Proverbs 9:4 kjv
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
Proverbs 9:4 nkjv
"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
Proverbs 9:4 niv
"Let all who are simple come to my house!" To those who have no sense she says,
Proverbs 9:4 esv
"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" To him who lacks sense she says,
Proverbs 9:4 nlt
"Come in with me," she urges the simple.
To those who lack good judgment, she says,
Proverbs 9 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Pr 1:4 | To give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth | Wisdom equips the simple. |
| Pr 1:22 | “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple...? | Wisdom's call challenges complacency. |
| Pr 8:4-5 | "To you, O men, I call...O simple ones, understand prudence..." | Wisdom's universal invitation. |
| Pr 14:15 | The simple believes everything, but the prudent watches his steps. | The simple needs guidance. |
| Pr 22:3 | The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on... | Wisdom saves from harm. |
| Jer 4:22 | “For My people are foolish; they know Me not; they are stupid children; they have no understanding..." | A lament for lack of understanding. |
| Hos 4:6 | My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge... | Lack of knowledge leads to ruin. |
| Is 55:1 | “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!" | Invitation to spiritual nourishment. |
| Is 55:3 | Incline your ear, and come to Me; hear, that your soul may live... | Hearing God's word brings life. |
| Mt 9:12 | Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. | Christ calls the needy, not the self-righteous. |
| Mk 2:17 | I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. | Jesus' mission targets those who recognize need. |
| Lk 5:32 | I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. | Repentance for the unrighteous. |
| Lk 14:21 | “Go out quickly to the streets and lanes...bring in the poor... | The master's inclusive banquet invitation. |
| Jn 6:37 | All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never cast out. | God draws those who are open to Him. |
| Jn 6:44 | No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him... | Divine enablement to respond. |
| Acts 3:19 | Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out... | Call to turning (repentance). |
| 1 Cor 1:26-27 | Not many of you were wise...but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise... | God chooses the humble and simple. |
| Eph 5:15 | Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise... | Call to walk wisely, not foolishly. |
| Jas 1:5 | If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God... | Seeking wisdom from God. |
| Rev 3:20 | Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice... | Christ's personal invitation. |
| Pr 1:7 | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. | Distinguishing between simple and fools. |
| Pr 9:6 | Forsake foolishness and live, and walk in the way of insight. | Call to leave foolishness and choose life. |
| Pr 2:1-6 | If you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding...then you will understand the fear of the Lord... | Active pursuit of wisdom. |
| Jer 29:13 | You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. | Heartfelt seeking finds wisdom. |
| Prov 10:21 | ...fools die for lack of sense. | Consequence of lacking understanding. |
Proverbs 9 verses
Proverbs 9 4 Meaning
Proverbs 9:4 describes Lady Wisdom extending her personal invitation to two specific groups of people: "whoever is simple" and "him who lacks understanding." The verse reveals that Wisdom calls those who are unsophisticated, impressionable, or deficient in spiritual discernment to enter her "house" – a metaphor for the sphere of true knowledge, insight, and life. This is an active summons, urging them to leave their current path and turn towards the wisdom she offers.
Proverbs 9 4 Context
Proverbs chapter 9 vividly presents a dramatic contrast between Lady Wisdom and Dame Folly, personifying two divergent paths of life. The chapter is framed by Lady Wisdom's grand preparations (vv. 1-3) and her open invitation (vv. 4-6), directly opposing Dame Folly's seductive allure and destructive outcome (vv. 13-18). Verse 4 marks the beginning of Wisdom's direct appeal, specifically targeting those who, though lacking, are not yet hardened scoffers. The cultural context is that of ancient Israel, where wisdom was highly prized for successful living and understanding God's order. Wisdom literature, like Proverbs, aimed to transmit practical and spiritual discernment through allegories and direct instruction. Lady Wisdom's call in this chapter serves as a summation of the book's recurring theme: the choice between a life built on divine wisdom and one leading to ruin, indirectly polemical against self-reliance or the allure of illicit knowledge outside of God's counsel.
Proverbs 9 4 Word analysis
- Whoever is simple: The Hebrew word is pětî (פתי). This term denotes someone who is open-minded, naive, impressionable, or inexperienced. It doesn't inherently imply moral culpability but describes a state of vulnerability. A "simple" person is easily swayed and can be led to good or evil; therefore, they are an ideal target for Wisdom's beneficial instruction. This implies a receptive rather than resistant nature.
- let him turn in here: This phrase conveys a direct invitation and an imperative for action. "Turn in here" signifies a shift in direction, an entering into a specific dwelling or sphere of influence. It suggests a receptive turning towards Wisdom's domain and away from a prior, unguided path.
- as for him who lacks understanding: The Hebrew phrase is ḥasar-lēḇ (חֲסַר-לֵב), literally "lacking heart." In biblical Hebrew, "heart" often refers to the mind, intellect, will, and moral compass. Thus, "lacks understanding" points to a deficiency in moral discernment, prudence, or practical judgment. This individual is foolish not necessarily by willful rebellion but by an absence of proper insight.
- she says to him: This highlights the active and personal nature of Wisdom's invitation. She is not merely an abstract concept but a vibrant, engaging figure who speaks directly to those in need. It underscores her agency and genuine desire to offer guidance.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here": This pairing directly addresses the initial, less formed individual, inviting them to change their course and seek immediate refuge or instruction within Wisdom's house. It implies an initial openness that Wisdom seizes upon.
- "as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him": This parallel clause clarifies that Wisdom's call also extends to those more definitively characterized by spiritual or practical foolishness due to their lack of insight. It re-emphasizes the personal address, confirming the target audience for Wisdom's universal and compassionate appeal. These two groups together represent a wide range of humanity who are open, by divine grace, to receiving the life-giving truth of Wisdom.
Proverbs 9 4 Bonus section
The characterization of the "simple" (pětî) is crucial as it signifies potential. Unlike the hardened "fool" (kěsîl) or "scoffer" (lēṣ) who may resist wisdom entirely (Pr 1:7, 22; Pr 15:12), the simple person is impressionable and educable. This verse identifies the target audience as those who are able to respond, not yet entrenched in wickedness. This readiness is essential for hearing and embracing Wisdom's call. The repetition of the invitation's address in a synonymous parallelism ("whoever is simple" and "him who lacks understanding") emphasizes the broad and inclusive nature of Wisdom's outreach, reflecting a deep compassion for those navigating life without proper guidance.
Proverbs 9 4 Commentary
Proverbs 9:4 acts as the tender but authoritative summons of Lady Wisdom to humanity. Following her magnificent preparations in the preceding verses, she now extends her personal invitation not to the already wise, but specifically to those most in need: the naive and the undiscernible. The "simple" person, still malleable, and the one "lacking understanding," adrift without discernment, are precisely the individuals Wisdom aims to uplift and guide. This highlights the accessible nature of divine wisdom; it does not await perfected students but graciously calls those conscious of their own deficiency. Her call to "turn in here" signifies an invitation to abandon former paths of ignorance or aimlessness and enter a sphere of life, instruction, and rich sustenance she provides, implying transformation and enlightenment. It sets the stage for a critical choice between the way of Wisdom, which promises life, and the way of Folly, leading to destruction, which will be contrasted in later verses of the chapter.