Proverbs 13:15
Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 13:15
Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
It's easy to read "hard" as simply difficult, but the ancient Hebrew word here actually evokes a rugged, rough terrain, like a desert or rocky place. This isn't just inconvenience; it suggests a path that is inherently forbidding, unstable, and leads to desolation, starkly contrasting with the favor gained by good sense.
This verse sits within a larger section contrasting the paths of wisdom and foolishness. It emphasizes that making wise choices and acting with good sense earns favor, while those who stray from God's path face a difficult and unyielding journey, often leading to their own destruction.
Ever wondered why some people just seem to 'get along' with everyone, while others struggle? This verse points to a powerful source of acceptance.
The first part of the verse highlights 'good understanding' (or 'good sense'). This isn't just about being book smart. In Proverbs, 'understanding' often includes wisdom, discernment, and the ability to apply knowledge in a way that is pleasing to God and beneficial to others.
Winning Acceptance
The verse contrasts the favor gained by understanding with the difficult, ultimately destructive path of those who disregard wisdom.
The second half of Proverbs 13:15 describes the 'way of the treacherous' (or transgressors) as 'hard.' This word 'hard' carries a rich meaning here.
What 'Hard' Means:
Understand the original words
śēḵel ṭôḇ · Hebrew Noun phrase
Prudence, understanding, or keen insight. It is the ability to perceive the nature of things and make choices aligned with God’s wisdom.
bāḡaḏ · Hebrew Adjective/Participle
The state of being unfaithful, deceitful, or faithless. It describes those who act in bad faith, betraying trust or God’s covenantal order.
This passage directly echoes the 'favor' mentioned in Proverbs, showing Jesus himself growing in favor with both God and people as he increased in wisdom, highlighting the connection between understanding and acceptance.
Deuteronomy 21:4The Hebrew word for 'hard' in Proverbs 13:15 is also used here for a 'rough valley,' painting a vivid picture of the difficult, unyielding path that transgressors tread, much like travelers facing a harsh landscape.
Jeremiah 5:15This verse speaks of God bringing a nation from afar against Judah, describing them as a nation whose language they do not know and whose speech is harsh and lawless. This connects to the 'hard' or 'harsh' way of transgressors, suggesting a destructive and unyielding force.
Romans 8:5-8Paul contrasts the mindset of the flesh with the mindset of the Spirit, showing how those dominated by the flesh cannot please God. This parallels Proverbs' theme by illustrating that a 'way of transgressors' is inherently opposed to God and thus cannot lead to favor.
Proverbs 3:13-18This passage celebrates the blessings found in wisdom, including favor and pleasant ways, directly contrasting the 'hard' or ruinous path of the wicked with the beneficial outcomes of living with understanding.
cambridgeProverbs 13:15: "Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard."
15 . transgressors ] Rather, the treacherous , R.V. hard ] rugged , R.V., i.e. harsh and forbidding, like a desert or rocky place ( Deuteronomy 21:4 ) in contrast to the “favour” which “good understanding” “giveth,” or “getteth.” The LXX. render, is in destruction .
bensonProverbs 13:15: "Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard."
Proverbs 13:15 . Good understanding — Discovering itself by a man’s holy and righteous practices; giveth favour — Maketh a man acceptable both to God and men; but the way of transgressors — Their conduct, or manner of conversation — is hard; Hebrew, איתן , rough, as this very word is rendered Deuteronomy 21:4 ; it is offensive to God and men, as rough ways are to travellers; fierce, intractable, and incorr…
It's easy to read "hard" as simply difficult, but the ancient Hebrew word here actually evokes a rugged, rough terrain, like a desert or rocky place. This isn't just inconvenience; it suggests a path that is inherently forbidding, unstable, and leads to desolation, starkly contrasting with the favor gained by good sense.
This verse sits within a larger section contrasting the paths of wisdom and foolishness. It emphasizes that making wise choices and acting with good sense earns favor, while those who stray from God's path face a difficult and unyielding journey, often leading to their own destruction.
This verse sits within a larger section contrasting the paths of wisdom and foolishness. It emphasizes that making wise choices and acting with good sense earns favor, while those who stray from God's path face a difficult and unyielding journey, often leading to their own destruction.
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"Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin." — It's easy to read "hard" as simply difficult, but the ancient Hebrew word here actually evokes a rugged, rough terrain, like a desert or rocky place. This isn't just inconvenience; it suggests a path…