Proverbs 13:20 — Word Study
WLCהוֹלֵ֣ךְ אֶת־ חֲכָמִ֣ים יֶחְכָּ֑ם וְרֹעֶ֖ה כְסִילִ֣ים יֵרֽוֹעַ׃
BSAHe who walkshâlak [goes, associates] withʼêth the wisechâkâm [intelligent, discerning] will become wisechâkam [prudent, insightful] but the companionrâʻâh [close friend, associate] of foolskᵉçîyl [stupid, silly people] will be destroyedrâʻaʻ▸ [broken, afflicted, suffer harm]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הוֹלֵ֣ךְ | [one who] walks | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine singular |
| אֶת־ | with | Preposition |
| חֲכָמִ֣ים | wise [people] | Adj |
| יֶחְכָּ֑ם | he will become wise | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| וְרֹעֶ֖ה | and [one who] associates with | Conjunction, verb qal participle (active) masculine singular |
| כְסִילִ֣ים | fools | Adj |
| יֵרֽוֹעַ׃ | he will be harmed | Verb, Niphal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. |
| KJV | He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. |
| ASV | Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise; But the companion of fools shall smart for it. |
| YLT | Whoso is walking with wise men is wise, And a companion of fools suffereth evil. |
| WEB | One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. |
| BBE | Go with wise men and be wise: but he who keeps company with the foolish will be broken. |
Where they part company is כְסִילִ֣ים — see How Translations Differ.
Two main clauses with contrasting outcomes, highlighting the cause-and-effect relationship between companionship and fate.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbהָלַךְ
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 13:20
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 — The Value of Wisdomgenerated
Proverbs 13:20 emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with wise individuals. The surrounding verses highlight the contrast between the outcomes of the wise and the foolish, illustrating that wisdom leads to positive results while foolishness results in harm. This theme resonates throughout Proverbs, encouraging readers to seek wisdom and avoid folly.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 2:20 | So you will follow in the ways of the good, and keep to the paths of the righteous. |
| 2 | Psalm 119:63 | I am a friend to all who fear You, and to those who keep Your precepts. |
| 3 | Song of Solomon 1:7–8 | |
| 4 | Malachi 3:16 | At that time those who feared the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened and heard them. So a scroll of remembrance was written before Him regarding those who feared the LORD and honored His name. |
| 5 | Acts 2:42 | They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 18 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — חָכָם, cha.kha.Mimgenerated
The word חָכָם (chakam) means wise or skilled, indicating someone who possesses intelligence and discernment. It encompasses various aspects of wisdom, including practical skill and ethical understanding. The parsing as an adjective shows it describes a quality of people, specifically those who are prudent and insightful.
In this verse, the association with the wise is crucial; it suggests that wisdom is not just an individual trait but can be cultivated through relationships. The wise are portrayed as those who can influence others positively.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against. The BSB uses fools, which is also chosen by the KJV, ASV, and others.
Where translations differ is in the rendering of כְסִילִ֣ים. Some versions, like the FBV, use stupid, while the majority maintain fools.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse has a main clause with two contrasting outcomes: the first part is governed by the verb הוֹלֵ֣ךְ (he who walks), while the second part is governed by יֵרֽוֹעַ (he will be harmed). The structure highlights the cause-and-effect relationship between one's companions and their outcomes.
The syntax emphasizes the importance of the subject's actions, illustrating that the choice of friends directly impacts one's fate.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew חָכָם is rendered as σοφοῖς (sophois), meaning wise. This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing the wisdom of the companions.
The Greek translation captures the essence of the original Hebrew, maintaining the focus on wisdom and its consequences.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 13:20 teaches that walking with wise people leads to becoming wise, while being friends with fools leads to harm. This highlights the importance of choosing companions wisely.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To walk with the wise means to associate closely with intelligent and discerning individuals, learning from their actions and insights.
Those who associate with fools may suffer harm or destruction due to the negative influence of foolish behavior.
You can apply this verse by being intentional about the friendships you cultivate, seeking relationships with those who demonstrate wisdom and good judgment.
Wisdom is important in Proverbs as it leads to better decision-making and positive outcomes in life, while folly leads to ruin.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- Who are the wise people in my life that I can learn from?
- What characteristics should I look for in friends to ensure they are wise?
- How can I avoid being influenced by foolish behavior?
- In what ways can I cultivate wisdom in my own life?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Bede comments on this verse, noting that walking with the wise implies imitating their actions, regardless of one's background.
