Proverbs 13:13 kjv
Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
Proverbs 13:13 nkjv
He who despises the word will be destroyed, But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.
Proverbs 13:13 niv
Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it, but whoever respects a command is rewarded.
Proverbs 13:13 esv
Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.
Proverbs 13:13 nlt
People who despise advice are asking for trouble;
those who respect a command will succeed.
Proverbs 13 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 15:30-31 | "But the person who does anything defiantly... despises the word of the LORD..." | Despising the word brings cutting off. |
| Deut 4:5-6 | "See, I have taught you statutes... observe them diligently, for that will be your wisdom..." | Obedience brings wisdom and respect. |
| Deut 6:24 | "And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes... for our good always..." | Obedience leads to continuous good. |
| 1 Sam 15:22-23 | "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings... as in obeying... Rebellion is like the sin of divination..." | Obedience preferred over ritual; rebellion is serious. |
| 2 Chr 36:16 | "But they mocked God's messengers, despised his words... until the wrath of the LORD..." | Despising words brings divine wrath and no remedy. |
| Ps 19:7-11 | "The law of the LORD is perfect... in keeping them there is great reward." | Great reward found in obeying God's law. |
| Ps 112:1-3 | "Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments!..." | Fear of the LORD brings blessings and righteousness. |
| Ps 119:21 | "You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who stray from your commandments." | Scoffing leads to rebuke and being cursed. |
| Ps 119:165 | "Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble." | Love for God's law brings deep peace and stability. |
| Prov 1:24-31 | "Because I have called and you refused to listen... they shall eat the fruit of their own way..." | Rejecting wisdom brings self-inflicted consequences. |
| Prov 3:1-2 | "My son, do not forget my teaching... for length of days and years of life and peace..." | Obedience extends life and brings peace. |
| Prov 4:20-22 | "My son, be attentive to my words... for they are life to those who find them and healing..." | Attentiveness to words brings life and healing. |
| Prov 8:32-36 | "Blessed are those who keep my ways... whoever fails to find me injures himself..." | Keeping wisdom's ways brings blessing; despising it is self-injury. |
| Jer 8:9 | "The wise men are put to shame... they have rejected the word of the LORD..." | Rejecting God's word nullifies human wisdom. |
| Isa 66:2 | "But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble... and trembles at my word." | God favors those who humbly tremble at His word. |
| Lk 6:46-49 | "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I say?... house on the earth without a foundation..." | Hearing without doing leads to ruin. |
| Lk 11:28 | "But he said, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!'" | Blessedness in hearing and keeping God's word. |
| Rom 1:28-32 | "And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind..." | Refusal to acknowledge God leads to debasement. |
| Jas 1:22-25 | "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only... Blessed in his doing." | Blessings for those who act on God's word. |
| Heb 10:28-29 | "Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy... how much worse punishment... has trampled underfoot the Son of God..." | Wilful sin and trampling grace bring severe judgment. |
| 2 Tim 3:16-17 | "All Scripture is breathed out by God... profitable for teaching, for reproof..." | God's word equips for righteousness. |
| Rev 22:14 | "Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life..." | Obedience to God (in Christ) grants access to eternal life. |
| Matt 7:24-27 | "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man... But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man..." | Hearing and doing builds stability; not doing leads to collapse. |
| Matt 25:21, 23 | "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much." | Rewards for faithful stewardship and obedience. |
| Tit 2:11-12 | "For the grace of God has appeared... training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives..." | Grace teaches obedience, not license. |
Proverbs 13 verses
Proverbs 13 13 Meaning
This proverb presents a stark contrast between two distinct attitudes towards divine revelation and their resultant destinies. It proclaims that a person who actively disdains or treats with contempt the revealed will and wisdom of God will inevitably experience ruin and self-destruction. Conversely, an individual who approaches God's instructions with a humble and reverential awe, leading to obedience, will receive completeness, flourishing, and abundant blessings as a recompense.
Proverbs 13 13 Context
Proverbs 13 is rich with themes distinguishing the wise from the foolish, the righteous from the wicked. It emphasizes the consequences of actions, choices, and speech. Verse 13 stands as a pivotal assertion within this chapter, directly following proverbs on truthful lips and pleasant speech (v. 12) and preceding those about walking with the wise (v. 20). It serves to underscore the ultimate foundation of wisdom: one's attitude towards God's divine instruction. Historically, for ancient Israel, living by God's commandments (Torah) was central to their identity and covenant blessings (as articulated in Deuteronomy). This proverb, like much of the wisdom literature, grounds practical success and well-being not just in human shrewdness, but fundamentally in a respectful and obedient posture towards the divine "word" that brings order and flourishing to the world.
