The Meaning of Proverbs 21:11 Explained

Proverbs 21:11

KJV: When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

YLT: When the scorner is punished, the simple becometh wise, And in giving understanding to the wise He receiveth knowledge.

Darby: When the scorner is punished, the simple becometh wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

ASV: When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; And when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

When the scorner  is punished,  the simple  is made wise:  and when the wise  is instructed,  he receiveth  knowledge. 

What does Proverbs 21:11 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 21

1  The king's heart in the hand of the Lord

What do the individual words in Proverbs 21:11 mean?

When is punished the scoffer is made wise the simple but when is instructed the wise he receives knowledge
בַּעְנָשׁ־ לֵ֭ץ‪‬ יֶחְכַּם־ פֶּ֑תִי וּבְהַשְׂכִּ֥יל לְ֝חָכָ֗ם יִקַּח־ דָּֽעַת

בַּעְנָשׁ־  When  is  punished 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עֲנוּשִׁים 
Sense: to fine, amerce, punish, condemn, mulct.
לֵ֭ץ‪‬  the  scoffer 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: לִיץ 
Sense: to scorn, make mouths at, talk arrogantly.
יֶחְכַּם־  is  made  wise 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָכַם  
Sense: to be wise.
פֶּ֑תִי  the  simple 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: פֶּתִי 
Sense: simplicity, naivete adj.
וּבְהַשְׂכִּ֥יל  but  when  is  instructed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׂכַל 
Sense: to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand, prosper.
לְ֝חָכָ֗ם  the  wise 
Parse: Preposition-l, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חָכָם  
Sense: wise, wise (man).
יִקַּח־  he  receives 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
דָּֽעַת  knowledge 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: דַּעַת 
Sense: knowledge.