He who walks with the wise will be wise, etc. To walk with the wise is to imitate the actions of the wise. Therefore, however simple and rustic one may be, who cannot comprehend the secrets of wisdom,Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 13 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 13:20 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe that walketh with wise [men] shall be wise,.... Who is a companion of them that fear the Lord; converses frequently with them in private about spiritual and experimental things, and walks with
Read John Gill on Proverbs 13 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHe that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. He that walketh (namely, continuously and habitually) with wise men shall be wise.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 13 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWalketh; commonly converseth and associateth himself. Shall be wise; shall learn wisdom and goodness, both from their counsels and examples. The design of this proverb is to show the wonderful influence which a man’ s society hath upon him, either to save, or to corrupt and destroy him.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 13 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise [men] shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.Ver. 20. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise.] He that comes where sweet spices and ointments are stirring, doth carry away some of the sweet savour, though he think not of it; so he that converseth with good men shall get good. Holiness is such an elixir as by contaction (if there be any disposition of goodness in the same metal) it will render it of the property. A child having been brought up with Plato, and afterwards hearing his father break out into rage and passion, said, I have never seen the like with Plato. But a companion of fools shall be broken.] There is an…
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 13 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(20) Shall be destroyed—i.e., morally ruined.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 13 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 20. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise] To walk with a person implies love and attachment; and it is impossible not to imitate those we love. So we say, "Show me his company, and I'll tell you the man." Let me know the company he keeps, and I shall easily guess his moral character.
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 13 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges20. He that walketh] Or (with a change of Heb. vowel points), Walk with wise men and be wise. destroyed] Lit. be broken. See Proverbs 11:15, where the same word is rendered shall smart for it. He who is the companion of fools in friendship shall become their companion in destruction. Comp. Proverbs 1:10; Proverbs 1:18.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 13 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible20. Walketh with wise men — This may be read imperatively: Walk with wise men and be wise. “This expresses the influence of good associates upon the character.
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
He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
The one who associates with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
Tyndale line
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise; But the companion of fools shall smart for it.
Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise: but the companion of fools shall smart for it.
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
He that walketh with the wise, shalbe wise: but a companion of fooles shalbe afflicted.
Strictly literal
He that walketh with wise [men] becometh wise; but a companion of the foolish will be depraved.
Whoso is walking with wise men is wise, And a companion of fools suffereth evil.
Whoever is walking with wise men is wise, || And a companion of fools suffers evil.
He that walketh with wise men will become wise; but he that associateth with fools will be destroyed.
Walk with wise people and you will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
From the Latin
He that walketh with the wise, shall be wise: a friend of fools shall become like to them.
Simplified
Being friends with wise people will make you wise, but being friends with stupid people will only cause you problems.
Go with wise men and be wise: but he who keeps company with the foolish will be broken.
Word by word, the decisions they made
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 reads הוֹלֵ֣ךְ אֶת־ חֲכָמִ֣ים יֶחְכָּ֑ם וְרֹעֶ֖ה כְסִילִ֣ים יֵרֽוֹעַ׃. The Septuagint matches three of the seven words, indicating a degree of agreement with the Hebrew text, though the word order and articles differ.
הוֹלֵ֣ךְ אֶת־ חֲכָמִ֣ים יֶחְכָּ֑ם וְרֹעֶ֖ה כְסִילִ֣ים יֵרֽוֹעַ׃
3 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 13:20
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.
הָלַךְ (halak) means 'to go,' 'come,' or 'walk,' and covers a wide range of literal and figurative uses, including aspects of life and death. It can describe physical movement, moral conduct, and even influence on character. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances like leading or traversing.
הָלַךְ 1546 vb. go, come, walk
Qal Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך
lit.
of persons
Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations
in like manner of inanimate things
The inf. abs. is often used
as in other vbs., quite independently
to intensify meaning of finite form
most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs.
with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance
with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)
in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. adj. denoting progress, advance
twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion
quite by itself
13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.
akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.
In combination with other verbal forms
Fig.; the most common uses follow; in most the origin in a literal meaning is evident:
pass away, die
H1980 הָלַךְ go, come, walk .Impf. usually (629 t.) as if from ילך . lit. . of persons
. Also of animals, in similar meanings and combinations
. in like manner of inanimate things
. The inf. abs. is often used . as in other vbs., quite independently
. to intensify meaning of finite form
. most noteworthy is the joining of the Inf. abs. . with a following Inf. abs. denoting a simutaneous action or process, and so emphasizing duration or continuance
. with a foll. vb. fin. c. ו consec. (rare)
. in cases where vb. fin. is foll. by Inf. abs. + adj. denoting progress, advance
. twice, where vb. fin. is not הלך, but another vb. denoting motion
. quite by itself
. 13 t. the Inf. abs. = Imv. & is followed by Pf. consec.
