The Meaning of Proverbs 21:20 Explained

Proverbs 21:20

KJV: There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

YLT: A treasure to be desired, and oil, Is in the habitation of the wise, And a foolish man swalloweth it up.

Darby: There is costly store and oil in the dwelling of a wise man; but a foolish man swalloweth it up.

ASV: There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man swalloweth it up.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[There is] treasure  to be desired  and oil  in the dwelling  of the wise;  but a foolish  man  spendeth it up. 

What does Proverbs 21:20 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 21

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

What do the individual words in Proverbs 21:20 mean?

[There is] treasure desirable and oil in the dwelling of the wise but foolish a man squanders it
אוֹצָ֤ר ׀ נֶחְמָ֣ד וָ֭שֶׁמֶן בִּנְוֵ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וּכְסִ֖יל אָדָ֣ם יְבַלְּעֶֽנּוּ

אוֹצָ֤ר ׀  [There  is]  treasure 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֹוצָר  
Sense: treasure, storehouse.
נֶחְמָ֣ד  desirable 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חָמַד 
Sense: to desire, covet, take pleasure in, delight in.
וָ֭שֶׁמֶן  and  oil 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁמֶן  
Sense: fat, oil.
בִּנְוֵ֣ה  in  the  dwelling 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: נָוֶה 
Sense: abode, habitation, abode of shepherds or flocks, pasture.
חָכָ֑ם  of  the  wise 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חָכָם  
Sense: wise, wise (man).
וּכְסִ֖יל  but  foolish 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כְּסִיל  
Sense: fool, stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one.
אָדָ֣ם  a  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
יְבַלְּעֶֽנּוּ  squanders  it 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּלַע 
Sense: to swallow down, swallow up, engulf, eat up.