Proverbs 15:20

20 A wise son gladdens father; but a foolish son sneers at his mother.

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 A passionate man stirs up strife; but slow to anger appeases even a rising one. A man slow to anger will extinguish quarrels; but an ungodly man rather stirs up.

19 The ways of sluggards are strewn with thorns; but those of the diligent are made smooth.

20 A wise son gladdens father; but a foolish son sneers at his mother.

21 The ways of a foolish man are void of sense; but a wise man proceeds on his way aright.

22 They that honour not councils put off deliberation; but counsel abides in the hearts of counsellors.