Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 9:8
8Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke the wise, and he will love you.
Proverbs 9:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
- New International Version (NIV)Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
Context of Proverbs 9:8
6Leave inexperience behind, and you will live; pursue the way of understanding. 7The one who corrects a mocker will bring abuse on himself; the one who rebukes the wicked will get hurt. Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke the wise, and he will love you. 9Instruct the wise, and he will be wiser still; teach the righteous, and he will learn more. 10“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Read all of Proverbs 9Proverbs 9:8 word by word
אַל־תּ֣וֹכַח לֵ֭ץ פֶּן־יִשְׂנָאֶ֑ךָּ הוֹכַ֥ח לְ֝חָכָ֗ם וְיֶאֱהָבֶֽךָּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 9:8
- Proverbs 23:9Don’t speak to a fool, for he will despise the insight of your words.
- Proverbs 29:1One who becomes stiff-necked, after many reprimands will be shattered instantly — beyond recovery.
- Numbers 14:6Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who scouted out the land, tore their clothes
- 1 Kings 22:8The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man who can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king shouldn’t say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.
- Matthew 7:6Don’t give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces.
- Matthew 15:14Leave them alone! They are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
- Hebrews 4:6Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news did not enter because of disobedience,
- Proverbs 13:18Poverty and disgrace come to those who ignore discipline, but the one who accepts correction will be honored.
- Proverbs 28:23One who rebukes a person will later find more favor than one who flatters with his tongue.
- Leviticus 19:17“Do not harbor hatred against your brother. Rebuke your neighbor directly, and you will not incur guilt because of him.
- 2 Samuel 12:7Nathan replied to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from Saul.
- 1 Kings 1:23and it was announced to the king, “The prophet Nathan is here.” He came into the king’s presence and paid homage to him with his face to the ground.
- Psalms 141:5Let the righteous one strike me — it is an act of faithful love; let him rebuke me — it is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. Even now my prayer is against the evil acts of the wicked.
- Galatians 2:11But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned.
- 2 Peter 3:15Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him.
Commentaries on Proverbs 9:8
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7-9Verses 7-9 These verses seem somewhat to interrupt the continuity of the invitation which Wisdom utters. The order of thought is, however, this: “I speak to you, the simple, the open ones, for you have yet ears to hear: but from the scorner or evil doer, as such, I turn away.” The words are illustrated by Matthew 13:11 ff.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-9These verses create a break between the invitations of Wisdom and Folly. The purpose might be to warn the simple (Proverbs 9:4) that inviting mockers and the wicked is often pointless. These people have already chosen their path and respond to Wisdom's advice with violence. In contrast, the wise appreciate and benefit from corrective advice.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 7-87-8. shame--(Compare Pr 3:35). a blot--or, "stain on character." Both terms denote the evil done by others to one whose faithfulness secures a wise man's love.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 9:8
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 9
- 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
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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