Berean Standard Bible
Proverbs 17:16
16Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
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
14To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out. 15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD. Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom? 17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. 18A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
Read all of Proverbs 17Proverbs 17:16 word by word
לָמָּה־זֶּ֣ה מְחִ֣יר בְּיַד־כְּסִ֑יל לִקְנ֖וֹת חָכְמָ֣ה וְלֶב־אָֽיִן׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Proverbs 17:16
- Proverbs 1:22“How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?
- Proverbs 8:4“To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.
- Proverbs 9:4“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.
- Isaiah 55:1“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!
- Acts 13:46Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
- 2 Corinthians 6:1As God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
- Proverbs 14:6A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
- Proverbs 18:15The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out.
- Proverbs 21:25The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
- Deuteronomy 5:29If only they had such a heart to fear Me and keep all My commandments always, so that it might be well with them and with their children forever.
- Psalms 81:11But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.
- Hosea 4:11to promiscuity, wine, and new wine, which take away understanding.
- John 3:20Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
- Acts 28:26‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
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
In the dictionaries
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
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