. akin to the use of Inf. abs. are some instances of Pt.
. In combination with other verbal forms
1980 halak haw-lak'
akin to 3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety
of applications, literally and figuratively):--(all) along,
apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant,
depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow, forth,
forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on,
out, up and down), + greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead,
march, X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away),
be at the point, quite, run (along), + send, speedily, spread,
still, surely, + tale-bearer, + travel(-ler), walk (abroad,
on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax,
(way-)faring man, X be weak, whirl.
see HEBREW for 03212
הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: went.
: went/go[away]
1) to go, walk, come
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to walk
1b2) to walk (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to traverse
1c2) to walk about
1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk
הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: come.
: come[nearer]
1) to go, walk, come
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to walk
1b2) to walk (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to traverse
1c2) to walk about
1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk
הָלַךְ (ha.lakh) — to go: walk.
: walk/move
1) to go, walk, come
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.)
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to walk
1b2) to walk (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to traverse
V-Qal-Ptc — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singularHVqrmsa
The Hebrew word אֵת (eth) is a preposition indicating nearness or proximity, often translated as 'with' or 'near.' It conveys a sense of companionship or association, distinguishing itself from similar terms by expressing closer relationships. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, including possession and memory, but do not provide specific verse references.
אֵת, prep. with—prep. denoting proximity
Of companionship, together with
Of localities
אֵת פּ׳ denotes specially
in one's possession or keeping
in one's knowledge or memory
מֵאֵת from proximity with
Note. אֵת expresses closer association than עִם: hence while מֵעִם sts. denotes hardly more than from the surroundings or belongings of, מֵאֵת expresses from close proximity to.
base
H854 אֵת with—prep. denoting proximity . Of companionship, together with
. Of localities
. אֵת פּ׳ denotes specially . in one's possession or keeping
. in one's knowledge or memory
. מֵאֵת from proximity with
Note. אֵת expresses closer association than עִם: hence while מֵעִם sts. denotes hardly more than from the surroundings or belongings of, מֵאֵת expresses from close proximity to.
854 'eth ayth
probably from 579; properly, nearness (used only as a
preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by,
at, among, etc.:--against, among, before, by, for, from,
in(-to), (out) of, with. Often with another prepositional
prefix.
see HEBREW for 0579
אֵת (et) — with.
1) with, near, together with
1a) with, together with
1b) with (of relationship)
1c) near (of place)
1d) with (poss.)
1e) from...with, from (with other prep)
Prep — PrepositionHR
The Hebrew word חָכָם (*chakam*) means 'wise' and encompasses various aspects of wisdom, including skillfulness in technical work, shrewdness, and ethical understanding. It can refer to a class of learned individuals, including those involved in astrology and magic. The word is derived from a related term, חָכַם (*chakam*), which also relates to intelligence and craftiness.
חָכָם adj. wise
skilful in technical work
wise in the administration of affairs
shrewd, crafty, cunning
pl. class of learned and shrewd men, incl. astrologers, magicians and the like
prudent
wise, ethically and religiously
base
H2450 חָכָם wise . skilful in technical work
. wise in the administration of affairs
. shrewd, crafty, cunning
. pl. class of learned and shrewd men, incl. astrologers, magicians and the like
. prudent
. wise, ethically and religiously
2450 chakam khaw-kawm'
from 2449; wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or
artful):--cunning (man), subtil, ((un-)), wise((hearted),
man).
see HEBREW for 02449
חָכָם (cha.kham) — wise.
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)
Adj — AdjHAampa
pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, `am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps…
חָכַם (chakam) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be wise or to act wisely. It encompasses various forms, including teaching wisdom and showing oneself wise. The entries highlight its use in different contexts, such as making others wise or dealing shrewdly. There are no noted disagreements among the lexicons.
חָכַם vb. be wise
Qal be or become wise, act wisely
Pi. make wise, teach wisdom
Pu. made wise, intensive, as it were the embodiment of wisdom
Hiph. making wise the simple
Hithp. let us deal wisely (shrewdly) toward it (the people); make or shew thyself wise
base
H2449 חָכַם be wise .be or become wise, act wisely
. make wise, teach wisdom
. made wise, intensive, as it were the embodiment of wisdom
. making wise the simple
. let us deal wisely (shrewdly) toward it (the people); make or shew thyself wise
2449 chakam khaw-kam'
a primitive root, to be wise (in mind, word or act):--X
exceeding, teach wisdom, be (make self, shew self) wise, deal
(never so) wisely, make wiser.
חָכַם (cha.kham) — be wise.
