Proverbs 17:16 kjv
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
Proverbs 17:16 nkjv
Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, Since he has no heart for it?
Proverbs 17:16 niv
Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom, when they are not able to understand it?
Proverbs 17:16 esv
Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?
Proverbs 17:16 nlt
It is senseless to pay to educate a fool,
since he has no heart for learning.
Proverbs 17 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 1:7 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. | Wisdom starts with reverence for God, not external means. |
| Prov 3:13-15 | Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain... | Wisdom's value transcends material wealth. |
| Prov 8:11 | For wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. | Reiterates wisdom's superior value to riches. |
| Prov 23:23 | Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding. | Implies a cost (effort, desire) for truth, not monetary. |
| Prov 18:2 | A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his own opinion. | Fool's disinterest in true understanding. |
| Prov 26:10-12 | Like a dog that returns to its vomit is a fool who repeats his folly... Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? | A fool's inherent nature to reject learning. |
| Eccles 4:13 | Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. | Wisdom is valuable regardless of status; foolishness renders even kings helpless. |
| Matt 7:6 | "Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs..." | Do not waste precious truth on those unwilling to receive it. |
| Isa 6:9-10 | "Go, and say to this people: 'Keep on hearing, but do not understand...'" | Those hardened by folly cannot perceive truth. |
| Jer 5:21 | "Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not; who have ears, but hear not..." | Despite having physical senses, a lack of spiritual perception. |
| John 3:19-20 | And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light... | Hearts unreceptive to light (truth) refuse it, regardless of availability. |
| Rom 1:21-22 | For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking... | Suppressing truth leads to foolishness and darkened hearts. |
| 1 Cor 1:18-20 | For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. | God's wisdom seems foolish to those who reject Him. |
| 1 Cor 2:14 | The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him... | Spiritual truths cannot be understood by the unregenerate mind. |
| Eph 4:17-19 | ...that you no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds... darkened in their understanding... | The futility of mind among those estranged from God. |
| Col 2:2-3 | ...to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ. | True understanding and wisdom are found in Christ, not possessions. |
| Jas 1:5 | If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach... | Wisdom is a gift from God, received by asking, not buying. |
| Jas 3:17 | But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy... | Describes the character of true wisdom, distinct from worldly cunning. |
| Ps 111:10 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who practice it have a good understanding... | Connects wisdom directly to fearing God and practicing His commands. |
| 1 Tim 6:10 | For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. | Misplaced desire for money distracts from true riches. |
| Prov 4:7 | The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get understanding. | Prioritize gaining understanding, implying pursuit and desire. |
Proverbs 17 verses
Proverbs 17 16 Meaning
Proverbs 17:16 poses a rhetorical question highlighting the futility of external resources without internal disposition. It teaches that merely possessing wealth or opportunities (represented by "money in hand") cannot grant true wisdom to a "fool." A fool, in the biblical sense, lacks not just intellectual understanding, but crucially, the moral and spiritual capacity or desire to learn, understand, and apply divine truth. Wisdom is not a commodity that can be bought but a quality cultivated through a receptive heart and the fear of the Lord.
Proverbs 17 16 Context
Proverbs 17, like much of the book of Proverbs, consists of disconnected but thematically linked wise sayings. The chapter touches on a variety of subjects related to righteous living, distinguishing between the wise and the foolish, and examining true and false values. Verses surrounding Proverbs 17:16 discuss matters of reputation (v.1-3), slander (v.4), respecting the poor (v.5), family honor (v.6), the character of a noble person (v.7-8), overlooking offenses (v.9), and consequences for the wicked (v.11-15). In this tapestry of wisdom, verse 16 highlights a critical aspect of acquiring wisdom: the internal disposition. It underscores that external advantages like wealth are useless in the pursuit of true wisdom if the internal capacity and willingness (the "heart" or "mind") are absent. This verse critiques the misguided notion that profound virtues like wisdom can be merely purchased or conferred without genuine personal transformation or desire.
Proverbs 17 16 Word analysis
- "Why" (לָמָּה, lamah): This opening word signals a rhetorical question, conveying a sense of absurdity or utter pointlessness. It emphasizes the incredulity that such a scenario (a fool buying wisdom) could actually lead to its desired outcome.
