Proverbs 15:20

20 A wise child brings joy to a father, but fools despise their mothers.

Proverbs 15:20 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 15:20

A wise son maketh a glad father
(See Gill on Proverbs 10:1); but a foolish man despiseth his mother;
that bore him and brought him up, and perhaps was too indulgent to him; which aggravates his sin and her sorrow; (See Gill on Proverbs 10:1); or causes her to be despised by others, as Jarchi interprets it; such a man's sin, which is great folly, and shows him to be a foolish man, is highly resented by the Lord, and will be severely punished; see ( Proverbs 30:17 ) . The Targum is,

``a foolish son despises his mother;''
and so the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, which makes the antithesis more clear; and the Hebrew text designs one grown up to man's estate.

Proverbs 15:20 In-Context

18 Hotheads stir up conflict, but patient people calm down strife.
19 The path of the lazy is like a hedge of thorns, but the way of those who do right is a clear road.
20 A wise child brings joy to a father, but fools despise their mothers.
21 Folly is joy to those who lack sense, but those with understanding walk straight ahead.
22 Plans fail with no counsel, but with many counselors they succeed.
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