Proverbs 13:1

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Proverbs 13:1 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “A wise son [heareth] his father`s instruction; But a scoffer heareth not rebuke.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

A wise son [heareth] his father`s instruction; But a scoffer heareth not rebuke.
Proverbs 13:1 — American Standard Version

Context — Proverbs 13

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1A wise son [heareth] his father`s instruction; But a scoffer heareth not rebuke.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“A wise son [heareth] his father’s instruction, etc.] As he should, and has good reason to do; since it must be cordial, faithful, and disinterested, as well as the effect of age and experience. He “asks for it” and “loves” it, as Jarchi supplies the text; he likes and approves of it, is well pleased with it, and delights in it; seeing it tends to his profit and advantage; he “receives” it, as the Targum, so Ben Melech; he listens to and obeys it, and acts agreeably to it, which shows him to be wise; and this is the way to be wiser and wiser. So one that is spiritually wise will attend to and receive the instruction of Wisdom or Christ; who stands in the relation of an everlasting fin, her to…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“(Pro. 13:1-25) (Compare Pro 6:1-5; Pro 10:1, Pro 10:17).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Heareth - The verb of the second clause is inserted in the first, just as in the next verse that of the first is inserted in the second. Stress is laid upon the obstinacy of the scorner who refuses to hear, not only “instruction,” but also the much stronger “rebuke.” return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“13:1 A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline: Gaining wisdom requires discipline and correction.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“wise: Pro 4:1-14, Pro 4:20-22, Pro 10:1, Pro 15:5, Pro 15:20 but: Pro 9:7, Pro 9:8, Pro 14:6; Sa1 2:25; Isa 28:14, Isa 28:15 Proverbs 13:2”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The proverb Pro 12:28 is so sublime, so weighty, that it manifestly forms a period and conclusion. This is confirmed from the following proverb, which begins like Pro 10:1 (cf. 5), and anew stamps the collection as intended for youth: 1 A wise son is his father's correction; But a scorner listens not to rebuke. The lxx, which the Syr. follows, translate Ψἱὸς πανουργὸς ὑπήκοος πατρί, whence it is not to be concluded with Lagarde that they read נוסר in the sense of a Ni. tolerativum; they correctly understood the text according to the Jewish rule of interpretation, "that which is wanting is to be supplied from the context." The Targ. had already supplied שׁמע from 1b, and is herein…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification