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Proverbs 16:22 — Word Study

Depth

WLCמְק֣וֹר חַ֭יִּים שֵׂ֣כֶל בְּעָלָ֑יו וּמוּסַ֖ר אֱוִלִ֣ים אִוֶּֽלֶת׃

BSAUnderstandingsekel [insight, intelligence, prudence] is a fountainmâqôwr [wellspring, source] of lifechay [physical and spiritual existence] to its possessorbaʻal [master, owner] but the disciplinemûwçâr [correction, guidance] of foolsʼĕvîyl [foolish people, those who despise wisdom] is follyʼivveleth [foolishness, silliness]

Word
Listen & take awayProverbs 16
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 22 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration ('i.Ve.let) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Proverbs 16:22quick helps
In a sentenceThe verse contrasts the value of understanding with the folly of foolish discipline.
Who is speakingThe author of Proverbs, reflecting on wisdom and foolishness.
Where we areIn a section discussing the benefits of wisdom and the consequences of folly.
The hard wordמְק֣וֹר
Take awayUnderstanding provides life, while foolishness leads to absurdity.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

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 16:22

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

21The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction.
22Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.
23The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 16:22 highlights the importance of understanding as a source of life, contrasting it with the foolishness that comes from ignoring wisdom. This verse is part of a broader discourse on the benefits of wisdom and the dangers of folly, as seen in the surrounding verses that emphasize discernment and the consequences of foolish behavior.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Proverbs 10:11The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
2Proverbs 13:14The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning one from the snares of death.
3Proverbs 14:27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.
4Proverbs 18:4The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5John 5:24Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word מְק֣וֹר, me.Korgenerated

The word מָקוֹר (maqor) refers to a fountain or source, typically of water, but can also symbolize sources of joy, wisdom, or life. It is derived from a root meaning 'to dig', indicating something that brings forth valuable resources.

In this verse, מָקוֹר emphasizes that understanding is a wellspring of both physical and spiritual life, suggesting that true insight nourishes and sustains one's existence.


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.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main clause centers around the finite verb אִוֶּֽלֶת, is foolishness, which serves as the predicate, while the preceding phrases establish the subject and context. The structure highlights the contrast between understanding and the folly of fools.

The Hebrew word order places emphasis on understanding as the source of life, leading into the contrasting statement about the discipline of fools, which is presented as a separate but related idea.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates מָקוֹר as πηγὴ (pēgē), which also means fountain or spring, maintaining the imagery of a life-giving source. This choice reinforces the idea of understanding as essential for a fulfilling life.

The word for folly in the Septuagint, ἀφρόνων (aphronōn), indicates a lack of understanding, aligning with the Hebrew term and emphasizing the foolishness of those who reject wisdom.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Proverbs 16:22 teaches that having understanding is like having a fountain of life, providing both physical and spiritual vitality. In contrast, the discipline that fools receive leads them to foolishness, showing the consequences of ignoring wisdom.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that understanding is a fountain of life?

It means that true understanding and wisdom provide essential nourishment and vitality for both physical and spiritual existence.

How does the discipline of fools lead to folly?

The discipline of fools is ineffective because they do not learn from their mistakes or heed wise instruction, resulting in continued foolish behavior.

What is the significance of the word 'discipline' in this verse?

Discipline here refers to the correction and guidance that should lead to wisdom, but when applied to fools, it highlights their rejection of such guidance.

How can we apply the wisdom of this verse in our lives?

We can seek understanding and wisdom in our decisions, recognizing that they lead to a fulfilling life, while avoiding the pitfalls of foolish behavior.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to seek more understanding to experience true vitality?
  2. How can I better respond to discipline or correction in a way that leads to growth?
  3. What are some practical ways I can avoid foolish behavior in my daily decisions?
  4. How can I encourage others to pursue wisdom and understanding in their lives?

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Proverbs 16:22 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Understanding [is] a wellspring of life unto him that hath it,.... "The master" or "owner of it" (k).

