Proverbs 5:12 kjv
And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;
Proverbs 5:12 nkjv
And say: "How I have hated instruction, And my heart despised correction!
Proverbs 5:12 niv
You will say, "How I hated discipline! How my heart spurned correction!
Proverbs 5:12 esv
and you say, "How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof!
Proverbs 5:12 nlt
You will say, "How I hated discipline!
If only I had not ignored all the warnings!
Proverbs 5 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 1:7 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. | Source of the problem: despising wisdom. |
| Prov 1:24-30 | "Because I have called and you refused... you ignored all my counsel... then they will call upon me, but I will not answer." | Consequences of refusing wisdom's call. |
| Prov 2:16-19 | So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman... for her house sinks down to death... | Context: sexual immorality leads to death. |
| Prov 4:23 | Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. | The heart as the source of action. |
| Prov 6:23 | For the commandment is a lamp... and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life, | Value of discipline as path to life. |
| Prov 7:22-27 | All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter... for many a victim has she laid low. | Destructive path of sexual immorality. |
| Prov 10:17 | Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray. | Reproof leads to life; rejection leads astray. |
| Prov 12:1 | Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. | Contrasts love for discipline with hate for reproof. |
| Prov 13:18 | Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof will be honored. | Material consequences of rejecting discipline. |
| Prov 15:5 | A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. | Foolishness in despising instruction. |
| Prov 15:10 | There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way... whoever hates reproof will die. | Direct consequence: hating reproof leads to death. |
| Prov 15:31-32 | The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise... Whoever ignores instruction despises himself. | Value of listening to reproof. |
| Prov 29:1 | He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing. | Final destruction for stubborn rejection. |
| Jer 17:9 | The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? | The deceitfulness of the human heart. |
| Hosea 4:11 | Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the understanding. | Loss of discernment due to immorality. |
| Matt 15:19 | For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. | Heart as origin of sinful actions. |
| Rom 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. | General consequence of sin. |
| Gal 6:7-8 | Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. | Principle of sowing and reaping consequences. |
| Heb 12:5-11 | "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord... For the Lord disciplines the one he loves." | God's discipline is for our good. |
| 2 Tim 3:16-17 | All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction... | Scripture's role in providing reproof. |
| Rev 2:21 | I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. | Opportunity for repentance missed. |
| Luke 16:25 | "Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things." | Lament of one who had opportunities, now lost. |
Proverbs 5 verses
Proverbs 5 12 Meaning
Proverbs 5:12 describes a future lament uttered by someone who has suffered dire consequences because they deliberately ignored and despised wise counsel and moral correction. It reveals a deep, retrospective regret stemming from a past rejection of divine or parental discipline concerning sexual purity, where the "heart"—the innermost being—harbored contempt for truth. This is a chilling warning about the inevitable outcome of persistently turning away from sound instruction.
Proverbs 5 12 Context
Proverbs chapter 5 is a stern warning from a father (or wisdom teacher) to his son concerning the deceptive allure and destructive consequences of sexual immorality, personified by "the forbidden woman" or "adulteress." The chapter details the short-lived sweetness of her words contrasting sharply with the bitter end they lead to, emphasizing the loss of one's reputation, wealth, strength, and ultimately, life itself. Verse 12 is placed strategically at the point where the son, having ignored all warnings and faced ruin, reflects with profound regret upon his choices. It is the lament of one who has fully experienced the bitter aftermath described in verses 7-11. Historically and culturally, this instruction prepared young Israelite men to live righteously within their community, upholding the purity of the marital covenant and avoiding the moral decay and judgment associated with pagan fertility cults and general sexual looseness prevalent in the surrounding nations.
Proverbs 5 12 Word analysis
- and say: This verb implies a future declaration, a mournful outcry spoken after the calamitous consequences have come to pass. It signals a shift from the teacher's warning to the victim's inevitable lament, making the warning more vivid and immediate.
- How: (Hebrew: מָה, mah). This interrogative particle, when used exclamatorily, expresses intense emotion—in this case, deep anguish and astonishment at one's own past folly. It's a wail of disbelief and self-condemnation for previous stupidity.
- I hated: (Hebrew: שָׂנֵאתִי, saneti, from root שָׂנֵא, sane). This signifies a strong aversion, an active and conscious dislike. It is not merely neglecting or overlooking, but a deep-seated hostility towards instruction. The person didn't just passively disregard; they actively detested what was good for them.
- discipline: (Hebrew: מוּסָר, musar). A cornerstone concept in Proverbs, musar refers to moral instruction, correction, training, and chastisement. It's the formative guidance from parents, elders, or God Himself, intended to shape character and prevent wrong choices. Its rejection signifies a defiance of wisdom's pathway.
- and my heart: (Hebrew: וְלִבִּי, v'libbi). The "heart" (lev or levav) in biblical thought is not just the organ, but the very core of one's being – the seat of intellect, will, emotion, and conscience. Saying "my heart" despised it indicates that the rejection was not superficial but fundamental, originating from the deepest part of one's inner self and driving their choices.
- despised: (Hebrew: נָאַץ, na'ats). This word means to scorn, spurn, treat with contempt, or blaspheme. It's an even stronger word than "hated," conveying utter disdain and rejection. It implies not only an unwillingness to receive but an active act of mockery or devaluation.
- reproof: (Hebrew: תּוֹכַחַת, tokhachat). This refers to rebuke, admonition, specific correction, or demonstration of truth. It's the practical, often sharp, pinpointing of errors and presentation of right ways. Despising it means refusing to listen to logical or moral arguments for right conduct.
- "How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof!": This parallel structure effectively highlights the profound, internal, and comprehensive nature of the rejection. "Hating discipline" and "despising reproof" are two complementary facets of the same destructive attitude. The mah (How) emphatically frames this as a wail of utter desolation, acknowledging not only the negative action but the catastrophic regret it brought. The lament confirms that the instruction (discipline/reproof) was vital for life, but the inherent depravity of the "heart" scorned it.
Proverbs 5 12 Bonus section
- The dramatic monologue "and say" transforms a direct warning into a vivid premonition, inviting the listener to witness the bitter fruits of disobedience before they bear them personally. It is an empathetic tool used by the teacher.
- The progression from hating "discipline" (general guidance) to despising "reproof" (specific correction) shows a comprehensive rejection of wisdom in all its forms, from foundational training to pointed admonition.
- This verse subtly highlights the ironic truth that the value of discipline, when scorned, is often fully appreciated only through the pain of its absence and the consequences of one's folly.
Proverbs 5 12 Commentary
Proverbs 5:12 paints a poignant, almost prophetic, picture of the end stage of one who rejects the path of wisdom, especially regarding sexual purity. It's a "too late" lament. The verse is spoken from the perspective of an individual utterly ruined—perhaps financially stripped, physically diseased, socially disgraced, and spiritually hollow—who finally understands the devastating truth: their downfall was entirely self-inflicted by a deep, internal resistance to discipline and reproof. The intense language ("How I hated," "my heart despised") underscores that this wasn't mere neglect, but an active, willful, and deeply embedded animosity towards the very instruction that offered life and protection. This internal hatred led directly to the calamitous outward circumstances, showing that the battle for one's soul begins in the heart, and its choices dictate destiny. This verse serves as a powerful call for present-day heedfulness, warning against waiting until regret is the only companion.