Proverbs 13 13 Word analysis
- Whoever: Implies universal applicability. This principle applies to all people, without exception.
- despises: (Hebrew: בָּזָה, bazah) More than merely ignoring or neglecting; it signifies an active disdain, scorn, contempt, or treating something as worthless and insignificant. It conveys a haughty, often prideful, refusal to acknowledge the value or authority of what is being rejected.
- the word: (Hebrew: דָּבָר, davar) In this context, it refers to divine revelation, instruction, counsel, or truth, often used interchangeably with God's law, wisdom, or prophetic utterances in wisdom literature. It represents God's authoritative communication and guiding principles for life.
- will be destroyed: (Hebrew: יֵחָבֶל, yechavel) From the root חָבַל (chaval), meaning to act corruptly, damage, ruin, or be ensnared. It suggests internal damage, forfeiture, or entanglement in one's own self-made traps, leading to a state of ruin or undoing. The destruction is a direct, often self-inflicted, consequence of their defiant attitude.
- but: Introduces a sharp contrast, highlighting the distinct binary outcomes dependent on one's approach to divine instruction.
- he who fears: (Hebrew: יָרֵא, yare) Not a servile or terrified dread, but a reverential awe, respect, and deep honor that leads to humble obedience. It encompasses both worshipful reverence for God's majesty and a prudent caution concerning the consequences of disrespecting His power and holiness.
- the commandment: (Hebrew: מִצְוָה, mitzvah) A specific directive, precept, or law from God. While "davar" (word) can be broader, "mitzvah" emphasizes the actionable nature of God's instructions, reinforcing them as something to be observed and obeyed.
- will be rewarded: (Hebrew: יְשֻׁלַּם, yeshulam) From the root שָׁלַם (shalam), meaning to be complete, sound, whole, paid in full, restored, or recompensed. It signifies receiving due compensation, completeness, fulfillment, and divine favor or blessing, often embodying the holistic sense of shalom—peace, well-being, prosperity, and wholeness.
- "Whoever despises the word": This phrase characterizes an inward heart posture of defiance, arrogance, and contempt toward the foundational truths and commands revealed by God. It indicates not mere ignorance but a willful rejection of divine authority and wisdom.
- "will be destroyed": This emphasizes the inevitable ruin that ensues from such rejection. The destruction is spiritual and moral, often manifesting in the practical failures and negative consequences of a life out of alignment with God's design. It suggests being entangled or forfeited due to one's own corrupt actions or attitudes.
- "but he who fears the commandment": This group represents those whose relationship with God's instructions is marked by reverence, humility, and active obedience. Their "fear" is not paralysis but a profound respect that motivates righteous living.
- "will be rewarded": This outcome describes a comprehensive state of well-being. It is more than just material gain; it implies wholeness, peace, fulfillment, and divine blessing—a return that aligns with and complements the integrity of their obedient lives. It points to a completeness in all aspects of life according to God's standard.
Proverbs 13 13 Bonus section
This proverb highlights the profound interconnectedness between one's internal disposition (attitude of heart) towards divine revelation and the external consequences in life. It emphasizes that true wisdom begins with reverence for God and His communicated will, a theme consistent throughout Proverbs and the entire Bible. The "word" and "commandment" can be understood comprehensively to include God's revealed character, His specific instructions, and ultimately, His living Word, Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodied divine wisdom and obedience. Despising His teaching or His person leads to spiritual desolation, whereas honoring and obeying Him leads to eternal life and true blessedness.
Proverbs 13 13 Commentary
Proverbs 13:13 distills a fundamental principle of biblical wisdom: one's attitude towards God's truth dictates their ultimate outcome. It is not merely about possessing knowledge, but how one responds to it. To "despise" God's "word" is to willfully dismiss or scorn divine revelation, rejecting the very blueprint for flourishing. Such a posture inevitably leads to self-inflicted ruin, a forfeiture of true well-being, as life lived contrary to divine order collapses under its own weight. Conversely, "fearing" God's "commandment" is about cultivating a reverent awe and respect that translates into active obedience. This humble submission to divine authority ushers in "reward" – not as a mere transaction, but as the natural fruit of a life in harmony with the Creator. This reward embodies shalom, a state of holistic completeness, peace, and ultimate fulfillment, underscoring that true prosperity is found in walking obediently with God.