Read John Gill on Proverbs 16 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 16 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Is a well-spring of life, is continually suggesting wholesome and saving instructions, unto him that hath it; and to others also, as is understood from the following clause. The instruction of fools is folly; their most grave and serious counsels are foolish.

Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 16 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Proverbs 16:22 Understanding [is] a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools [is] folly.Ver. 22. Understanding is a well spring of life.] Vena vitae - as the heart is the principle of life, the brain of sense, so is wisdom in the heart of all good carriage in the life, and of a timely laying hold upon eternal life; besides the benefit that other men make of it, by fetching water thence as from a common well. But the instruction of fools is folly.] When they would show most gravity they betray their folly. They act not from an inward principle, therefore they cannot quit themselves so, but that their folly at length will appear to all men that "have their senses…

Read John Trapp on Proverbs 16 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(22) The instruction of fools is folly.- While understanding is “a fountain of life” (Proverbs 10:11) giving health and refreshment and vigour both to the possessor and his friends, the discipline given by fools is worse than useless, being folly itself. Or it may mean, “the discipline which fools have to endure is folly.” If they will not be taught by wisdom, their own folly will serve as a rod to correct them.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 16 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 22. Understanding is a well-spring of life] מקור חיים mekor chaiyim; another allusion to the artery that carries the blood from the heart to distribute it to all the extremities of the body.

Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 16 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

22. unto him that hath it]. Elsewhere the thought is of the benefit conferred upon others: “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life”; “The law (or teaching) of the wise is a fountain of life”; (Proverbs 10:11, Proverbs 13:14). Here it is of the benefit of wisdom to its possessor: the water “in him, a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14); not the “rivers of living water” flowing from him to bless others (John 7:38). the instruction of fools is folly] Rather, the correction of fools is their folly, R.V. The A.V. has been taken to mean that all instruction bestowed upon fools, as assimilated by them, is only folly, it leaves them fools as it found them: “the…

Read Cambridge on Proverbs 16 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Wellspring of life - Compare Proverbs 10:11 note. “the instruction of fools” Not that which they give, but that which they receive. Compare Proverbs 14:24. “Folly” is its own all-sufficient punishment.

Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 16 →

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

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Insight is like a life-giving fountain to the one who possesses it, but folly leads to the discipline of fools.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

Understanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it; But the correction of fools is their folly.

RVARevised Version, American1894

Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the correction of fools is their folly.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

Understanding is a well-spring of life to him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Vnderstading is welspring of life vnto them that haue it: and the instruction of fooles is folly.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

Wisdom is a fountain of life for him that hath it; but the instruction of fools is folly.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

A fountain of life [is] understanding to its possessors, The instruction of fools is folly.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

Understanding [is] a fountain of life to its possessors, || The instruction of fools is folly.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

Intelligence is a source of life unto its possessor; but the correction of fools is folly.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

Understanding is a fountain of life to the one who has it, but the instruction of fools is their foolishness.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the instruction of fools is foolishness.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

If you have good sense it will be a fountain of life to you, but stupid people are punished by their stupidity.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it; but the punishment of the foolish is their foolish behaviour.

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.

clausenoun phrase · predicateמְק֣וֹר[is].a.fountainחַ֭יִּיםof.lifenoun phrase · subjectשֵׂ֣כֶלthe.prudencenoun phraseבְּעָלָ֑יits.ownersוhisוּand.[the]clausenoun phrase · subjectמוּסַ֖רdisciplineאֱוִלִ֣יםof.foolspredicateאִוֶּֽלֶת[is].foolishness

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text (MT) of Proverbs 16:22 states, "מְק֣וֹר חַ֭יִּים שֵׂ֣כֶל בְּעָלָ֑יו וּמוּסַ֖ר אֱוִלִ֣ים אִוֶּֽלֶת׃" which translates to "Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly." The Septuagint (LXX) agrees with the MT in meaning, as it matches all seven words in a word-by-word correspondence, although the order and articles may differ due to the nature of Greek translation. No significant differences are noted in the Samaritan Pentateuch or the Dead Sea Scrolls for this verse, indicating a strong textual consistency across these ancient witnesses.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

מְק֣וֹר חַ֭יִּים שֵׂ֣כֶל בְּעָלָ֑יו וּמוּסַ֖ר אֱוִלִ֣ים אִוֶּֽלֶת׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
מְק֣וֹרπηγὴחַ֭יִּיםζωῆςשֵׂ֣כֶלἔννοιαבְּעָלָ֑יוκεκτημένοιςוּמוּסַ֖רπαιδείαאֱוִלִ֣יםἀφρόνωνאִוֶּֽלֶת׃κακή

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.

