Proverbs 17:25 kjv
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
Proverbs 17:25 nkjv
A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her who bore him.
Proverbs 17:25 niv
A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the mother who bore him.
Proverbs 17:25 esv
A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
Proverbs 17:25 nlt
Foolish children bring grief to their father
and bitterness to the one who gave them birth.
Proverbs 17 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Pr 10:1 | A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a grief to his mother. | Direct parallel; highlights the mother's particular grief. |
| Pr 15:20 | A wise son gladdens a father, but a foolish man despises his mother. | Links foolishness with contempt for parental figures. |
| Pr 19:13 | A foolish son is ruin to his father... | Emphasizes the damaging, ruinous impact of folly. |
| Pr 29:3 | He who loves wisdom makes his father glad, but a companion of harlots wastes his father's substance. | Provides a specific example of folly's costly consequences. |
| Pr 29:15 | The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. | Connects lack of discipline to bringing shame to the mother. |
| Pr 23:24-25 | The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who has a wise son will have joy in him. May your father and your mother be glad; may she who bore you rejoice. | Contrasting joy brought by a wise and righteous child. |
| Gen 26:34-35 | When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith... and Basemath... They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah. | A specific biblical example of children causing parental sorrow. |
| Dt 21:18-21 | If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey his father or his mother... | Illustrates societal consequences and parental despair with incorrigible children. |
| Lk 15:11-32 | The Parable of the Prodigal Son. | Powerfully depicts immense parental pain due to a child's choices, and later joy in repentance. |
| Ps 78:40 | How often they rebelled against Him in the wilderness and grieved Him in the desert! | Metaphorical grief caused to God, a Divine Parent, by His people's folly. |
| Isa 1:2-3 | ...I have brought up children and nourished them, and they have rebelled against Me... | God's sorrow over the rebellion of His chosen people, portrayed as His children. |
| 1 Sam 2:32 | ...you will see the distress of my dwelling. | God's warning of grief to Eli due to his wicked sons. |
| Pr 4:1 | Hear, my sons, the instruction of a father, and give attention that you may gain understanding. | Exhortation to receive instruction to prevent foolishness. |
| Pr 13:1 | A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. | Contrast showing how wise children prevent parental pain. |
| Eph 6:1-3 | Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother"... | Commandment ensuring harmony and parental honor. |
| Col 3:20 | Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. | Obedience brings divine favor and familial well-being. |
| 1 Tim 3:4-5 | He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive... | Implies children's good conduct brings credit to parents. |
| Pr 22:6 | Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. | Highlights parental responsibility in preventing future grief. |
| Pr 1:8 | Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching. | Mutual roles of father and mother in imparting wisdom for the child's benefit. |
| Pr 6:20 | My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not your mother's teaching. | Reiterates the call for children to listen to both parents. |
| 1 Ki 1:5-6 | Adonijah exalted himself... his father had never at any time displeased him by asking, "Why have you done thus and so?" | David's failure to discipline a son led to future problems and implied parental grief. |
Proverbs 17 verses
Proverbs 17 25 Meaning
Proverbs 17:25 articulates the profound sorrow and distress a foolish child inflicts upon their parents. A son or daughter who embodies folly, rejects wisdom, and makes poor moral choices brings not only deep vexation and pain to the father but also an intense, soul-rending bitterness to the mother who carried and nurtured them. It highlights the devastating emotional cost of foolishness on familial relationships, demonstrating that the ripple effect of unwise decisions profoundly impacts those closest to the individual.
Proverbs 17 25 Context
Proverbs chapter 17 is a varied collection of sapiential sayings that touch upon essential aspects of wise living within community and family. It contrasts good character with bad, focusing on the outcomes of each. Verse 25 stands firmly within this thematic emphasis on personal conduct and its ramifications for relationships, particularly within the foundational family unit. It reinforces the wider wisdom tradition of the book, which constantly calls the "son" to heed parental instruction and pursue wisdom, thereby bringing joy and honor to the family.
In ancient Israelite society, the family was the core social, economic, and religious unit. Children were considered a heritage from the Lord (Ps 127:3) and a vital link to the future, carrying on the family name and legacy. Therefore, a child's character and actions had profound implications not just for themselves but for the entire household, impacting its honor and standing in the community. Parental authority and the teaching of the Law and wisdom were paramount (Dt 6:6-7). A foolish or wayward child brought deep emotional distress and potentially public shame upon their parents, betraying the immense investment and hopes placed in them. This proverb, therefore, spoke directly to the profound concern for intergenerational righteousness and well-being within a highly structured family-centric culture.
Proverbs 17 25 Word analysis
A foolish son (bēn kesîl - בֵּן כְּסִיל):
- son (bēn): While specifically referencing a male offspring, in the wisdom tradition of Proverbs, "son" often functions as a broader term of address for students of wisdom, implying both literal children and those receiving instruction.
