The Meaning of Proverbs 13:20 Explained

Proverbs 13:20

KJV: He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

YLT: Whoso is walking with wise men is wise, And a companion of fools suffereth evil.

Darby: He that walketh with wise men becometh wise; but a companion of the foolish will be depraved.

ASV: Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise; But the companion of fools shall smart for it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He that walketh  with wise  [men] shall be wise:  but a companion  of fools  shall be destroyed. 

What does Proverbs 13:20 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 13

1  a scoffer does not listen to rebuke

What do the individual words in Proverbs 13:20 mean?

- He who walks with wise [men] - will be wise but the companion of fools will be destroyed
[הלוך] (הוֹלֵ֣ךְ‪‬‪‬) אֶת־ חֲכָמִ֣ים [וחכם] (יֶחְכָּ֑ם) וְרֹעֶ֖ה כְסִילִ֣ים יֵרֽוֹעַ

[הלוך]  - 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: אֲבַטִּיחַ  
Sense: watermelon, Egyptian fruit.
(הוֹלֵ֣ךְ‪‬‪‬)  He  who  walks 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
חֲכָמִ֣ים  wise  [men] 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: חָכָם  
Sense: wise, wise (man).
[וחכם]  - 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
(יֶחְכָּ֑ם)  will  be  wise 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָכַם  
Sense: to be wise.
וְרֹעֶ֖ה  but  the  companion 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: רָעָה 
Sense: to pasture, tend, graze, feed.
כְסִילִ֣ים  of  fools 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: כְּסִיל  
Sense: fool, stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one.
יֵרֽוֹעַ  will  be  destroyed 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רוּעַ  
Sense: to shout, raise a sound, cry out, give a blast.