Proverbs 17:12 kjv

Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

Proverbs 17:12 nkjv

Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly.

Proverbs 17:12 niv

Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool bent on folly.

Proverbs 17:12 esv

Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly.

Proverbs 17:12 nlt

It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than to confront a fool caught in foolishness.

Proverbs 17 verses

Proverbs 17 12 Meaning

Proverbs 17:12 declares that it is less perilous to encounter a mother bear enraged after losing her cubs than to confront a person utterly absorbed and unyielding in their foolishness. This proverb highlights the extreme danger and profound destructive capacity of persistent moral folly, positing it as a greater threat than even an intensely dangerous physical encounter.

Proverbs 17 12 Context

Proverbs chapter 17, like much of the book of Proverbs, consists of disconnected but powerful couplets or quatrains that offer pithy insights into wise and foolish living. The chapter broadly addresses themes of integrity, character, justice, speech, and the inherent differences between the wise and the wicked. Verse 12 uses a strong, culturally recognized hyperbole to underscore the extreme nature of confronting a deeply entrenched fool. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the danger posed by a mother bear whose cubs had been taken was proverbial, signifying unparalleled fury and destructive force. By stating that a fool in their folly is worse, the proverb elevates moral and spiritual hazards above grave physical ones. The "fool" (Hebrew kəsil) is a recurring character in Proverbs, representing not merely an unintelligent person, but someone stubbornly set against wisdom, morally obtuse, arrogant, and resistant to instruction, whose behavior often leads to chaos for themselves and those around them.

Proverbs 17 12 Word analysis

• Let a bear (דֹּב, dov): Refers to a wild Syrian brown bear, an animal known for its strength and danger, especially when threatened.
• robbed of her cubs (שַׁכּוּל, shakúl): Lit. "bereaved," referring specifically to a female animal whose young have been violently taken from her. This denotes the most extreme state of animal rage, unparalleled in its ferocity and single-minded desire for retribution.
• meet (פָּגַשׁ, pāḡaš): To encounter directly, to come face-to-face with, or even to strike or assault. It suggests an unavoidable confrontation.
• a man (אִישׁ, 'ish): Generic term for an individual human being, highlighting their vulnerability against such an overwhelming natural force.
• rather than (וְאַל, wə'al): Literally "and not," functioning here as a comparative expressing a distinct preference or a choice of the lesser of two evils. The second option is deemed far worse.
• a fool (כְּסִיל, kəsil): Not simply someone lacking intelligence. This term in Proverbs denotes a person who is spiritually and morally obtuse, arrogant, stubbornly defiant against truth and wisdom, resistant to correction, and whose life is marked by willful self-destructive behavior. They despise the knowledge of God.
• in his folly (אִוַּלְתּוֹ, 'iwwaltô): Denotes the specific characteristic and entrenched nature of the fool's perversity. It implies their actions stem from a fundamental state of moral and intellectual rebellion, manifesting as stubborn, often ruinous, behavior.

Words-group analysis

• "Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man": This phrase conjures an image of ultimate, primal, uncontrollable physical danger. It sets the baseline for the comparison, portraying a situation of immense peril where reason is impossible, and survival is precarious.
• "rather than a fool in his folly": This dramatically elevates the danger, implying that the sustained, moral, and social destruction wrought by a person rooted in stubborn, deliberate foolishness is more insidious, pervasive, and ultimately more damaging than any raw physical threat. The folly of such an individual is deeply integrated into their being, rendering them destructive to self and others.

Proverbs 17 12 Bonus section

The intensity of this proverb highlights that not all dangers are visible or immediately physical. Moral and spiritual deficiencies, when ingrained, can inflict deeper, more lasting damage. The warning underscores the wisdom in discerning whom to engage with and whom to avoid. It also speaks to the profound, spiritual nature of "folly" in the biblical sense, distinguishing it from simple lack of intelligence and revealing it as a profound moral corruption that actively rejects the Lord's wisdom.

Proverbs 17 12 Commentary

Proverbs 17:12 is a powerful and memorable aphorism that starkly contrasts a widely recognized physical threat with a spiritual and moral danger. The image of a mother bear deprived of her cubs serves as the quintessential picture of savage, unrestrained fury, a force so formidable that rational engagement is impossible, and survival is purely a matter of luck. Yet, the proverb asserts that confronting "a fool in his folly" is an even worse fate. The fool here (kəsil) is not just unintelligent, but rather someone whose character is defined by stubborn rejection of divine and practical wisdom. They are unteachable, argumentative, self-deceived, and often destructive to those around them through their persistent bad judgment, emotional volatility, and often malicious actions. While a bear's fury might be sudden and decisive, the fool's destructive path is often chronic, wearing, and capable of eroding trust, spreading discord, and bringing long-term ruin to relationships, reputations, and communities. The proverb implicitly advises not just caution but a profound understanding of the deep-seated spiritual pathology of deliberate folly and its far-reaching consequences, which are arguably more devastating than physical harm.