- "a fool" (כְּסִיל, kesil): This is a specific category of "fool" in Proverbs. The kesil is not merely ignorant but stubbornly set against wisdom, moral instruction, and divine truth. This individual often believes themselves wise and resists correction or learning, implying a moral defect and lack of spiritual perception.
- "money" (מְחִיר, m'chir): Refers to a "price," "wage," or "value," signifying resources, funds, or means available for acquisition. It represents the worldly capital or opportunity one might possess.
- "in his hand" (בְּיַד, b'yad): Implies availability, possession, or capability to act. The money is literally at his disposal.
- "to buy" (לִקְנוֹת, liknot): Means "to acquire," "to purchase," or "to get." This word suggests a transaction where something is obtained through payment, which is how earthly goods are typically exchanged.
- "wisdom" (חָכְמָה, chochmah): More than mere intellect or knowledge, chochmah in the biblical sense is skillful living, practical godliness, discernment, and moral insight, ultimately rooted in the fear of the Lord (Prov 1:7). It refers to the divine quality of knowing how to live rightly in God's world.
- "when he has no mind" (וְלֶב אָיִן, v'lev ayin): This phrase is crucial.
- לֶב (lev): "Heart" in Hebrew thought signifies the inner core of a person—the seat of intellect, will, emotions, and moral decision. It represents one's disposition, understanding, and capacity for spiritual receptivity.
- אָיִן (ayin): Means "there is not" or "nothing," indicating absence or non-existence.
- Combined, "no mind/heart" implies a lack of internal capacity, willingness, or receptivity to comprehend and accept wisdom.
- "to learn" (לְהָבִין, l'havin): Means "to understand," "to discern," or "to gain insight." It speaks to the ability to process information, make sense of it, and apply it effectively. This is the act of acquiring deep comprehension.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Why should a fool have money in his hand": This paints a vivid picture of a paradox. The rhetorical "why" immediately sets up an impossible or illogical situation. It highlights the incongruity of someone who lacks the essential internal quality (wisdom or the desire for it) possessing the external means to seemingly acquire it. It underlines the idea that external provision cannot compensate for an internal deficiency.
- "to buy wisdom": This specific goal implies a misunderstanding of what wisdom is. Wisdom is presented throughout Proverbs as valuable and sought after, even personified, but its acquisition is described in terms of diligence, pursuit, and divine grant, not a market transaction. This phrase points to the superficial and worldly thinking of trying to treat a spiritual virtue as a commodity.
- "when he has no mind to learn": This concluding phrase provides the reason for the rhetorical question. The "heart" or "mind" being absent signifies that the internal receptivity, capacity, and willingness to understand and integrate wisdom are simply not there. Without this foundational inner disposition, any attempt to "buy" wisdom is utterly futile, like trying to water a rock expecting it to grow. The barrier is internal and spiritual, not financial.
Proverbs 17 16 Bonus section
- The verse subtly emphasizes that genuine wisdom is inherently spiritual, not purely intellectual or materialistic. It's a gift from God (Jas 1:5) bestowed upon those who diligently seek it with the right disposition, often stemming from the fear of the Lord.
- This Proverb serves as a warning against placing undue reliance on wealth or external means for attaining virtues that require internal transformation. Many wealthy individuals have been foolish, while many of limited means have exemplified profound wisdom.
- The paradox lies in wisdom being priceless (more valuable than rubies, Prov 3:15) and yet being "purchased" not with money but with the cost of humility, diligence, and surrender to divine instruction. The fool lacks the understanding of this true "cost" and thinks material wealth will suffice.
Proverbs 17 16 Commentary
Proverbs 17:16 brilliantly captures a profound truth: true wisdom cannot be purchased like a commodity. It is a rhetorical question that reveals the absurdity of the very notion. A fool, defined by a deliberate lack of spiritual discernment and a rebellious disposition, cannot benefit from any external means—even if it's financial resources meant for education or insight. The issue is not a lack of access to wisdom (via funds) but a fundamental absence of an internal desire or capacity to apprehend it. The "mind to learn" (Hebrew: "heart to understand") signifies the inner receptivity, moral inclination, and spiritual willingness essential for wisdom to take root and flourish. Without a prepared and teachable heart, external advantages become utterly meaningless, underscoring that spiritual truths require spiritual receptivity. It's not about the quantity of input, but the quality of the receiver.