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?
• 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?
• New Living Translation (NLT)It is senseless to pay to educate a fool, since he has no heart for learning.

Context of Proverbs 17:16

14Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. 15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— the Lord detests them both. Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom, when they are not able to understand it? 17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. 18One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge and puts up security for a 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 will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?
• Proverbs 8:4“To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.
• Proverbs 9:4“Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says,
• Isaiah 55:1“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
• Acts 13:46Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. 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 co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
• Proverbs 14:6The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
• Proverbs 18:15The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.
• Proverbs 21:25The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.
• Deuteronomy 5:29Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!
• Psalms 81:11“But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me.
• Hosea 4:11to prostitution; old wine and new wine take away their understanding.
• John 3:20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their 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

• 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