Proverbs 1:23 kjv

Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

Proverbs 1:23 nkjv

Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.

Proverbs 1:23 niv

Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings.

Proverbs 1:23 esv

If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.

Proverbs 1:23 nlt

Come and listen to my counsel.
I'll share my heart with you
and make you wise.

Proverbs 1 verses

Proverbs 1 23 Meaning

Proverbs 1:23 presents a conditional promise from Lady Wisdom to those who heed her call. She urges individuals to "turn at my rebuke," meaning to repent and respond to her correcting instruction. In return, she promises to "pour out my spirit" upon them, signifying a generous and abundant impartation of divine insight and empowerment. This outpouring will lead to Wisdom's ultimate purpose for them: to "make my words known to you," revealing deep understanding and application of divine truth, transitioning them from ignorance or defiance to enlightened obedience.

Proverbs 1 23 Context

Proverbs 1 serves as the foundational introduction to the entire book of Proverbs. It declares the book's purpose: to teach wisdom, instruction, understanding, justice, judgment, and equity. The latter part of the chapter, particularly from verse 20 onwards, personifies Wisdom as a forceful and public figure, crying out in the streets and at city gates. This portrayal emphasizes Wisdom's accessibility and urgency, contrasting with the often quiet nature of human study. Wisdom is depicted as issuing a clear invitation to the "simple," the "scoffers," and "fools," calling them to abandon their folly and embrace instruction. Verse 23 is presented as a direct, conditional promise within Wisdom's strong reproof. It immediately follows her identification of those who reject her counsel, setting up a sharp distinction between a path of responsive blessing and a path of self-inflicted judgment (vv. 24-33). Historically, the call for wisdom resonated in a society valuing practical life skills and moral discernment, challenging prevailing humanistic or polytheistic understandings of truth by affirming God as the ultimate source of all true wisdom and life. This stands in polemic opposition to any belief that human cunning or external rituals alone could secure true understanding or prosperity.

Proverbs 1 23 Word analysis

• "Turn" (Hebrew: שׁוּבוּ - shuvah): This is an imperative verb, calling for an immediate and decisive action. Shuv signifies repentance in its fullest biblical sense—a turning away from a previous path or mindset and a turning back towards God and His ways. It is more than just a change of mind (cognition); it implies a fundamental shift in direction, loyalty, and lifestyle. This word emphasizes that the first step to receiving Wisdom's gifts is a moral and spiritual redirection.
• "at my rebuke" (Hebrew: לְתֽוֹכַחְתִּ֑י - le tokhaḥti): Tokhaḥah (rebuke, reproof, correction, discipline) refers to the act of calling someone to account or setting them right. Here, it is "my" rebuke, belonging to Lady Wisdom (and by extension, to God Himself). This highlights that divine wisdom doesn't just invite but also confronts sin and folly with strong, direct correction. The turning is specifically in response to this corrective confrontation.
• "behold" (Hebrew: הִנֵּה - hinneh): An interjection that demands immediate attention. It introduces something surprising, important, or immanent. Here, it marks a transition from Wisdom's demand for repentance to her conditional, gracious promise. It signals a weighty declaration to follow.
• "I will pour out" (Hebrew: אַבִּ֣יעָה - abbi'ah): From the root naba, meaning "to flow, gush forth," or "to bubble up." While commonly used for speaking (prophecy), its application here to "spirit" signifies an abundant, uncontrolled, and spontaneous outpouring, much like water gushing from a spring. It indicates a generous, overflowing, and unrestrained impartation, suggesting a divine and supernatural impartation rather than a limited human gift.
• "my spirit" (Hebrew: רוּחִ֣י - ruchi): "My" refers to God's Spirit. Ruach (spirit, wind, breath) signifies the divine, animating force, God's very breath and power. In the Old Testament, the Spirit often empowers for specific tasks, grants insight (especially prophetic), and instills wisdom. The "pouring out" of the Spirit implies not just intellectual understanding, but an internal, transformative spiritual empowering that enables one to comprehend and live by divine truth. This foreshadows the Spirit's role in the New Covenant.
• "to you" (Hebrew: לָכֶם - lakhem): The pronoun refers to those who are addressed by Wisdom earlier in the chapter – the simple, the scoffers, and the fools. It indicates that this divine empowerment is accessible to ordinary individuals who humble themselves.
• "I will make...known" (Hebrew: אֽוֹדִיעֲכֶ֖ם - odi'akhem): From the root yada, "to know." This is a causative verb, "I will cause you to know" or "I will instruct you." It indicates an active revelation by Wisdom herself. This knowledge is not something to be merely acquired through human effort but is a divine impartation.
• "my words" (Hebrew: דְבָרַי - devaray): Refers to Wisdom's precepts, counsel, instructions, and truths. It encompasses all the divine revelation found within the book of Proverbs and beyond. The "words" are not just external statutes but become internally known through the Spirit.

