Proverbs 5:13 kjv

And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

Proverbs 5:13 nkjv

I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me!

Proverbs 5:13 niv

I would not obey my teachers or turn my ear to my instructors.

Proverbs 5:13 esv

I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors.

Proverbs 5:13 nlt

Oh, why didn't I listen to my teachers?
Why didn't I pay attention to my instructors?

Proverbs 5 verses

Proverbs 5 13 Meaning

Proverbs 5:13 expresses the profound and bitter regret of an individual who, having pursued a path of moral degradation, particularly through sexual immorality, recognizes that their ruin stemmed directly from their consistent and deliberate refusal to heed sound wisdom and instruction. It is a mournful confession of disobedience and inattention to the vital guidance provided by teachers and mentors. This verse encapsulates the ultimate despair and self-reproach of a life thrown away by rejecting divine and human wisdom.

Proverbs 5 13 Context

Proverbs chapter 5 is a fervent warning from a father to his son, admonishing him to avoid the treacherous path of sexual immorality personified by the "adulterous woman." The chapter meticulously details her seductive allure ("smooth words," v.3), the devastating consequences of succumbing to her ("bitter as wormwood," "sharp as a two-edged sword," v.4; loss of health, wealth, and reputation, v.9-10), and the ultimate spiritual death that lies at the end of her path (v.5-6, v.23).

Verse 13 comes at a climactic point in the warning, immediately following the description of the man's total ruin and the anguish of having to proclaim, "How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof!" (v.12). It serves as a lament or confession from the perspective of someone who has already fallen into ruin due to his moral choices. It succinctly explains the root cause of his downfall: a deliberate and sustained refusal to embrace wisdom and listen to wise counsel. Historically, in ancient Israelite society, the family unit, especially the father, was the primary locus of education and moral training. Wisdom was primarily oral instruction, passed down from generation to generation. Therefore, "teachers" would encompass parents, elders, and anyone providing sound moral guidance. This verse underscores the timeless truth that ignoring foundational moral teaching leads to devastating personal and social consequences.

Proverbs 5 13 Word analysis

• "And have not obeyed":

  • This phrase begins a confession of past failure. The conjunction "and" links it directly to the previous verses' expressions of bitter regret.
  • The Hebrew for "obeyed" is shama (שָׁמַע), which means much more than merely hearing sound. It implies an active, attentive listening that leads to a responsive compliance or submission.
  • Significance: The use of shama highlights that the failure was not an accidental oversight but a conscious refusal to do what was heard, indicating a deep-seated rebelliousness against instruction and authority.

• "the voice":

  • The Hebrew is qol (קוֹל), meaning sound or voice.
  • Significance: It emphasizes that the instruction was not subtle or hidden but audibly and clearly communicated, making the subsequent disobedience inexcusable.

• "of my teachers,":

  • The Hebrew for "teachers" is morim (מוֹרִים), derived from the root yarah (יָרָה), meaning to teach, instruct, point out, or show the way. These are individuals who provide moral, spiritual, or practical guidance.
  • Significance: The plural form suggests that wisdom and guidance were available from multiple sources—parents, elders, perhaps spiritual guides or the Law itself. The lament signifies a wholesale rejection of broad opportunities for instruction.

• "Nor inclined":

  • The Hebrew is natah (נָטָה), meaning to stretch out, bend, or turn aside. Metaphorically, it refers to directing one's attention or willingness to listen.
  • Significance: This parallel action to "not obeyed" shows a twofold rejection: not only was the instruction disobeyed (action), but the very act of attentive listening and receptivity was also consciously withheld (attitude). It speaks to stubbornness.

• "mine ear":

  • The Hebrew is ozen (אֹזֶן), meaning ear. In biblical thought, the ear is metonymic for the entire person's capacity for attention, understanding, and obedience.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the personal and volitional nature of the rejection. The individual chose not to engage mentally or spiritually with the instruction offered.

• "to them that instructed me!":

  • The Hebrew is also from the root yarah (יָרָה), "to instruct" (in the Piel stem). This repeats and reinforces the idea presented by "my teachers."
  • Significance: This parallelism underlines that the guidance was directly targeted and clearly presented to the speaker, not a general or vague concept. The abundance and clarity of the rejected instruction amplify the bitterness of the speaker's regret.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers," + "Nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!": This demonstrates the powerful use of synonymous parallelism, a hallmark of Hebrew poetry. The first phrase expresses the lack of active obedience to clear teaching. The second phrase deepens this by indicating a prior, internal refusal to even grant attention or a hearing to the instructors. This two-part rejection vividly portrays a complete and intentional severance from wisdom's path, showing a deliberate rebellion against both the content of the teaching and the process of receiving it. It portrays the full spectrum of intellectual, emotional, and volitional dismissal of sound counsel, leading to an inevitable downward spiral.

Proverbs 5 13 Bonus section

• A Confession of Stupidity: The regret expressed here aligns with the proverb's definition of a "fool" (אֱוִיל, ʾĕwîl): one who not only lacks wisdom but actively scorns it (Prov 1:7; 15:5). The individual in this verse is not merely ignorant but demonstrates a willful opposition to learning what is right.
• Spiritual Blindness: The refusal to "incline the ear" speaks to a self-imposed spiritual and intellectual deafness that prevented the reception of truth and discerning guidance. This rejection of outer teaching often stems from an inward pride or a desire to indulge sin, making one impervious to wisdom's voice until it is too late.
• Foreboding Irony: There is a profound irony in this verse. While young and full of vigor, the speaker would not listen. Now, in his desolation, he retrospectively laments his past stubbornness, but the price of such "education" in the "school of hard knocks" is incredibly high. It is a cautionary tale that the easiest and least painful way to learn is through the wisdom of others, not through the bitter consequences of personal experience born of rebellion.

Proverbs 5 13 Commentary

Proverbs 5:13 is a piercing cry of anguish and profound regret, a confessional retrospective on a life utterly undone by a consistent and deliberate rejection of wisdom and instruction. It lays bare the ultimate consequence of the "foolish" mindset: not merely ignorance, but an active, willful turning away from the path of life. The individual acknowledges their failure to obey explicit moral commands ("not obeyed the voice of my teachers") and, perhaps even more fundamentally, their unwillingness to even listen with an open mind or heart ("Nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me"). This twin failure—active disobedience and passive inattention—highlights the root of self-destruction. The teachers' voices, whether parents, elders, or divinely appointed instructors, offered a clear and correct path, yet these were consciously spurned. The resulting bitter lament serves as a stark warning, reinforcing the core message of Proverbs: listen to wisdom, for to reject it is to choose one's own ruin.