The Meaning of Proverbs 13:16 Explained

Proverbs 13:16

KJV: Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

YLT: Every prudent one dealeth with knowledge, And a fool spreadeth out folly.

Darby: Every prudent man acteth with knowledge; but the foolish layeth open his folly.

ASV: Every prudent man worketh with knowledge; But a fool flaunteth his folly.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Every prudent  [man] dealeth  with knowledge:  but a fool  layeth open  [his] folly. 

What does Proverbs 13:16 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 13

1  a scoffer does not listen to rebuke

What do the individual words in Proverbs 13:16 mean?

Every prudent [man] acts with knowledge but a fool lays open [his] folly
כָּל־ עָ֭רוּם יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה בְדָ֑עַת וּ֝כְסִ֗יל יִפְרֹ֥שׂ אִוֶּֽלֶת

כָּל־  Every 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
עָ֭רוּם  prudent  [man] 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עָרוּם  
Sense: subtle, shrewd, crafty, sly, sensible.
יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה  acts 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
בְדָ֑עַת  with  knowledge 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular
Root: דַּעַת 
Sense: knowledge.
וּ֝כְסִ֗יל  but  a  fool 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כְּסִיל  
Sense: fool, stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one.
יִפְרֹ֥שׂ  lays  open 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּרַשׂ  
Sense: to spread, spread out, stretch, break in pieces.
אִוֶּֽלֶת  [his]  folly 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אִוֶּלֶת  
Sense: foolishness, folly.