Proverbs 9:6
Proverbs 9:6 in Multiple Translations
Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”
Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
Leave off, ye simple ones, and live; And walk in the way of understanding.
Give up the simple ones and have life, and go in the way of knowledge.
Leave your foolish ways and you will live; follow the path that makes sense.”
Forsake your way, ye foolish, and ye shall liue: and walke in the way of vnderstanding.
Forsake ye, the simple, and live, And be happy in the way of understanding.
Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.”
Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
Forsake childishness, and live, and walk by the ways of prudence.
◄Leave/Go away from► other foolish people, and if you do that, you will continue to live. Walk on the road that will enable you to ◄have knowledge/know what is true and what is not true►.”
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 9:6
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Proverbs 9:6 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
עִזְב֣וּ
פְתָאיִ֣ם
וִֽ/חְי֑וּ
וְ֝/אִשְׁר֗וּ
בְּ/דֶ֣רֶךְ
בִּינָֽה
עִזְב֣וּ
ʻâzab
H5800
Forsaken
V-Qal-Impv-2mp
פְתָאיִ֣ם
pᵉthîy
H6612
simple
N-mp
וִֽ/חְי֑וּ
châyâh
H2421
to live
Conj | V-Qal-Impv-2mp
וְ֝/אִשְׁר֗וּ
ʼâshar
H833
to bless
Conj | V-Qal-Impv-2mp
בְּ/דֶ֣רֶךְ
derek
H1870
way
Prep | N-cs
בִּינָֽה
bîynâh
H998
understanding
N-fs
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.
Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 9:6
עִזְב֣וּ
ʻâzab
H5800
"Forsaken"
V-Qal-Impv-2mp
Forsaken means to loosen or relinquish something, often implying abandonment. In the Bible, the word appears in Psalm 22:1, where David cries out to God, saying my God, why have you forsaken me. The term signifies a sense of desperation and isolation.
Definition: This name means to restore, repair Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 206 OT verses. KJV: commit self, fail, forsake, fortify, help, leave (destitute, off), refuse, [idiom] surely. See also: Genesis 2:24; Nehemiah 5:10; Psalms 9:11.
פְתָאיִ֣ם
pᵉthîy
H6612
"simple"
N-mp
This Hebrew word means being simple or naive, like someone who is easily influenced. It appears in Proverbs 1:4, where Solomon advises against being foolish. In the Bible, it often refers to someone lacking wisdom.
Definition: adj simple, foolish, open-minded
Usage: Occurs in 18 OT verses. KJV: foolish, simple(-icity, one). See also: Psalms 19:8; Proverbs 9:6; Psalms 116:6.
וִֽ/חְי֑וּ
châyâh
H2421
"to live"
Conj | V-Qal-Impv-2mp
To live or have life is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which can also mean to revive or be quickened. It is used in the Bible to describe God's power to sustain life and restore people to health, as seen in the stories of the prophets and Jesus' miracles.
Definition: 1) to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to live 1a1a) to have life 1a1b) to continue in life, remain alive 1a1c) to sustain life, to live on or upon 1a1d) to live (prosperously) 1a2) to revive, be quickened 1a2a) from sickness 1a2b) from discouragement 1a2c) from faintness 1a2d) from death 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to preserve alive, let live 1b2) to give life 1b3) to quicken, revive, refresh 1b3a) to restore to life 1b3b) to cause to grow 1b3c) to restore 1b3d) to revive 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to preserve alive, let live 1c2) to quicken, revive 1c2a) to restore (to health) 1c2b) to revive 1c2c) to restore to life
Usage: Occurs in 239 OT verses. KJV: keep (leave, make) alive, [idiom] certainly, give (promise) life, (let, suffer to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken, recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, ([idiom] God) save (alive, life, lives), [idiom] surely, be whole. See also: Genesis 5:3; 2 Samuel 16:16; Psalms 22:27.
וְ֝/אִשְׁר֗וּ
ʼâshar
H833
"to bless"
Conj | V-Qal-Impv-2mp
To bless means to make someone happy or content. In the Bible, it can also mean to guide or lead someone in the right direction, like in the book of Psalms.
