Proverbs 1:22

“simple ones--(Compare Pro 1:4). simplicity--implying ignorance. scorners-- (Psa 1:1) --who despise, as well as reject, truth. fools--Though a different word is used from that of Pro 1:7, yet it is of the same meaning.”

“Compare the Psalms 1:1 note. (1) The “simple,” literally, “open,” i. e. fatally open to evil; (2) the “scorners,” mocking at all good; (3) lastly, the “fools” in the sense of being hardened, obstinate, perverse, hating the knowledge they have rejected. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Scoffers - That scoff at religion and contemn the word and faithful ministers of God. Proverbs 1:23”

“1:22 Three main words in Proverbs describe those who lack God’s wisdom. Simpletons (Hebrew pethim) have not hardened themselves against God’s wisdom and are most open to correction (see 1:4). Fools (Hebrew kesilim) have heard God’s wisdom but resist it. Mockers (Hebrew latsonim) not only resist wisdom but even ridicule it.”

“How: Pro 6:9; Exo 10:3, Exo 16:28; Num 14:27; Mat 17:17 ye simple: Pro 7:7, Pro 9:4-6, Pro 9:16-18; Psa 94:8; Mat 9:13, Mat 11:29, Mat 11:30, Mat 23:37; Luk 19:42; Rev 22:17 the scorners: Pro 3:34, Pro 14:6, Pro 15:12, Pro 19:29, Pro 21:11; Job 34:7; Psa 1:1; Pe2 3:3 fools: Pro 1:7, Pro 1:29, Pro 5:12; Joh 3:20 Proverbs 1:23”

“The poet has now reached that part of his introduction where he makes use of the very words uttered by Wisdom: How long, ye simple, will ye love simplicity, And scorners delight in scorning, And fools hate knowledge? Three classes of men are here addressed: the פּתים, the simple, who, being accessible to seduction, are only too susceptible of evil; the לצים, mockers, i.e., free-thinkers (from לוּץ, Arab. luṣ, flectere, torquere, properly qui verbis obliquis utitur); and the כּסילים, fools, i.e., the mentally imbecile and stupid (from כּסל, Arab. kasal, to be thick, coarse, indolent). The address to these passes immediately over into a declaration regarding them; cf. the same enallage, Pro…”