Proverbs 24:7

7 Wisdom is too high for fools; in the gate they do not open their mouths.

Proverbs 24:7 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 24:7

Wisdom [is] too high for a fool
It is out of his reach, he cannot attain it; natural wisdom, or the knowledge of many things in nature; at least it seems so to himself, and therefore will not take any pains, or make use of any means, to obtain it; as the knowledge of human laws; of medicine, of philosophy, of languages, or of any of the liberal arts and sciences; or he has not really a capacity for it. This is more especially true of spiritual wisdom, or of the knowledge of divine things in a spiritual way; or of the things Of the Spirit of God, which a natural man cannot know, because they are spiritually discerned; it is God only makes men to know this kind of wisdom in the hidden part, ( 1 Corinthians 2:14 ) ( Psalms 51:6 ) ; for as a "fool" here denotes a wicked man, let his natural parts be what they will; so wisdom spiritual knowledge, and experience of divine things, which is too high for an unregenerate man to reach; see a like phrase in ( Psalms 139:6 ) ; he openeth not his mouth in the gate;
he is not qualified far it; and if he has any knowledge of himself, he will not venture to speak in a public assembly, in the house of parliament, in a court of judicature, or in the company of men of knowledge and sense; and indeed it is his highest wisdom to keep silence, and not betray his ignorance: and so with regard to spiritual things; a man that wisdom is too high for, and he has no share of it, shall not or ought not to open his mouth where Wisdom cries; even in the gates of the cities, or in the public assemblies of the saints, ( Proverbs 1:21 ) ( 8:3 ) .

Proverbs 24:7 In-Context

5 Wise warriors are mightier than strong ones, and those who have knowledge than those who have strength;
6 for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
7 Wisdom is too high for fools; in the gate they do not open their mouths.
8 Whoever plans to do evil will be called a mischief-maker.
9 The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to all.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.