Proverbs

Proverbs 16:21–24

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.

²⁴Pleasant words are a honeycomb,

sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

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

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Pleasant	נֹ֑עַם	nō·‘am	Noun - masculine singular	H5278 delightfulness, pleasantness
words	אִמְרֵי־	’im·rê-	Noun - masculine plural construct	H561 something said
are a honeycomb	צוּף־	ṣūp̄-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H6688 comb
sweet	מָת֥וֹק	mā·ṯō·wq	Adjective - masculine singular	H4966 sweet
to the soul	לַ֝נֶּפֶשׁ	lan·ne·p̄eš	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
and healing	וּמַרְפֵּ֥א	ū·mar·pê	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H4832 healing, cure, health
to the bones	לָעָֽצֶם׃	lā·‘ā·ṣem	Preposition-l, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H6106 bone, substance, self