The Meaning of Proverbs 9:7 Explained

Proverbs 9:7

KJV: He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

YLT: The instructor of a scorner Is receiving for it -- shame, And a reprover of the wicked -- his blemish.

Darby: He that instructeth a scorner getteth to himself shame; and he that reproveth a wicked man getteth to himself a blot.

ASV: He that correcteth a scoffer getteth to himself reviling; And he that reproveth a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He that reproveth  a scorner  getteth  to himself shame:  and he that rebuketh  a wicked  [man getteth] himself a blot. 

What does Proverbs 9:7 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 9:1-18 - Two Contrasted Invitations
There is an age-long competition between Wisdom and Folly, Virtue and Vice. The palace of Wisdom is very attractive-well built and well furnished. It is reared upon seven well-hewn marble pillars, in a quadrangular form, the entrance being left wide-open. An eternal mansion, it is stable and beautiful. Great preparations are made for the feast, which is open to all-in striking contrast to the private supper to which Vice allures the unwary youth. The beautiful owner also sends forth her maidens into the public thoroughfares to give free invitations to all who will accept them. See Matthew 22:1, etc.
Only to the simple or child-hearted, and not to the scorner, is the invitation addressed. Wisdom lets the scorner pass, because a word to him would only recoil on herself, and would add to his wickedness. To scoff at things which are holy and scorn the divine power is to risk the sin that is never forgiven. Such is the man who enters the feast without the wedding garment. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 9

1  The discipline
4  and the doctrine of wisdom
13  The custom
16  and error of folly

What do the individual words in Proverbs 9:7 mean?

He who corrects a scoffer gets for himself shame and he who rebukes a wicked [man] [only] harms himself
יֹ֤סֵ֨ר ׀ לֵ֗ץ לֹקֵ֣חַֽ ל֣וֹ קָל֑וֹן וּמוֹכִ֖יחַ לְרָשָׁ֣ע מוּמֽוֹ

יֹ֤סֵ֨ר ׀  He  who  corrects 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָסַר 
Sense: to chasten, discipline, instruct, admonish.
לֵ֗ץ  a  scoffer 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: לִיץ 
Sense: to scorn, make mouths at, talk arrogantly.
לֹקֵ֣חַֽ  gets 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
ל֣וֹ  for  himself 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
קָל֑וֹן  shame 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קָלֹון  
Sense: shame, disgrace, dishonour, ignominy.
וּמוֹכִ֖יחַ  and  he  who  rebukes 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָכַח  
Sense: to prove, decide, judge, rebuke, reprove, correct, be right.
לְרָשָׁ֣ע  a  wicked  [man] 
Parse: Preposition-l, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
מוּמֽוֹ  [only]  harms  himself 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מְאוּם 
Sense: blemish, spot, defect.