Proverbs 14:9 kjv

Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

Proverbs 14:9 nkjv

Fools mock at sin, But among the upright there is favor.

Proverbs 14:9 niv

Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.

Proverbs 14:9 esv

Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.

Proverbs 14:9 nlt

Fools make fun of guilt,
but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation.

Proverbs 14 verses

Proverbs 14 9 Meaning

This proverb sharply contrasts the attitude of the morally foolish and the upright concerning sin, guilt, and God's acceptance. Fools demonstrate a profound disrespect and derision towards the concept of sin, the need for atonement, or even the offerings meant to address guilt before God. In direct opposition, those who walk in integrity and uprightness experience and possess God's gracious favor and acceptance. The verse implies that proper recognition of guilt and seeking reconciliation leads to divine approval, whereas mockery of such sacred matters leads to spiritual alienation.

Proverbs 14 9 Context

Proverbs chapter 14 extensively contrasts the characteristics, conduct, and consequences of the wise and the foolish, the righteous and the wicked. It highlights practical wisdom for daily living, touching upon themes like integrity, justice, industry, and the nature of speech. Verse 9 specifically contributes to this theme by exposing the core spiritual difference between those who dismiss divine concepts of sin and atonement and those who earnestly seek God's approval. Historically, the proverb would have resonated deeply within ancient Israelite society, where the system of sin and guilt offerings (asham) was central to their covenant relationship with God. The practice of sacrifices was not merely a ritual but a vital expression of acknowledging sin, seeking forgiveness, and maintaining fellowship. Thus, mocking "guilt" or the "guilt offering" would be a profound rejection of the very foundation of their reconciliation with a holy God. This verse could be seen as a polemic against superficial religious observance, an outward show without inner heart-conviction, common in periods when true devotion waned and ritual became an empty form, or against outright secular disdain for God's laws.

Proverbs 14 9 Word analysis

• Fools (אֱוִלִים, ʾěwîlîm): Plural of ʾěwîl. This term denotes someone who is not merely unintelligent but is morally perverse and stubbornly resistant to wisdom and divine instruction. Unlike kesil (the dullard) or nabal (the utterly senseless, blasphemous fool), ʾěwîl emphasizes an unteachable, arrogant, and often defiant stance, especially regarding spiritual matters, rooted in a contempt for God's way.
• mock (יָלִיץ, yālîts): Derived from the root luts, meaning "to scoff," "to scorn," "to make sport of," or "to deride." It suggests a posture of active contempt and disdain; not passive ignorance, but an intentional, often vocal, ridicule.
• at guilt (אָשָׁם, ʾāšām): A crucial and multi-layered term. It can refer to:
  • Guilt itself: The state of being culpable.
  • The trespass/offense: The specific wrong committed.
  • The guilt offering/reparation offering: A specific sacrifice in the Mosaic Law for certain transgressions against holy things or fellow human beings (Lev 5; 7:1-7). The weight of scholarship leans towards "guilt offering" as the object of mockery, meaning the foolish despise the divinely appointed means of reconciliation for serious offenses. Mocking atonement is tantamount to mocking sin and the Holy God.
• but among (וּבֵין, ûḇên): A connective phrase signifying a stark contrast, pointing to what exists or is found "among" a different group of people.
• the upright (יְשָׁרִים, yēšārîm): Plural of yashar, referring to those who are morally straight, honest, just, righteous, and walk with integrity. They are characterized by straightforwardness of heart and conduct, adhering to God's ways without deviance or deception.
• is favor (רָצוֹן, rātsôn): Meaning "favor," "acceptance," "goodwill," "delight," "pleasure," or "will." In this proverb, it implies God's benevolent acceptance, pleasure, and approval of the upright, denoting the outcome of walking in God's way – being in harmony with His divine will and receiving His blessing.

Proverbs 14 9 Bonus section

The precise nuance of ʾāšām (guilt / guilt offering) is highly significant. While some translations prefer "guilt," the consistent emphasis on temple rituals and offerings throughout Proverbs and the Old Testament supports "guilt offering" as the most probable intent, carrying profound implications. If it means "guilt offering," then the proverb refers to the fool's scoffing at the very means God provided for covering sin. This points to a deeper theological critique: the fool despises the divinely ordained pathway to reconciliation. The spiritual emptiness of those who merely perform religious rituals without true conviction, as critiqued by prophets like Isaiah and Amos, finds its counterpart in the fool who disdains the sacrifice itself. Furthermore, this proverb implicitly anticipates the New Testament understanding that mere ritual sacrifice could not truly take away sin (Heb 10:4) but served as a shadow pointing to Christ's perfect, singular sacrifice, which genuinely cleanses and grants true rātsôn (God's acceptance) to those who embrace it by faith. The foolish person rejects grace; the upright embraces it and lives in its blessing.

Proverbs 14 9 Commentary

Proverbs 14:9 vividly illustrates a fundamental theological divide: the difference between those who dismiss sin and God's provisions for it, and those who sincerely embrace them. The "fools" (ʾěwîlîm) are not merely unintelligent; they are morally and spiritually obtuse, characterized by an arrogant resistance to God's truth. Their "mockery" of ʾāšām, whether understood as guilt itself or, more profoundly, the prescribed "guilt offering," reveals a profound lack of spiritual perception and respect for holiness. They minimize the gravity of sin and, consequently, trivialise the very concept of atonement and God's justice. This contempt for divine ways is contrasted with the condition "among the upright" (yēšārîm), those who walk with integrity and righteousness. For them, "favor" (rātsôn) exists, meaning God's divine acceptance, pleasure, and goodwill. The proverb thus implies that genuine relationship with God and the reception of His blessings are predicated on a right posture towards sin—acknowledging it, understanding its consequences, and humbly seeking His ordained way of reconciliation, which culminates in Christ's atoning work. Fools scorn grace and are alienated from God's pleasure; the upright seek and receive it.

• Example 1: Someone who consistently jokes about sin or the suffering it causes, seeing no real spiritual consequence, embodies the fool's mockery.
• Example 2: A person who takes seriously the implications of their actions, confesses sin, seeks forgiveness through Christ, and experiences the peace of God, exemplifies finding "favor."