Proverbs 15:20
A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 15:20
A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse highlights a subtle, yet powerful, contrast: a wise child brings joy to their father, while a foolish one, surprisingly, despises their mother. This isn't just about general disrespect; "despise" here can imply causing shame or deep grief, a sharp counterpoint to the father's gladness. It suggests that true wisdom honors the sources of our being, while folly actively dishonors them.
This proverb highlights the stark contrast between wisdom and foolishness in family relationships, drawing from an earlier comparison found in chapter 10. It emphasizes how a wise child brings joy to their parents, while a foolish one causes them deep grief by showing contempt, particularly towards their mother. This sets the stage for the following verses, which continue to explore how choices and behavior impact a parent's heart and how wisdom guides one's actions.
Ever wondered what brings genuine joy to your parents? This proverb offers a powerful clue, linking wisdom directly to a father's heart.
The first half of the verse points to a profound connection between a child's wisdom and a parent's happiness. A 'wise son' isn't just someone who's smart; they're someone who lives with understanding, discernment, and respect for God's ways. This kind of wisdom leads to actions that honor and please a father. It brings him not just fleeting happiness, but a deep, lasting gladness that comes from seeing his child walk in truth and integrity.
The flip side of this proverb is stark: a foolish person actively rejects a parental relationship. What does 'despising' a mother truly mean here?
The contrast with the wise son is sharp. A 'foolish man' is characterized by a disregard for his mother. This isn't just a mild disagreement; it’s a deep disrespect that causes her sorrow and shame. The original language suggests a contemptuous attitude, a rejection of her guidance, her love, and perhaps even her authority. Such behavior is labeled as foolishness because it goes against natural affection, God's commands, and ultimately brings sorrow upon the one who acts this way.
Understand the original words
chakam · Hebrew Adjective
Possessing the skill of living in accordance with God's revealed will. It includes spiritual insight, practical morality, and the application of divine knowledge to everyday choices.
kesil · Hebrew Noun
One who lacks moral or spiritual understanding. Biblically, a fool is not merely unintelligent, but one who rejects God's instruction, acts with arrogance, and persists in wrong paths.
This proverb shares the exact same wording, highlighting the age-old contrast between a wise child who brings joy and a foolish one who causes grief to their parents.
Exodus 20:12The commandment to 'honor your father and your mother' lays the foundational principle for the relationship described here, showing that honoring parents is a divine expectation, not just a social nicety.
Luke 15:11-32The parable of the Prodigal Son powerfully illustrates the 'foolish son' who despises his father's provision and love, causing immense sorrow, while his return brings profound gladness, mirroring the proverb's contrast.
Ephesians 6:1-3This passage directly echoes the Old Testament command, emphasizing that honoring parents is 'right' and brings blessing, reinforcing the deep significance of a child's respectful behavior towards them.
pulpitProverbs 15:20: "A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother."
Verse 20-ch. 19:25. - Third section of this collection. Verse 20. - (For this verse, see Proverbs 10:1.) A foolish man despiseth his mother, and therefore is "heaviness" to her. Or the verb may mean "shameth." "A foolish man" is literally "a fool of a man."
gillProverbs 15:20: "A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother."
A wise son maketh a glad father,.... See Gill on Proverbs 10:1 ; but a foolish man despiseth his mother; that bore him and brought him up, and perhaps was too indulgent to him; which aggravates his sin and her sorrow; See Gill on Proverbs 10:1; or causes her to be despised by others, as Jarchi interprets it; such a man's sin, which is great folly, and shows him to be a foolish man, is highly resented by t…
The verse highlights a subtle, yet powerful, contrast: a wise child brings joy to their father, while a foolish one, surprisingly, despises their mother. This isn't just about general disrespect; "despise" here can imply causing shame or deep grief, a sharp counterpoint to the father's gladness. It suggests that true wisdom honors the sources of our being, while folly actively dishonors them.
This proverb highlights the stark contrast between wisdom and foolishness in family relationships, drawing from an earlier comparison found in chapter 10. It emphasizes how a wise child brings joy to their parents, while a foolish one causes them deep grief by showing contempt, particularly towards their mother. This sets the stage for the following verses, which continue to explore how choices and behavior impact a parent's heart and how wisdom guides one's actions.
This proverb highlights the stark contrast between wisdom and foolishness in family relationships, drawing from an earlier comparison found in chapter 10. It emphasizes how a wise child brings joy to their parents, while a foolish one causes them deep grief by showing contempt, particularly towards their mother. This sets the stage for the following verses, which continue to explore how choices and behavior impact a parent's heart and how wisdom guides one's actions.
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"A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother." — The verse highlights a subtle, yet powerful, contrast: a wise child brings joy to their father, while a foolish one, surprisingly, despises their mother. This isn't just about general disrespect; "…