Proverbs 16:22מָקוֹר[is] a foun[is] a fountainמָקוֹרחַיlifelifeחַישֵׂ֫כֶל[the] prude[the] prudence שֵׂ֫כֶלבַּעַלowners itsowners itsבַּעַלמוּסָרand [the] dand [the] disciמוּסָראֱוִילfoolsfoolsאֱוִילאִוֶּ֫לֶת[is] foolis[is] foolishnesאִוֶּ֫לֶתקוּרto digto digקוּרחָיָהto liveto liveחָיָהשָׂכַלbe prudentbe prudentשָׂכַלבָּעַלrule: to mrule: to marryבָּעַליָסַרto disciplto disciplineיָסַראֱוִילfool(ish)fool(ish)אֱוִילמוּסָרdisciplinedisciplineמוּסָריָבֵשׁto witherto witherיָבֵשׁחַיalivealiveחַיעוֹףbirdbirdעוֹףשָׂדַיfieldfieldשָׂדַיבִּינָהunderstandunderstandingבִּינָהחֵןfavorfavorחֵןמִלּוֹאמִלּוֹאשְׁכֶםShechemShechemשְׁכֶםתּוֹכֵחָהrebukerebukeתּוֹכֵחָהכַּ֫עַסvexationvexationכַּ֫עַסכְּסִילfoolfoolכְּסִיל
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 16:22

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.

[is] a fountain of life [the] prudence of owners its and [the] discipline of fools [is] foolishness
מְק֣וֹרme.Kor [is] a fountain of H4726 Noun common · masculine singular construct
18× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Maqor means a fountain or a source of water, like a spring or a well. It can also refer to the source of happiness, wisdom, or life. This term is used to describe a source of something valuable or life-giving.
Amplified meaning
wellspring, source
Tyndale gloss
fountain
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מָקוֹר (maqowr) refers to a source or fountain, typically of water, but also extends to figurative meanings such as joy, wisdom, and progeny. It can denote a spring, the flow of blood, or even the source of menstruation. The term is derived from a root meaning 'to dig' and is associated with various contexts in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מָקוֹר n.m. spring, fountain (app. orig. well)

spring of water

fig. of eye

source of menstruous blood

= flow of blood after child-birth

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4726 מָקוֹר

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4726 maqowr maw-kore'

or maqor {maw-kore'}; from 6979; properly, something dug,

i.e. a (general) source (of water, even when naturally

flowing; also of tears, blood (by euphemism, of the female

pudenda); figuratively, of happiness, wisdom,

progeny):--fountain, issue, spring, well(-spring).

see HEBREW for 06979

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מָקוֹר (ma.qor) — fountain.

1) spring, fountain

1a) spring

1a1) of source of life, joy, purification (fig.)

1b) of the eye (fig.)

1c) source (of menstruous blood)

1d) flow (of blood after child birth)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

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…

[is] a fountain of life [the] prudence of owners its and [the] discipline of fools [is] foolishness
חַ֭יִּיםChai.yim life H2416 Noun common · masculine plural absolute
498× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means life or being alive. It can refer to physical life, like in Genesis 1:20, or spiritual life, like in Psalm 30:5.
Amplified meaning
physical and spiritual existence
Tyndale gloss
alive
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חַי (*chay*) means 'alive' or 'living' and covers a range of meanings related to life, including living beings, vitality, and freshness. It can refer to God, animals, vegetation, and even concepts like appetite and community. Variants include חַיָּה (*chayyah*), meaning 'living thing' or 'animal,' and חַיִּים (*chayim*), which emphasizes life and sustenance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חַי adj. alive, living

of God, as the living one, the fountain of life

of man

of animals, alive, living

animals and man

(dub.) of vegetation, as thorns, green

of water, fresh

(dub.) lively, active

reviving

base

[חַי] n.[m.] kinsfolk, pl. sf. 1 S 18:18

ref

חַיָּה n.f. living thing, animal

animal

in general

wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity

living beings, of the cherubic chariot

life, only in late poetry

appetite, activity of hunger

revival, renewal

base

חַיָּה n.f. community

base

חַיִּים n.m. pl. abstr. emph. life

life: physical

life: as welfare and happiness in king's presence

sustenance, maintenance

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2416a חַי alive, living . . of God, as the living one, the fountain of life

. of man

. of animals, alive, living

. animals and man

. (dub.) of vegetation, as thorns, green

. of water, fresh

. (dub.) lively, active

. reviving

H2416b חַי kinsfolk H2416c חַיָּה living thing, animal . animal . in general

. wild animals, on account of their vital energy and activity

. living beings, of the cherubic chariot

. life, only in late poetry

. appetite, activity of hunger

. revival, renewal

H2416d חַיָּה community H2416e חַיִּים pl. abstr. emph. life . life: physical

. life: as welfare and happiness in king's presence

. sustenance, maintenance

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2416 chay khah'-ee

from 2421; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water,

year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine

singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether

literally or figuratively:--+ age, alive, appetite, (wild)

beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living

(creature, thing), maintenance, + merry, multitude, + (be)

old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.

see HEBREW for 02421

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חַי (chay) — alive.

adj

1) living, alive

1a) green (of vegetation)

1b) flowing, fresh (of water)

1c) lively, active (of man)

1d) reviving (of the springtime)

Aramaic equivalent: chay (חַי "living" H2417)

חַי (chay) — kinsfolk.

kinsfolk

חַיָּה (chay.yah) — living thing.

1) living thing, animal

1a) animal

1b) life

1c) appetite

1d) revival, renewal

Aramaic equivalent: che.va (חֵיוָא "beast" H2423)

חַיָּה (chay.yah) — community.

community

חַיִּים (chay.yim) — life.

1) life (abstract emphatic)

1a) life

1b) sustenance, maintenance

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absolute
HNcmpa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

lif (chayyim, nephesh, ruach, chayah; zoe, psuche, bios, pneuma):

I. THE TERMS

II. THE OLD TESTAMENT TEACHING

1. Popular Use of the Term

2. Complexity of the Idea

III. IN THE APOCRYPHA

IV. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

1. In the Synoptic Gospels

2. In the Fourth Gospel

3. In the Ac of the Apostles

4. In the Writings of Paul

5. In the Writings of John

6. In the Other Books of the New Testament

LITERATURE

I. The Terms.

Of the Hebrew terms, chayah is the verb which means "to live," "to have life," or the vital principle, "to continue to live," or "to live prosperously." In the Piel it signifies "to give life, or preserve, or quicken and restore life." The Hiphil is much like the Piel. The noun hayyim generally used in the plural is an abstract noun meaning "life," i.e. the possession of the vital principle with its energies and activities. Nephesh often means "living being" or "creature." Sometimes it has the…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Life

Generally of physical life (Gen. 2:7; Luke 16:25, etc.); also used figuratively (1) for immortality (Heb. 7:16); (2) conduct or manner of life (Rom. 6:4); (3) spiritual life or salvation (John 3:16, 17, 18, 36); (4) eternal life (Matt. 19:16, 17; John 3:15); of God and Christ as the absolute source and cause of all life (John 1:4; 5:26, 39; 11:25; 12:50).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In the Bible, is either natural, Ge 3:17; spiritual, that of the renewed soul, Ro 8:6; or eternal, a holy and blissful immortality, Joh 3:36 Ro 6:23. Christ is the great Author of natural life, Col 1:16; and also of spiritual and eternal life; Joh 14:6 6:47. He has purchased these by laying down his own life; and gives them freely to his people, Joh 10:11,28. He is the spring of all their spiritual life on earth, Ga 2:20; will raise them up at the last day; and…

