English Standard Version
Proverbs 14:6
6A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
Proverbs 14:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
- New International Version (NIV)The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
- New King James Version (NKJV)A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it, But knowledge is easy to him who understands.
- New Living Translation (NLT)A mocker seeks wisdom and never finds it, but knowledge comes easily to those with understanding.
Context of Proverbs 14:6
4Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox. 5A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies. A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. 7Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge. 8The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.
Read all of Proverbs 14Proverbs 14:6 word by word
בִּקֶּשׁ־לֵ֣ץ חָכְמָ֣ה וָאָ֑יִן וְדַ֖עַת לְנָב֣וֹן נָקָֽל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 14:6
- Proverbs 18:2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
- Proverbs 26:12Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
- Isaiah 8:20To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.
- Jeremiah 8:9The wise men shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken; behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord, so what wisdom is in them?
- Matthew 6:22"The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light,
- Matthew 11:25At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;
- Romans 1:21For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
- Romans 9:31but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law.
- 1 Corinthians 3:18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
- 1 Corinthians 8:2If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.
- 2 Peter 3:3knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.
- Proverbs 8:9They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.
- Proverbs 17:24The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
- Psalms 119:18Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
- Matthew 13:11And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
- James 1:5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Commentaries on Proverbs 14:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6A scorner seeketh wisdom - I believe the scorner means, in this book, the man that despises the counsel of God; the infidel. Such may seek wisdom; but he never can find it, because he does not seek it where it is to be found; neither in the teaching of God's Spirit, nor in the revelation of his will.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6Findeth it not - literally, there is none. The successful pursuit of wisdom presupposes at least earnestness and reverence. The scoffer shuts himself out from the capacity of recognizing truth.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6Verse 6 A scorner treats Divine things with contempt. He that feels his ignorance and unworthiness will search the Scriptures in a humble spirit.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. An humble, teachable spirit succeeds in seeking (Pr 8:9; Joh 7:17; Jas 1:5, 6).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 14:6
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 14
- 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries