Proverbs

Proverbs 16:21–23

²¹The wise in heart are called discerning,

and pleasant speech promotes instruction.

²²Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor,

but the discipline of fools is folly.

²³The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth

and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The wise	לַחֲכַם־	la·ḥă·ḵam-	Preposition-l, Article; Adjective - masculine singular construct	H2450 wise
in heart	לֵ֭ב	lêḇ	Noun - masculine singular	H3820 inner man, mind, will, heart
are called	יִקָּרֵ֣א	yiq·qā·rê	Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7121 call, proclaim, read
discerning	נָב֑וֹן	nā·ḇō·wn	Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular	H995 discern
and pleasant	וּמֶ֥תֶק	ū·me·ṯeq	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H4986 sweetness
speech	שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם	śə·p̲ā·t̲a·yim	Noun - fd	H8193 lip, speech, edge
promotes	יֹסִ֥יף	yō·sîp̄	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3254 add
instruction	לֶֽקַח׃	le·qaḥ	Noun - masculine singular	H3948 learning, teaching

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Understanding	שֵׂ֣כֶל	śê·ḵel	Noun - masculine singular construct	H7922 prudence, insight
is a fountain	מְק֣וֹר	mə·qō·wr	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4726 spring, fountain
of life	חַ֭יִּים	ḥay·yîm	Noun - masculine plural	H2416 alive, living
to its possessor	בְּעָלָ֑יו	bə·‘ā·lāw	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H1167 owner, lord
but the discipline	וּמוּסַ֖ר	ū·mū·sar	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H4148 discipline
of fools	אֱוִלִ֣ים	’ĕ·wi·lîm	Noun - masculine plural	H191 foolish
is folly	אִוֶּֽלֶת׃	’iw·we·leṯ	Noun - feminine singular	H200 folly

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The heart	לֵ֣ב	lêḇ	Noun - masculine singular	H3820 inner man, mind, will, heart
of the wise	חָ֭כָם	ḥā·ḵām	Adjective - masculine singular	H2450 wise
instructs	יַשְׂכִּ֣יל	yaś·kîl	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7919 be prudent
his mouth	פִּ֑יהוּ	pî·hū	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H6310 mouth
and adds	יֹסִ֥יף	yō·sîp̄	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3254 add
persuasiveness	לֶֽקַח׃	le·qaḥ	Noun - masculine singular	H3948 learning, teaching
to	וְעַל־	wə·‘a·lś-	Conjunctive waw; Preposition	H5921 height
his lips	שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו	śə·p̲ā·t̲āyw	Noun - feminine dual construct; third person masculine singular	H8193 lip, speech, edge

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Proverbs 16:21 Proverbs 16:23–24 · Proverbs 15:7 · Isaiah 50:4 · Proverbs 27:9 · James 3:17 · John 7:46 · Luke 4:22

Proverbs 16:22 Proverbs 13:14 · John 5:24 · Matthew 15:14 · John 6:63 · Proverbs 10:11 · Proverbs 18:4 · Proverbs 14:27 · Proverbs 15:28 · Proverbs 15:2 · Matthew 23:16–26 · John 6:68

Proverbs 16:23 Proverbs 15:28 · Matthew 12:34–35

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.