- foolish (kesîl): This is a crucial term in Proverbs. A kesîl is not merely unlearned or unintelligent; rather, they are characterized by an active refusal or inability to learn from experience, rebuke, or divine instruction. The kesîl is morally dull, stubborn, often self-deceived, prone to destructive anger, and actively embraces folly. This implies a deliberate choice and persistent pattern of unwise, often sinful, behavior rather than simple ignorance.
is a grief (kaʿas - כַּעַס):
- grief (kaʿas): This Hebrew word encompasses strong negative emotions like vexation, indignation, anger, provocation, and deep sorrow. Here, it denotes the profound emotional pain, anguish, and disappointment a parent experiences from their child's self-destructive path. It speaks of a heavy, ongoing burden.
to his father (l'avîw - לְאָבִיו):
- father (ʾāv): The male head of the household, traditionally responsible for guiding children in wisdom and the ways of the Lord. The foolish child brings not only personal pain but potentially public disgrace to the father, whose honor and efforts are reflected in his child.
and bitterness (mamrūr - מַמְרוּר):
- bitterness (mamrūr): Derived from a root meaning "to be bitter," this term denotes intense, acrid pain, often deeply personal and consuming. It suggests a more pervasive and sharp emotional suffering, akin to something extremely difficult to swallow or bear.
to her who bore him (ul'yōledettô - וּלְיוֹלַדְתּוֹ):
- her who bore him (yōledettô): Refers directly to the mother. This phrase adds profound emotional weight. It emphasizes the mother's unique, deep, and intimate physical and emotional connection to the child from birth. The "bitterness" she experiences is a crushing reversal of the hopes and joy she would have felt at the child's birth, representing a deep anguish for her maternal investment seemingly gone awry.
Words-group analysis:
- "A foolish son is a grief to his father": This phrase succinctly states the primary consequence of a child's folly. It points to the direct and painful impact on the paternal figure, highlighting the emotional distress and disappointment suffered by the father, whose authority and teaching are presumably rejected by the foolish son.
- "and bitterness to her who bore him": This clause elevates and specifies the emotional suffering of the mother. By using "bitterness" and the evocative phrase "her who bore him," the proverb underscores the particular and acute pain of the mother. It conveys a deep, visceral sense of betrayal of the maternal bond and the immense physical and emotional investment of motherhood. This dual mention ensures that both parents' shared and distinct agonies are acknowledged.
Proverbs 17 25 Bonus section
The profound sorrow of parents over a foolish child is a recurring motif across biblical narratives, underscoring its timeless truth beyond the wisdom literature. Figures like Isaac and Rebekah were vexed by Esau's marriage choices (Gen 26:34-35), and Eli suffered a fatal blow when his wicked sons defied the Lord (1 Sam 4:17-18). The poignant Parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-32) beautifully illustrates the father's agonizing grief during his son's rebellion, and his overflowing joy upon the son's return, demonstrating the depth of parental love and the pain that accompanies folly. This constant echo throughout Scripture elevates Proverbs 17:25 from a simple observation to a divine truth about the intergenerational consequences of sin and wisdom. The shared experience of "grief" for the father and "bitterness" for the mother also highlights the collaborative nature of parenting, acknowledging the distinct yet equally profound emotional investments of both parents in the life and choices of their child. The warning implicit in this verse serves not only to prompt the child towards wisdom but also to encourage diligent and godly parenting.
Proverbs 17 25 Commentary
Proverbs 17:25 delivers a poignant and stark warning regarding the deep and devastating impact of foolishness on the family. The central figure, the "foolish son" (kesîl), represents not mere ignorance but a stubborn, morally resistant individual who actively chooses a path contrary to wisdom and divine instruction. Such a child's choices bring intense emotional suffering to their parents. The "grief" experienced by the father signifies profound vexation and disappointment, possibly linked to the dashing of hopes for their offspring and potential damage to family reputation. This suffering is then deepened and specified for the mother, whose pain is described as "bitterness," stemming from her unique, intimate bond established through birth and early nurture. The phrase "her who bore him" accentuates the personal, enduring anguish resulting from seeing her cherished child abandon the path of wisdom. The proverb thus serves as a powerful call to children to embrace wisdom for the sake of their parents' well-being and as a solemn reminder of the pervasive sorrow that folly can cast over a household.
Examples for practical usage:
- When a young adult repeatedly neglects their studies or responsible choices despite parental counsel, causing anxiety and deep worry to their parents.
- The enduring pain experienced by parents whose child chooses a destructive lifestyle involving addiction or legal troubles.
- A parent's quiet heartbreak when a child continuously shows disrespect or ingratitude, betraying years of love and sacrifice.