Proverbs 15:7

7 Perceptive words spread knowledge; fools are hollow - there's nothing to them.

Proverbs 15:7 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 15:7

The lips of the wise disperse knowledge
Scatter it about for the benefit of others; they are communicative and diffusive of it unto others, that fruit may abound to their account: so the first ministers of the Gospel diffused the savour of the knowledge of Christ and his Gospel in every place; their words went into all the earth, and their sound to the end of the world; and so every Gospel minister will speak according to the oracles of God, and according to the abilities and measure of the gift which he has received; and to the utmost of his power feeds souls with knowledge and understanding; but the heart of the foolish [doth] not so;
does not disperse knowledge, for he has no solid substantial knowledge in him: or, "the heart of the foolish [is] not right" F24; it is full of folly and wickedness: or "the heart of the foolish [does] not [disperse that which is] right" F25; true and right things, and the knowledge of them; but, on the contrary, as in ( Proverbs 15:2 ) , "pours out foolishness".


FOOTNOTES:

F24 (Nk al) "non erit rectum", Pagninus, Baynus; "non est rectum", Piscator, Mercerus.
F25 "Spargit quod abest a recto", Junius & Tremellius, Amama; "eventilant non rectum", Schultens, Cocceius.

Proverbs 15:7 In-Context

5 Moral dropouts won't listen to their elders; welcoming correction is a mark of good sense.
6 The lives of God-loyal people flourish; a misspent life is soon bankrupt.
7 Perceptive words spread knowledge; fools are hollow - there's nothing to them.
8 God can't stand pious poses, but he delights in genuine prayers.
9 A life frittered away disgusts God; he loves those who run straight for the finish line.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.