He who loves wisdom makes his father glad, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to focus on the obvious contrast between wisdom and folly, but notice how the verse frames wisdom as something that makes a father glad. This isn't just about personal benefit; it highlights how our choices echo through our families and bring honor or sorrow to those who raised us.
He who loves wisdom makes his father glad, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This proverb sits within a collection of sayings contrasting the righteous and the wicked, the wise and the foolish. It highlights the consequences of choices, showing how a son's pursuit of wisdom brings joy and honor to his father, while entanglement with promiscuous women leads to financial ruin. This wisdom isn't just intellectual; it's about living a life that honors God and family, a stark contrast to the destructive path of reckless indulgence.
What does it truly mean to honor your parents? This verse suggests it’s not just about outward respect, but about the choices you make.
The verse draws a beautiful contrast: a child who embraces wisdom brings joy to their father. This isn't just about a child avoiding trouble; it's about them actively pursuing a life that reflects understanding and good judgment.
The Father's Heart
Think about the pride and relief a father feels when he sees his child making wise decisions. It's a reflection of good upbringing and a promise of a secure future. The pursuit of wisdom, in this context, is a profound act of love and honor toward one's parents, bringing them genuine gladness.
The Bible doesn't mince words about certain destructive lifestyles. This verse points to one that is particularly ruinous.
The second half of the verse presents a stark warning: befriending prostitutes leads to squandering one's wealth. This isn't just about financial loss; it implies a deeper ruin.
More Than Money Lost
This association with sexual immorality drains resources, yes, but it also signifies a loss of self-control, reputation, and potentially one's spiritual well-being. The original languages suggest 'feeding' or 'pasturing' harlots, an image of actively sustaining a destructive relationship that consumes everything of value.
It's a path of folly that doesn't just harm the individual but has ripple effects, often causing deep sorrow to family.
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Understand the original words
ḥoḵmâ · Hebrew Noun
The quality of having divine insight, moral discernment, and the ability to apply God’s truth to life; it is the gift of God and the fruit of fearing Him.
zônâ · Hebrew Noun
Those involved in sexual immorality outside of marriage, frequently used in Proverbs as a metaphor for spiritual unfaithfulness or destructive worldly associations.
This parable directly illustrates the destructive consequences of squandering wealth with 'prostitutes' (or loose living) as described in Proverbs, showing the deep sorrow it brings to a father.
Proverbs 6:26This verse echoes the warning in Proverbs 29:3 about the immense cost of adultery, specifically mentioning the 'price of a prostitute' and connecting it to a man's livelihood.
Proverbs 7:6-27This extended narrative vividly portrays a young man being lured by a seductress, leading him down a path of ruin and loss, mirroring the 'companion of prostitutes' in Proverbs 29:3.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20This passage directly links sexual immorality (often associated with prostitution in ancient contexts) with damage to one's body, which can include financial ruin and loss of self-control, aligning with the idea of 'squandering wealth'.
pooleProverbs 29:3: "Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance."
Loveth wisdom; and therefore hateth and escheweth all folly and wickedness. Keepeth company with harlots; whereby he plainly discovers himself to want wisdom; of which see Proverbs 7:7 , &c. Spendeth his substance; whereby he not only ruineth himself, but also grieveth his father, as is implied from the opposite clause.
clarkeProverbs 29:3: "Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance."
But he that keepeth company - רעה roeh, he that feedeth harlots, יאבד yeabed, shall utterly destroy his substance. Has there ever been a single case to the contrary?
It's easy to focus on the obvious contrast between wisdom and folly, but notice how the verse frames wisdom as something that makes a father glad. This isn't just about personal benefit; it highlights how our choices echo through our families and bring honor or sorrow to those who raised us.
This proverb sits within a collection of sayings contrasting the righteous and the wicked, the wise and the foolish. It highlights the consequences of choices, showing how a son's pursuit of wisdom brings joy and honor to his father, while entanglement with promiscuous women leads to financial ruin. This wisdom isn't just intellectual; it's about living a life that honors God and family, a stark contrast to the destructive path of reckless indulgence.
This proverb sits within a collection of sayings contrasting the righteous and the wicked, the wise and the foolish. It highlights the consequences of choices, showing how a son's pursuit of wisdom brings joy and honor to his father, while entanglement with promiscuous women leads to financial ruin. This wisdom isn't just intellectual; it's about living a life that honors God and family, a stark contrast to the destructive path of reckless indulgence.
"He who loves wisdom makes his father glad, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth." — It's easy to focus on the obvious contrast between wisdom and folly, but notice how the verse frames wisdom as something that makes a father glad. This isn't just about personal benefit; it highlig…
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Last reviewed October 2026