] dealeth with knowledge,.... In order to get more, and with men of knowledge for the same purpose; all he does is with knowledge and discretion; he does not meddle with things, nor
Read John Gill on Proverbs 13 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryEvery prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly. Every prudent (man) dealeth with knowledge - acteth with judgment, not inconsiderately.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 13 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleDealeth, Heb. acteth, or doth, manageth all his affairs, with knowledge; considerately and discreetly. Layeth open his folly, by his heady and foolish actions.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 13 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 13:16 Every prudent [man] dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open [his] folly.Ver. 16. Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge.] Observes circumstances, and deports himself with discretion; thrusts not himself into unnecessary dangers; carves not a piece of his heart but to those he is well assured of. See an instance of this prudence in Ezra; in Nehemiah, he calls it not the place of God’ s worship - such an expression that heathen king might have disgusted - but the place of his father’ s sepulchres; in Esther, who concealed her stock and kindred till she saw her time; in Christ, when he was tried for his life; in Paul, who lived two years at Ephesus, and spake not much…
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 13 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges16. dealeth] Rather, worketh. He works with knowledge, turning it to good account for beauty and profit, as a cunning artificer does with precious metals, Exodus 31:4-5, where the Heb. word is the same. This, however, is probably intended by dealeth, A.V. Comp. our use of the words deal, dealer, in connection with trade or traffic. layeth open] Rather, spreadeth, A.V. marg., or spreadeth out, R.V. text, exposes it. “When your money is all in copper you may afford to throw it about, but when it is all in gold you have to be cautious.” Horton.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 13 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible16. Dealeth with knowledge — Acts with thought, or foresight of what he is about to do. A fool layeth open — Or spreads abroad.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 13 →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
Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.
Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.
Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.
Every shrewd person acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.
Tyndale line
Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.
Every prudent man worketh with knowledge; But a fool flaunteth his folly.
Every prudent man worketh with knowledge: but a fool spreadeth out folly.
Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.
Euery wise man will worke by knowledge: but a foole will spread abroade folly.
Strictly literal
Every prudent [man] acteth with knowledge; but the foolish layeth open [his] folly.
Every prudent one dealeth with knowledge, And a fool spreadeth out folly.
Every prudent one deals with knowledge, || And a fool spreads out folly.
Every prudent man acteth with knowledge; but a fool spreadeth abroad his folly.
Prudent people act out of knowledge in every decision, but a fool parades his folly.
From the Latin
The prudent mall doth all things with counsel: but he that is a fool, layeth open his folly.
Simplified
All wise people act intelligently, but stupid people demonstrate their stupidity.
A sharp man does everything with knowledge, but a foolish man makes clear his foolish thoughts.
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 largely agree in their wording for this verse, with six out of seven words matching. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the text's meaning across these ancient witnesses.
כָּל־ עָ֭רוּם יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה בְדָ֑עַת וּ֝כְסִ֗יל יִפְרֹ֥שׂ אִוֶּֽלֶת׃
6 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 13:16
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.
כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.
כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all
with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
Absolutely:
without the art., all things, all
with the art. הַכֹּל
where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
base
H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all
. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
3605 kol kole
or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;
hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a
plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any
(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as
many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,
whoso(-ever).
see HEBREW for 03634
כֹּל (kol) — all.
1) all, the whole
1a) all, the whole of
1b) any, each, every, anything
1c) totality, everything
Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
עָרוּם (aruwm) describes a quality of being crafty, shrewd, or sensible, often with a negative connotation of cunning. The term is derived from a passive form of another root, and it encompasses meanings like subtle and prudent. It appears in various contexts in the Old Testament, highlighting traits that can be both positive and negative.
עָרוּם adj. crafty, shrewd, sensible
base
H6175 עָרוּם crafty, shrewd, sensible
6175 `aruwm aw-room'
passive participle of 6191; cunning (usually in a bad
sense):--crafty, prudent, subtil.
see HEBREW for 06191
עָרוּם (a.rum) — prudent.
1) subtle, shrewd, crafty, sly, sensible
1a) crafty
1b) shrewd, sensible, prudent
Adj — AdjHAamsa
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-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
דַּ֫עַת (da`ath) means knowledge, encompassing perception, skill, and moral understanding. It is associated with prophetic knowledge and is noted for its divine aspect, particularly in the context of wisdom literature. The entries highlight its use in various forms of knowledge, including discernment and understanding.
דַּ֫עַת n.f. knowledge
knowledge, perception
= skill (in workmanship)
of proph. knowledge
esp. knowledge with moral quality
knowledge possessed by God
esp. in Wisd Lt = discernment, understanding, wisdom
base
H1847 דַּ֫עַת knowledge . . knowledge, perception
. = skill (in workmanship)
. of proph. knowledge
. esp. knowledge with moral quality
. knowledge possessed by God
. esp. in Wisd Lt = discernment, understanding, wisdom
1847 da`ath dah'-ath
from 3045; knowledge:--cunning, (ig-)norantly, know(-ledge),
(un-)awares (wittingly).
see HEBREW for 03045
דַּ֫עַת (da.at) — knowledge.
1) knowledge
1a) knowledge, perception, skill
1b) discernment, understanding, wisdom
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHR/Ncfsa
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
Conj | Adj — ConjunctionHC/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.
פָּרַשׂ (paras) is a Hebrew verb meaning to spread out or scatter. It encompasses actions like breaking apart, dispersing, and stretching forth. The word appears in various forms, including Qal (to spread), Niphal (to be scattered), and Piel (to scatter). The entries collectively highlight its use in contexts of spreading or scattering, but do not provide specific verse references.
פָּרַשׂ vb. spread out, spread
Qal
spread out
spread
Niph. they shall be scattered
Pi.
spread out
= scatter
base
H6566 פָּרַשׂ spread out, spread
6566 paras paw-ras'
a primitive root; to break apart, disperse, etc.:--break,
chop in pieces, lay open, scatter, spread (abroad, forth,
selves, out), stretch (forth, out).
פָּרַשׂ (pa.ra.s) — to spread.
1) to spread, spread out, stretch, break in pieces
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to spread out, display
1a2) to spread over
1b) (Niphal) to be scattered, be spread out
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to spread out
1c1) to scatter
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
אִוֶּ֫לֶת (ivveleth) refers to folly or foolishness. It is derived from a root meaning silliness, and is categorized as a feminine noun. The term appears in contexts discussing foolish behavior or actions.
אִוֶּ֫לֶת 25 n.f. folly
base
H200 אִוֶּ֫לֶת
200 'ivveleth iv-veh'-leth
from the same as 191; silliness:--folly, foolishly(-ness).
see HEBREW for 0191
אִוֶּ֫לֶת (iv.ve.let) — folly.
foolishness, folly
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa