Proverbs 1:7

Proverbs 1:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
• New International Version (NIV)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Context of Proverbs 1:7

5a wise person will listen and continue to learn, and an understanding person will gain direction— 6to understand a proverb and a clever saying, the words of wise people and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Stubborn fools despise wisdom and discipline. 8My son, listen to your father’s discipline, and do not neglect your mother’s teachings, 9because discipline and teachings are a graceful garland on your head and a ⌞golden⌟ chain around your neck.

Proverbs 1:7 word by word

יִרְאַ֣ת יְ֭הוָה רֵאשִׁ֣ית דָּ֑עַת חָכְמָ֥ה וּ֝מוּסָ֗ר אֱוִילִ֥ים בָּֽזוּ׃ פRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The fearיִרְאָהyir'âh · fearH3374
• of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• the beginningרֵאשִׁיתrê'shîyth · first: beginningH7225
• of knowledgeדַּ֫עַתda‛ath · knowledgeH1847
• foolsאֱוִיל'ĕvîyl · fool(ish)H191
• despiseבּוּזbûz · to despiseH936
• wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• and instructionמוּסָרmûsâr · discipline: instructionH4148

Cross-references for Proverbs 1:7

• Proverbs 9:10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
• Job 28:28So he told humans, ‘The fear of the Lord is wisdom! To stay away from evil is understanding.’ ”
• Psalms 111:10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Good sense is shown by everyone who follows ⌞God’s guiding principles⌟. His praise continues forever.
• Psalms 112:1Hallelujah! Blessed is the person who fears the Lord and is happy to obey his commands.
• Ecclesiastes 12:13After having heard it all, this is the conclusion: Fear God, and keep his commands, because this applies to everyone.
• Proverbs 1:22“How long will you gullible people love being so gullible? How long will you mockers find joy in your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge?
• Proverbs 5:12“Oh, how I hated discipline! How my heart despised correction!
• Proverbs 15:5A stubborn fool despises his father’s discipline, but whoever appreciates a warning shows good sense.
• Proverbs 18:2A fool does not find joy in understanding but only in expressing his own opinion.
• John 3:18Those who believe in him won’t be condemned. But those who don’t believe are already condemned because they don’t believe in God’s only Son.
• Romans 1:28And because they thought it was worthless to acknowledge God, God allowed their own immoral minds to control them. So they do these indecent things.

Commentaries on Proverbs 1:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7The fear of the Lord - In the preceding verses Solomon shows the advantage of acting according to the dictates of wisdom; in the following verses he shows the danger of acting contrary to them. The fear of the Lord signifies that religious reverence which every intelligent being owes to his Creator; and is often used to express the whole of religion, as we have frequently had occasion to remark in different places. But what is religion? The love of God…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7The beginning of wisdom is found in the temper of reverence and awe. The fear of the finite in the presence of the Infinite, of the sinful in the presence of the Holy (compare Job 42:5-6), this for the Israelite was the starting-point of all true wisdom. In the Book of Job 28:28 it appears as an oracle accompanied by the noblest poetry. In Psalm 111:10 it comes as the choral close of a temple hymn. Here it is the watchword of a true ethical education…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-9Verses 7-9 Fools are persons who have no true wisdom, who follow their own devices, without regard to reason, or reverence for God. Children are reasonable creatures, and when we tell them what they must do, we must tell them why. But they are corrupt and wilful, therefore with the instruction there is need of a law. Let Divine truths and commands be to us most honourable; let us value them, and then they shall be so to us.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7Fear of the Lord means relying completely on God for everything, including knowledge and wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). It is not just a way of thinking; it involves serving, loving, and obeying God’s laws (see Deuteronomy 10:12–13). Fear of the Lord is the basis of all knowledge. How can we understand life without knowing its most basic truth—that God created it?Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. The fear of the Lord--the principle of true piety (compare Pr 2:5; 14:26, 27; Job 28:28; Psa 34:11; 111:10; Ac 9:31). beginning--first part, foundation. fools--the stupid and indifferent to God's character and government; hence the wicked.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 1:7

• Blindness
• Fear of God
• Fool
• Knowledge
• Wisdom
• Young Men

In the dictionaries

• Call
• Consent
• Despise
• Entice
• Fear of the Lord the
• Hate
• Lurk
• Naught
• Prosperity
• Proverb

Commentaries on Proverbs 1

• 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