Nave's Topical Bible

→ MISCELLANY OF MINOR SUB-TOPICS

Breath of Ge 2:7

Called SPIRIT OF GOD Job 27:3

Tree of Ge 2:9; 3:22,24; Pr 3:18; 13:12; Re 2:7

→ (SACREDNESS OF, an inference from what is taught in the law concerning murder)

See HOMICIDE

Long life promised to obedient children Ex 20:12; De 5:16

To those who keep the commandments De 4:40; 22:7

Vanity of Ec 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7

Hated Ec 2:17

[is] a fountain of life [the] prudence of owners its and [the] discipline of fools [is] foolishness
שֵׂ֣כֶלSe.khel [the] prudence of H7922 Noun common · masculine singular construct
16× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means understanding or intelligence, implying success. It involves prudence and insight, as seen in Proverbs. It can also mean cunning or craft.
Amplified meaning
insight, intelligence, prudence
Tyndale gloss
understanding
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֵׂ֫כֶל (sekel) refers to intelligence and understanding, encompassing concepts like prudence, insight, and wisdom. It can imply success and good sense, but also has a negative connotation of cunning or craftiness. The term appears in contexts that highlight its importance in decision-making and discernment.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֵׂ֫כֶל, שֶׂ֫כֶל n.m. prudence, insight

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7922 שֵׂ֫כֶל, שֶׂ֫כֶל

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7922 sekel seh'-kel

or sekel {say'-kel}; from 7919; intelligence; by implication,

success:--discretion, knowledge, policy, prudence, sense,

understanding, wisdom, wise.

see HEBREW for 07919

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֵׂ֫כֶל (se.khel) — understanding.

1) prudence, insight, understanding

1a) prudence, good sense

1b) insight, understanding

1c) cunning, craft (bad sense)

Aramaic equivalent: sokh.le.ta.nu (שׇׂכְלְתָנוּ "insight" H7924)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular construct
HNcmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

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…

The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
[is] a fountain of life [the] prudence of owners its and [the] discipline of fools [is] foolishness
בְּעָלָ֑יוbe.'a.Lav owners its H1167 Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
84× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Means master or owner, often referring to a husband or leader, as seen in the book of Genesis and Exodus.
Amplified meaning
master, owner
Tyndale gloss
master
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

בַּעַל (ba`al) means owner or lord, and can refer to a husband, citizens, or rulers. It is derived from a root meaning 'to own' and is used in various contexts, including relationships and leadership. The term also appears as a divine name, Baal, in the Old Testament.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

בַּעַל 166 n.m. owner, lord

owner

husband

citizens, inhabitants

rulers, lords

n. of relation

Esp. lord, specif. as divine name, Baal.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1167 בַּעַל owner, lord . owner

. husband

. citizens, inhabitants

. rulers, lords

. n. of relation

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1167 ba`al bah'-al

from 1166; a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively)

owner (often used with another noun in modifications of this

latter sense):--+ archer, + babbler, + bird, captain, chief

man, + confederate, + have to do, + dreamer, those to whom it

is due, + furious, those that are given to it, great, + hairy,

he that hath it, have, + horseman, husband, lord, man, +

married, master, person, + sworn, they of.

see HEBREW for 01166

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

בַּעַל (ba.al) — master.

: master/leader

1) owner, husband, lord

1a) owner

1b) a husband

1c) citizens, inhabitants

1d) rulers, lords

1e) (noun of relationship used to characterise-ie, master of dreams)

בַּעַל (ba.al) — master: husband.

: husband/groom

1) owner, husband, lord

1a) owner

1b) a husband

1c) citizens, inhabitants

1d) rulers, lords

1e) (noun of relationship used to characterise-ie, master of dreams)

בַּעַל (ba.al) — master: men.

: men/comrades

1) owner, husband, lord

1a) owner

1b) a husband

1c) citizens, inhabitants

1d) rulers, lords

1e) (noun of relationship used to characterise-ie, master of dreams)

בַּעַל (ba.al) — master: owning.

