Proverbs 17:16

Proverbs 17:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
• New International Version (NIV)Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom, when they are not able to understand it?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, Since he has no heart for it?

Context of Proverbs 17:16

14The beginning of strife is like letting out water [as from a small break in a dam; first it trickles and then it gushes]; Therefore abandon the quarrel before it breaks out and tempers explode. 15He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous Are both repulsive to the Lord. Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, When he has no common sense or even a heart for it? 17A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. 18A man lacking common sense gives a pledge And becomes guarantor [for the debt of another] in the presence of his neighbor.

Proverbs 17:16 word by word

לָמָּה־זֶּ֣ה מְחִ֣יר בְּיַד־כְּסִ֑יל לִקְנ֖וֹת חָכְמָ֣ה וְלֶב־אָֽיִן׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• a priceמְחִירmechîyr · priceH4242
• in the handיָדyâd · handH3027
• of a foolכְּסִילkesîyl · foolH3684
• to getקָנָהqânâh · to buyH7069
• wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• no heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820

Cross-references for Proverbs 17:16

• Proverbs 1:22“How long, O naive ones [you who are easily misled], will you love being simple-minded and undiscerning? How long will scoffers [who ridicule and deride] delight in scoffing, How long will fools [who obstinately mock truth] hate knowledge?
• Proverbs 8:4“To you, O men, I call, And my voice is directed to the sons of men.
• Proverbs 9:4“Whoever is naive or inexperienced, let him turn in here!” As for him who lacks understanding, she says,
• Isaiah 55:1“Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy grain and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost [simply accept it as a gift from God].
• Acts 13:46And [at the same time] Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and confidently, saying, “It was necessary that God’s message [of salvation through faith in Christ] be spoken to you [Jews] first. Since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, now we turn to the Gentiles.
• 2 Corinthians 6:1Working together with Him, we strongly urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain [by turning away from sound doctrine and His merciful kindness].
• Proverbs 14:6A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none [for his ears are closed to wisdom], But knowledge is easy for one who understands [because he is willing to learn].
• Proverbs 18:15The mind of the prudent [always] acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise [always] seeks knowledge.
• Proverbs 21:25The desire of the lazy kills him, For his hands refuse to labor;
• Deuteronomy 5:29Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear [and worship Me with awe-filled reverence and profound respect] and keep all My commandments always, so that it may go well with them and with their children forever!
• Psalms 81:11“But My people would not listen to My voice, And Israel did not [consent to] obey Me.
• Hosea 4:11Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away the mind and the [spiritual] understanding.
• John 3:20For every wrongdoer hates the Light, and does not come to the Light [but shrinks from it] for fear that his [sinful, worthless] activities will be exposed and condemned.
• Acts 28:26‘Go to this people and say, “You will keep on hearing, but will not understand, You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;

Commentaries on Proverbs 17:16

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16More literally: Why is there a price in the hand of a fool? Is it to get wisdom when he has no heart for it? No money will avail without the understanding heart.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16Verse 16 Man's neglect of God's favour and his own interest is very absurd.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. Though wealth cannot buy wisdom for those who do not love it, yet wisdom procures wealth (Pr 3:16; 14:24).Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 17:16

• Blindness

In the dictionaries

• Fine
• Friend
• Glad
• Grief
• Price
• Rule
• Strike
• Fool; Folly
• Get; Getting
• Proverb

Commentaries on Proverbs 17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings