Proverbs 17:21 kjv

He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

Proverbs 17:21 nkjv

He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy.

Proverbs 17:21 niv

To have a fool for a child brings grief; there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.

Proverbs 17:21 esv

He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.

Proverbs 17:21 nlt

It is painful to be the parent of a fool;
there is no joy for the father of a rebel.

Proverbs 17 verses

Proverbs 17 21 Meaning

Proverbs 17:21 declares the profound sorrow and utter lack of joy experienced by a father who begets or raises a child characterized by deep moral and spiritual folly. The verse highlights that a child who chooses a path contrary to God's wisdom becomes a significant source of intense grief and a continuous emotional burden to their parent, standing in stark contrast to the blessing children are inherently intended to be.

Proverbs 17 21 Context

Proverbs 17 is part of the "proverbs of Solomon" (Prov 10:1 – 22:16), a section filled with concise, practical sayings designed to instruct in wisdom and righteousness. This chapter covers various themes, including integrity, speech, the impact of wealth, justice, and particularly, the dynamics within families and communities. Verse 21, addressing the pain caused by a foolish child, aligns perfectly with Proverbs' overall emphasis on the consequences of one's choices—both for the individual and for those connected to them. In ancient Israelite society, children were highly valued as a divine blessing and crucial for family lineage and honor. A wise child was a credit to the parents and lineage, symbolizing a successful transfer of tradition and piety. Conversely, a foolish child brought immense shame, dishonor, and emotional burden upon the parents, reflecting poorly on their upbringing and often indicating a disruption of societal norms and divine order.

Proverbs 17 21 Word analysis

• He who begets (יָלַד - yalad): This Hebrew verb means "to give birth," "bring forth," "beget," or "to bear." Its use here specifically emphasizes the direct biological relationship. The grief arises not from a stranger's folly, but from the child to whom the parent has literally given life, highlighting the deep, intrinsic bond that makes their actions so acutely painful to the begetter.
• a fool (כְּסִיל - kĕsîl): This is a key term in Proverbs, denoting more than mere intellectual slowness. A kĕsîl is a morally perverse and spiritually rebellious individual who is stubbornly closed to divine instruction, despises wisdom, and chooses a path of self-destructive and often disruptive behavior. This "fool" lacks moral discernment, pursues immediate gratification, and rejects the fear of the Lord, making their foolishness a willful character defect.
• gets grief (תּוּגָה - tûḡāh): This Hebrew noun signifies profound "grief," "sorrow," "pain," or "affliction." It describes a deep, abiding emotional distress that gnaws at the heart, a stark spiritual and emotional suffering. The "grief" here is not fleeting annoyance, but a foundational, painful consequence inherent to raising a kĕsîl.
• and the father (וְאָב - wĕ’āv): While "he who begets" might broadly include both parents, the explicit mention of "father" here particularizes the pain. In ancient Israelite patriarchal society, the father held primary responsibility for the family's spiritual and moral instruction. A child's conduct directly impacted the father's honor, reputation, and legacy, making the burden of a foolish child particularly heavy and personal for him.
• of a fool (כְּסִיל - kĕsîl): The repetition of "fool" emphasizes and reaffirms the problematic nature of the child's character. It highlights that the specific type of individual—the kĕsîl—is the direct and unchanging source of the parental suffering described.
• has no joy (אֵין־שִׂמְחָה - ʼên śimḥāh): This phrase translates literally as "there is no joy" or "no gladness." Śimḥāh (joy) refers to a deep sense of gladness, delight, and festivity, often associated with divine blessing. Its complete absence here indicates a state of persistent emotional emptiness, profound disappointment, and inner despondency that permeates the father's life, preventing him from experiencing the natural gladness children are meant to bring.
• "He who begets a fool gets grief": This clause establishes a direct and inescapable cause-and-effect relationship. The act of bringing a child into the world, if that child becomes a moral and spiritual kĕsîl, inherently brings about profound and deep-seated sorrow to the parent. It signifies that the grief is an intrinsic, inevitable outcome.
• "and the father of a fool has no joy": This second clause functions as a strong synonymous parallelism, amplifying and intensifying the message of the first. By rephrasing the consequence, it underscores the complete and pervasive lack of happiness or inner peace experienced by such a parent. This dual expression serves to emphasize the continuous, comprehensive emotional depletion and spiritual weariness resulting from a child's unwavering foolishness.

Proverbs 17 21 Bonus section

The powerful distinction between intellectual deficiency and moral "folly" (kĕsîl) is crucial here; the verse is not addressing challenges with children's intelligence, but their stubborn and rebellious hearts. The use of both "grief" and "no joy" in parallelism serves to emphasize the completeness of the sorrow, indicating not just a fleeting sadness, but a state of perpetual heartache. This goes beyond external hardship to describe an internal emptiness of spirit. The verse implicitly encourages parental prayer, diligent teaching, and living wisely, not as guarantees of perfect outcomes, but as necessary duties in the face of this potential, profound familial pain. It also subtly acknowledges the ultimate human agency, where despite the best parental efforts, a child may choose the path of folly, leaving the parent with enduring sorrow.

Proverbs 17 21 Commentary

Proverbs 17:21 succinctly conveys the heart-wrenching reality that a parent, particularly the father, who raises a child marked by biblical "folly," will endure profound grief instead of the natural joy expected from parenthood. This "fool" (kĕsîl) is not merely unintelligent, but fundamentally resists wisdom, moral instruction, and righteous living. Such a child actively chooses a path of self-destruction and rebellion against divine truth, bringing intense heartache to their parent. The verse highlights the deep connection between a child's choices and a parent's emotional well-being, emphasizing that while wise children bring delight (Prov 23:24), foolishness yields a pervasive sorrow. This is not just about financial strain or social shame, but a deep spiritual anguish stemming from the child's chosen path and self-inflicted wounds. It serves as a stark reminder of the immense importance of nurturing children in God's ways and the grave personal consequences for parents when such instruction is rejected.