1) to be wise
1a) (Qal) to be or become wise, act wisely
1b) (Piel) to make wise, teach wisdom, instruct
1c) (Pual) to be made wise
1d) (Hiphil) to make wise
1e) (Hithpael) to show oneself wise, deceive, show one's wisdom
Conj | V-Qal-Impv-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
The Hebrew word רָעָה (*ra'ah*) is built from a primitive root meaning to tend or pasture a flock. It covers a range of meanings including to graze, rule, associate with, and befriend. The term appears in contexts related to shepherding and companionship, with a specific mention of the 'binding-house of shepherds' in 2 Kings 10:12.
בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים perh. n.pr.loc. (binding-house of the shepherds) 2 K 10:12
base
רָעָה 167 vb. pasture, tend, graze
Qal
trans.
intrans.
Niph. poss.
Hiph. v.
base
[רָעָה] vb. prob. associate with
Qal cherish faithfulness
Hithp. do not make companionship with a bad-tempered man
base
[רָעָה] vb. denom. Pi. be a special friend;—Ju 14:20
ref
H7462a בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים binding-house of shepherds H7462b רָעָה pasture, tend, graze H7462c רָעָה prob. associate with H7462d רָעָה vb. denom. Pi. be a special friend
7462 ra`ah raw-aw'
a primitive root; to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it;
intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively);
generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a
friend):--X break, companion, keep company with, devour, eat
up, evil entreat, feed, use as a friend, make friendship with,
herdman, keep (sheep)(-er), pastor, + shearing house,
shepherd, wander, waste.
בֵּית־עֵ֫קֶד הָרֹעִים (bet-e.qed ha.ro.im) — House of Shepherds.
Ra'ah = "pasturing"
perh. "binding-house of the shepherds"
רָעָה (ra.ah) — to pasture.
1) to pasture, tend, graze, feed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to tend, pasture
1a1a) to shepherd
1a1b) of ruler, teacher (fig)
1a1c) of people as flock (fig)
1a1d) shepherd, herdsman (subst)
1a2) to feed, graze
1a2a) of cows, sheep etc (literal)
1a2b) of idolater, Israel as flock (fig)
1b) (Hiphil) shepherd, shepherdess
Also means: ro.i (רֹעִי "to shepherd" H7473)
רָעָה (ra.ah) — to accompany.
1) to associate with, be a friend of (meaning probable)
1a) (Qal) to associate with
1b) (Hithpael) to be companions
רָעָה (ra.ah) — to befriend.
(Piel) to be a special friend
Conj | V-Qal — Conjunction · verb qal participle (active) masculine singularHC/Vqrmsa
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
Adj — AdjHAampa
- All men are, without the knowledge of God
- Deny God
Ps 14:1; 53:1
- Blaspheme God
- Reproach God
- Make a mock at sin
- Despise instruction
רָעַע (ra`a`) is a Hebrew verb with meanings related to being evil or breaking. It encompasses a range of concepts from moral wickedness to physical shattering. The entries indicate that it can refer to causing harm or injury, as well as being displeasing or sad. There is a notable distinction in the lexicons regarding its use in ethical contexts versus physical breaking.
[רָעַע] 98 vb. denom. be evil, bad
Qal
be displeasing
be sad
be injurious, evil
be evil, wicked, ethically
Niph. suffer hurt
Hiph. 70
do an injury, hurt
do evil, wickedly
base
[רָעַע] vb. break
Qal
trans. can one break iron, iron out of the north ?
intrans. break = be broken
Hithpō‛. the earth is broken asunder
base
H7489a רָעַע vb. denom. be evil, bad H7489b רָעַע break
7489 ra`a` raw-ah'
a primitive root; properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking
to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good for nothing,
i.e. bad (physically, socially or morally):--afflict,
associate selves (by mistake for 7462), break (down, in
pieces), + displease, (be, bring, do) evil (doer, entreat,
man), show self friendly (by mistake for 7462), do harm, (do)
hurt, (behave self, deal) ill, X indeed, do mischief, punish,
still, vex, (do) wicked (doer, -ly), be (deal, do) worse.
see HEBREW for 07462
see HEBREW for 07462
רָעַע (ra.a) — be evil.
1) to be bad, be evil
1a)(Qal)
1a1) to be displeasing
1a2) to be sad
1a3) to be injurious, be evil
1a4) to be wicked, be evil (ethically)
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to do an injury or hurt
1b2) to do evil or wickedly
1b3) mischief (participle)
רָעַע (ra.a) — to shatter.
1) to break, shatter
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to break
1a2) broken (participle)
1a3) to be broken
1b) (Hithpolel) to be broken, be broken in pieces, be broken asunder
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVNi3ms