: owning/having

1) owner, husband, lord

1a) owner

1b) a husband

1c) citizens, inhabitants

1d) rulers, lords

1e) (noun of relationship used to characterise-ie, master of dreams)

בַּעַל (ba.al) — master: [master of].

: [master_of](DESCRIPTOR)

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffix
HNcmpc/Sp3ms
[is] a fountain of life [the] prudence of owners its and [the] discipline of fools [is] foolishness
וּמוּסַ֖רu.mu.Sar and [the] discipline of H4148 Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
50× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew term means discipline or correction, often used to describe God's guidance. In Psalm 50:17, it warns against rejecting God's discipline, while in Proverbs 1:7, it emphasizes the importance of discipline in gaining wisdom. It involves learning from mistakes.
Amplified meaning
correction, guidance
Tyndale gloss
discipline
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מוּסָר (mūsar) refers to discipline, chastening, and correction, particularly of a moral nature. It encompasses concepts like reproof, warning, and instruction, and can also imply restraint or bonds. The entries consistently highlight its focus on moral and instructional aspects, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מוּסָר n.m. discipline (of the moral nature), chastening, correction

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4148 מוּסָר discipline (of the moral nature), chastening, correction

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4148 muwcar moo-sawr'

from 3256; properly, chastisement; figuratively, reproof,

warning or instruction; also restraint:--bond, chastening

((-eth)), chastisement, check, correction, discipline,

doctrine, instruction, rebuke.

see HEBREW for 03256

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מוּסָר (mu.sar) — discipline.

: discipline/punishment

1) discipline, chastening, correction

1a) discipline, correction

1b) chastening

מוּסָר (mu.sar) — discipline: instruction.

: instruction

1) discipline, chastening, correction

1a) discipline, correction

1b) chastening

מוּסָר (mu.sar) — discipline: bonds.

: bonds/noose

1) discipline, chastening, correction

1a) discipline, correction

1b) chastening

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct
HC/Ncmsc
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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.

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

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…

[is] a fountain of life [the] prudence of owners its and [the] discipline of fools [is] foolishness
אֱוִלִ֣ים'e.vi.Lim fools H191 Adj
26× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
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'.
Amplified meaning
foolish people, those who despise wisdom
Tyndale gloss
fool(ish)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֱוִיל (eviyl) means 'foolish' and describes someone who despises wisdom, mocks when guilty, is quarrelsome, or licentious. It is derived from an unused root suggesting perversion. The word is used in various contexts in the Old Testament, primarily to denote a person lacking wisdom.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֱוִיל 26 adj. foolish

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H191 אֱוִיל foolish

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

191 'eviyl ev-eel'

from an unused root (meaning to be perverse); (figuratively)

silly:--fool(-ish) (man).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֱוִיל (e.vil) — fool(ish).

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

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAampa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Torrey's New Topical Textbook

- All men are, without the knowledge of God

Tit 3:3

- Deny God

Ps 14:1; 53:1

- Blaspheme God

Ps 74:18

- Reproach God

Ps 74:22

- Make a mock at sin

Pr 14:9

- Despise instruction

Pr 1:7; 15:5

- Hate knowledge

Pr 1:22

- Delight not in understanding

Pr 18:2

- Sport themselves in mischief

Pr 10:23

- Walk in darkness

Ec 2:14

- Hate to depart from evil

[is] a fountain of life [the] prudence of owners its and [the] discipline of fools [is] foolishness
אִוֶּֽלֶת׃'i.Ve.let [is] foolishness H200 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
25× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means foolishness or silliness, describing someone's ridiculous behavior. It is used to convey a sense of absurdity or nonsense, as seen in the KJV translations of folly and foolishness.
Amplified meaning
foolishness, silliness
Tyndale gloss
folly
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִוֶּ֫לֶת 25 n.f. folly

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H200 אִוֶּ֫לֶת

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

200 'ivveleth iv-veh'-leth

from the same as 191; silliness:--folly, foolishly(-ness).

see HEBREW for 0191

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִוֶּ֫לֶת (iv.ve.let) — folly.

foolishness, folly

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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