The Meaning of Proverbs 5:12 Explained

Proverbs 5:12

KJV: And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

YLT: And hast said, 'How have I hated instruction, And reproof hath my heart despised,

Darby: and thou say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof!

ASV: And say, How have I hated instruction, And my heart despised reproof;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And say,  How have I hated  instruction,  and my heart  despised  reproof; 

What does Proverbs 5:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 5:1-14 - Quicksands! Keep Off!
It is a matter for great thankfulness that the Bible, which is God's book rather than man's, deals so strongly and wisely with one great evil, which has manifested itself in every age and in every state of society. It speaks boldly and plainly; and all who will meditate on its teaching with a prayerful heart, will be saved from many a painful snare. If we fall it will only be due to our having refused to heed the voice that speaks to us from paragraphs like these.
The one great caution that we must all observe is in the control of our thoughts. The soul must never lie open to the tide of suggestive thoughts that break along its beach. As of old the watchman kept the gate of the medieval city so soon as darkness fell, so must the purity of God keep watch and ward at eye-gate, ear-gate, and touch-gate, lest some emissary of evil gain entrance and betray the citadel. Let Christ be the custodian of thy soul, whether thou be man or woman, old or young, and let Him impart to thee His own divine and human purity. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 5

1  Solomon exhorts to wisdom
3  He shows the mischief of unfaithfulness and riot
15  He exhorts to contentedness, generosity, and chastity
22  The wicked are overtaken with their own sins

What do the individual words in Proverbs 5:12 mean?

And say how I have hated instruction and correction despised my heart
וְֽאָמַרְתָּ֗ אֵ֭יךְ שָׂנֵ֣אתִי מוּסָ֑ר וְ֝תוֹכַ֗חַת נָאַ֥ץ לִבִּֽי

וְֽאָמַרְתָּ֗  And  say 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֵ֭יךְ  how 
Parse: Interjection
Root: אֵיךְ 
Sense: how? interj.
שָׂנֵ֣אתִי  I  have  hated 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׂנֵא  
Sense: to hate, be hateful.
מוּסָ֑ר  instruction 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מוּסָר  
Sense: discipline, chastening, correction.
וְ֝תוֹכַ֗חַת  and  correction 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֹּוכֵחָה 
Sense: rebuke, correction, reproof, punishment, chastisement.
נָאַ֥ץ  despised 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָאַץ  
Sense: to spurn, contemn, despise, abhor.
לִבִּֽי  my  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.