The Meaning of Proverbs 16:21 Explained

Proverbs 16:21

KJV: The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

YLT: To the wise in heart is called, 'Intelligent,' And sweetness of lips increaseth learning.

Darby: The wise in heart is called intelligent, and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

ASV: The wise in heart shall be called prudent; And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The wise  in heart  shall be called  prudent:  and the sweetness  of the lips  increaseth  learning. 

What does Proverbs 16:21 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 16

1  The Plans of the heart

What do the individual words in Proverbs 16:21 mean?

The wise in heart will be called prudent and sweetness of the lips increases learning
לַחֲכַם־ לֵ֭ב יִקָּרֵ֣א נָב֑וֹן וּמֶ֥תֶק שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם יֹסִ֥יף לֶֽקַח

לַחֲכַם־  The  wise 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: חָכָם  
Sense: wise, wise (man).
לֵ֭ב  in  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
יִקָּרֵ֣א  will  be  called 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
נָב֑וֹן  prudent 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בִּין  
Sense: to discern, understand, consider.
וּמֶ֥תֶק  and  sweetness 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מָתֵק  
Sense: sweetness.
שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם  of  the  lips 
Parse: Noun, fd
Root: שָׂפָה  
Sense: lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding.
יֹסִ֥יף  increases 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָסַף 
Sense: to add, increase, do again.
לֶֽקַח  learning 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֶקַח  
Sense: learning, teaching, insight.