Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse literally says "Give to the wise, and he will be wiser." This subtle wording highlights that the wise don't just passively receive knowledge; they actively take hold of every opportunity, extracting wisdom like a bee gathering nectar from every flower.
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse comes as Wisdom, personified as a gracious hostess, contrasts with the seductive Foolish Woman who preys on the naive. Wisdom has prepared a feast and sent out invitations, urging people to leave their simple ways and embrace understanding, while the Foolish Woman offers stolen bread and watered wine with a hidden threat of death.
The verse says 'give instruction' or simply 'give' to the wise. What does it mean to 'give' to someone who is already wise?
The Hebrew word for 'give' here is incredibly simple, yet profound. It doesn't specify what is given, but the context of Proverbs makes it clear: it's about imparting more wisdom. Think of it like this: wise people are like fertile ground. You don't need to prepare it; you just need to 'give' the seed. They are ready and eager to receive any bit of truth, correction, or insight offered. They don't just passively hear; they actively take it and integrate it, making it their own. Their wisdom isn't a finished product; it's a continuous process of growth.
Why does the verse switch from talking about a 'wise' man to a 'righteous' man? Are they different people?
In the wisdom literature of Proverbs, 'wise' and 'righteous' are often used interchangeably. The commentators here rightly point this out. True wisdom isn't just about intellectual brilliance; it's about living rightly before God. A righteous person, by definition, is someone aligned with God's ways. So, when you teach a 'righteous' person, you're essentially teaching someone already walking in wisdom. They don't just learn about wisdom; they increase in the practice of it. Their learning is a deepening of their commitment to live justly and godly.
The verse promises that the wise will 'be still wiser' and the righteous will 'increase in learning.' What's the bigger picture here?
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This isn't just about accumulating facts. It's about a divine principle at play: the more you embrace God's truth, the more He opens your eyes to see it. It’s a beautiful cycle of grace and response. Think of it like a muscle – the more you use it, the stronger it gets. The wise person's eagerness to learn actually earns them more wisdom. It’s not that they deserve it in a self-made sense, but that God rewards their humble, teachable spirit with greater understanding and deeper spiritual insight. This is the path to becoming 'wise unto salvation,' as one commentator put it.
Understand the original words
tsaddiq · Hebrew Noun
One who conforms to God’s standards of justice and morality; one who is in a right relationship with God and his neighbor.
This passage echoes Proverbs 9:9 by highlighting the principle that those who already possess understanding will be given more, while those who lack it will lose even what they have, emphasizing the receptive heart as key to growth.
James 1:5James 1:5 connects directly to the spirit of Proverbs 9:9, urging believers to ask God for wisdom, implying that true wisdom is a gift to be sought by the humble, who then become receptive to further instruction.
1 Corinthians 2:14This verse reveals the natural man's inability to grasp spiritual truths, underscoring the idea in Proverbs 9:9 that genuine wisdom and learning are only possible for those with a receptive, teachable spirit, often described as 'wise' or 'righteous' in Scripture.
Proverbs 18:15Proverbs 18:15 states that 'a wise man’s heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge,' reinforcing the active pursuit and reception of wisdom described in Proverbs 9:9.
clarkeProverbs 9:9: "Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning."
Give instruction to a wise man - Literally give to the wise, and he will be wise. Whatever you give to such, they reap profit from it. They are like the bee, they extract honey from every flower.
pooleProverbs 9:9: "Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning."
Give instruction: in the Hebrew it is only give ; for as receiving is put for learning, Proverbs 1:3 , so giving is put for teaching , both in Scripture and in other authors; of which see my Latin Synopsis. A just man; called a wise man in the former branch, to intimate that good men are the only wise men.
The verse literally says "Give to the wise, and he will be wiser." This subtle wording highlights that the wise don't just passively receive knowledge; they actively take hold of every opportunity, extracting wisdom like a bee gathering nectar from every flower.
This verse comes as Wisdom, personified as a gracious hostess, contrasts with the seductive Foolish Woman who preys on the naive. Wisdom has prepared a feast and sent out invitations, urging people to leave their simple ways and embrace understanding, while the Foolish Woman offers stolen bread and watered wine with a hidden threat of death.
This verse comes as Wisdom, personified as a gracious hostess, contrasts with the seductive Foolish Woman who preys on the naive. Wisdom has prepared a feast and sent out invitations, urging people to leave their simple ways and embrace understanding, while the Foolish Woman offers stolen bread and watered wine with a hidden threat of death.
"Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning." — The verse literally says "Give to the wise, and he will be wiser." This subtle wording highlights that the wise don't just passively receive knowledge; they actively take hold of every opportunity,…
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Last reviewed October 2026