• "Turn at my rebuke; behold, I will pour out my spirit to you": This phrase highlights the causal connection: genuine repentance in response to divine correction precedes and enables the reception of divine Spirit. The Spirit is not given unconditionally but as a divine response to a turning heart. It demonstrates a supernatural enablement for those who respond correctly to God's instruction.
• "I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you": These two clauses are parallel and interdependent. The pouring out of the Spirit is the means by which Wisdom's "words" become truly known. The Spirit illuminates, enables comprehension, and provides the inner disposition necessary to embrace and apply divine truth. This shows that true wisdom is not merely intellectual assent but an internal work facilitated by the Spirit, leading to experiential knowledge of God's Word.

Proverbs 1 23 Bonus section

This verse offers a crucial insight into the nature of divine revelation and personal transformation. The progression from human action (turning) to divine action (Spirit outpouring leading to word-making-known) illustrates God's principle of responsive grace. The "Spirit" mentioned here, though not explicitly defined as the Holy Spirit of the New Testament, certainly points to the animating divine presence and power of God, consistent with Old Testament understanding of the Ruach Yahweh. It bridges the gap between the external presentation of Wisdom's instruction and its internal reception. Before Pentecost, specific individuals were typically "filled" with the Spirit for prophetic or specific task-oriented purposes. However, Joel's prophecy (referenced later in the New Testament at Pentecost, Acts 2) spoke of a general pouring out "on all flesh." Proverbs 1:23, in a proleptic sense, hints at this abundant impartation that would enable universal understanding of divine truths for those who turn to God. It posits that true understanding of God's 'words' (His will, commands, and truth) is impossible without divine enablement from His 'spirit,' suggesting a dependency on supernatural aid for moral and spiritual enlightenment. The personification of Wisdom itself speaks to God's active pursuit of humanity, desiring not to condemn but to save and enlighten.

Proverbs 1 23 Commentary

Proverbs 1:23 captures the profound nature of divine wisdom's offer: a path from folly to profound spiritual enlightenment. Wisdom, personified as an active voice, extends a gracious but firm invitation. The initial requirement is "turning at my rebuke," signifying genuine repentance. This is not a superficial acknowledgment of wrong but a transformative U-turn from one's destructive ways towards God's guiding principles. This turning initiates the divine response: "I will pour out my spirit to you." This imagery evokes an abundant, unrestrained, and life-giving flood of divine presence and power, more than mere intellectual knowledge. It implies an inner transformation, an anointing that grants discernment and the ability to embrace divine truths. As a direct result, Wisdom promises to "make my words known to you." This isn't just about hearing or reading God's word, but an intimate, experiential revelation where divine precepts are not only understood intellectually but become deeply ingrained, intuitively grasped, and practically applied through the Spirit's illumination. The verse underscores that true wisdom is not just a collection of maxims but a living, dynamic relationship with God, mediated by His Spirit, allowing His truth to take root and flourish within the receptive heart.

For practical usage, consider:

• The student facing ethical dilemmas: When confronted with moral choices (Wisdom's "rebuke"), turning from deceitful options allows divine guidance (Spirit's outpouring) to illuminate the right path, leading to a clear understanding of justice ("words known").
• An individual struggling with a stubborn sin: When convicted of wrong actions (Wisdom's "rebuke"), a heartfelt repentance opens the way for inner strength (Spirit's outpouring) to overcome temptation and internalize righteous living ("words known").
• Someone seeking understanding of Scripture: If they approach the Bible with an unteachable spirit or a desire to merely affirm their own views (ignoring rebuke), true understanding will elude them. But a humble heart, seeking truth and ready to be corrected, will find the Spirit opening the meaning of the Word.