Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
English Standard Version (ESV)
All verses
Proverbs 13:20
What does Proverbs 13:20 mean?
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Proverbs 13:20
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse doesn't just say you'll learn from good company; it points to a deeper "breaking" that happens when you hang out with fools. It's not just about making bad choices, but that their foolishness will ultimately shatter your life.
Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This proverb is part of a series contrasting the paths of wisdom and folly. It follows verses detailing the consequences of lies and poverty, setting up a direct comparison between the beneficial influence of wise companions and the destructive nature of associating with fools. The verse flows into the next, which further emphasizes the inevitable outcomes of these choices, showing how one path leads to lasting security and the other to ruin.
Ever notice how you start picking up habits or phrases from the people you spend the most time with? There's a profound reason for that, and the Bible points it out clearly.
This proverb isn't just a suggestion; it's a law of life. When you intentionally spend time with wise people – those who honor God, think clearly, and live rightly – their wisdom starts to rub off on you.
Learning by Proximity
We all know 'bad company' can lead us astray. But do we truly grasp the depth of the harm and the inevitability of its consequences?
The flip side of the proverb is stark and sobering. Choosing to be a 'companion of fools' – those who disregard God's wisdom, act foolishly, and live immorally – leads to inevitable negative outcomes.
The Path to Ruin
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
chakam · Hebrew Noun
One who has attained spiritual and practical discernment; a person who fears the Lord and lives accordingly.
This passage directly warns us that 'bad company corrupts good character,' echoing Proverbs' warning that associating with fools leads to harm and ruin.
Matthew 13:22Jesus uses the parable of the sower to illustrate how the 'cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word,' paralleling how the influence of foolish companions can choke out wisdom and righteousness.
This passage from the Apocrypha strongly mirrors Proverbs, urging us to seek out wise companions and 'hasten to the wise man,' highlighting the proactive effort needed to gain wisdom through association.
This verse shows the flip side of Proverbs 13:20, warning 'my son, if sinners entice you, do not consent,' demonstrating the danger of even considering companionship with those who lead to destruction.
Psalm 1:1This Psalm describes the blessedness of the one who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, setting a foundational contrast to the path of the foolish companion.
bensonProverbs 13:20: "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed."
Proverbs 13:20-21 . He that walketh with wise men — That is, who keeps company, and commonly converses with them; shall be wise — Shall learn wisdom and goodness, both from their counsels and examples; but a companion of fools — But he who associates himself with the wicked; shall be destroyed — Shall be as certainly ruined as he will be unavoidably infected with their wickedness. Evil pu…
gillProverbs 13:20: "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed."
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise,.... Who is a companion of them that fear the Lord; converses frequently with them in private about spiritual and experimental things, and walks with them in public in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord; he by those means grows wiser and wiser, gains a large stock of spiritual knowledge and experience; for this holds good both in na…
The verse doesn't just say you'll learn from good company; it points to a deeper "breaking" that happens when you hang out with fools. It's not just about making bad choices, but that their foolishness will ultimately shatter your life.
This proverb is part of a series contrasting the paths of wisdom and folly. It follows verses detailing the consequences of lies and poverty, setting up a direct comparison between the beneficial influence of wise companions and the destructive nature of associating with fools. The verse flows into the next, which further emphasizes the inevitable outcomes of these choices, showing how one path leads to lasting security and the other to ruin.
This proverb is part of a series contrasting the paths of wisdom and folly. It follows verses detailing the consequences of lies and poverty, setting up a direct comparison between the beneficial influence of wise companions and the destructive nature of associating with fools. The verse flows into the next, which further emphasizes the inevitable outcomes of these choices, showing how one path leads to lasting security and the other to ruin.
"Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." — The verse doesn't just say you'll learn from good company; it points to a deeper "breaking" that happens when you hang out with fools. It's not just about making bad choices, but that their foolishne…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026