Definition: 1) to go straight, walk, go on, advance, make progress 1a)(Qal) to go straight on, make progress 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to go straight on, advance 1b2) to lead on (causative) 1b3) to set right, righten 1b4) to pronounce happy, call blessed 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to be advanced, be led on 1c2) to be made happy, be blessed
Usage: Occurs in 15 OT verses. KJV: (call, be) bless(-ed, happy), go, guide, lead, relieve. See also: Genesis 30:13; Proverbs 23:19; Psalms 41:3.
בְּ/דֶ֣רֶךְ
derek
H1870
"way"
Prep | N-cs
Derek refers to a road or path, and can also mean a way of life or manner of action. It is often used to describe a journey or direction, and can be used figuratively to describe a person's character or moral path.
Definition: : road/route 1) way, road, distance, journey, manner 1a) road, way, path 1b) journey 1c) direction 1d) manner, habit, way 1e) of course of life (fig.) 1f) of moral character (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 626 OT verses. KJV: along, away, because of, [phrase] by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever). See also: Genesis 3:24; Deuteronomy 28:29; 1 Kings 15:34.
בִּינָֽה
bîynâh
H998
"understanding"
N-fs
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means understanding or discernment, like having wisdom or knowledge. It appears in books like Proverbs and Psalms, guiding people to make good decisions.
Definition: 1) understanding, discernment 1a) act 1b) faculty 1c) object 1d) personified Aramaic equivalent: bi.nah (בִּינָה "understanding" H0999)
Usage: Occurs in 38 OT verses. KJV: knowledge, meaning, [idiom] perfectly, understanding, wisdom. See also: Deuteronomy 4:6; Proverbs 4:7; Proverbs 1:2.
Study Notes — Proverbs 9:6
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 9:6 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 9:6
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 9:6
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 9:6
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 9:6
- Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 9:6
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 9:6
- Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 9:6
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 9:6
- Sermons on Proverbs 9:6
Context — The Way of Wisdom
4“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.
5“Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed.
6Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”
7He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself. 8Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 13:20 | He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. |
| 2 | Proverbs 4:11 | I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths. |
| 3 | Luke 13:24 | “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. |
| 4 | 2 Corinthians 6:17 | “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” |
| 5 | Proverbs 9:11 | For through wisdom your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. |
| 6 | Psalms 26:4–6 | I do not sit with deceitful men, nor keep company with hypocrites. I hate the mob of evildoers, and refuse to sit with the wicked. I wash my hands in innocence that I may go about Your altar, O LORD, |
| 7 | Acts 2:40 | With many other words he testified, and he urged them, “Be saved from this corrupt generation.” |
| 8 | Proverbs 4:14–15 | Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by. |
| 9 | Psalms 119:115 | Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may obey the commandments of my God. |
| 10 | Matthew 7:13–14 | Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it. |
Proverbs 9:6 Summary
[Proverbs 9:6 is telling us to stop being foolish and start being wise. This means making good choices and listening to God's guidance, as we see in Psalm 32:8, where it says, 'I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.' By doing this, we can live a more fulfilling and meaningful life. It's like choosing to take the right path instead of the wrong one, and this choice can have a big impact on our lives, as seen in Matthew 7:13-14, where Jesus talks about the narrow and wide gates.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to 'leave your folly behind' in Proverbs 9:6?
To leave your folly behind means to turn away from foolish and unwise behaviors, and instead, choose to follow God's wisdom, as seen in Psalm 119:133, where it says, 'Direct my steps according to your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me.'
How can I 'walk in the way of understanding' as mentioned in Proverbs 9:6?
Walking in the way of understanding involves seeking God's wisdom and guidance, as encouraged in Proverbs 2:6, which says, 'For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.'
What is the relationship between leaving folly behind and living, as stated in Proverbs 9:6?
Leaving folly behind and living are directly connected, as the verse suggests that turning away from foolishness is a key to living a full and meaningful life, which is also reflected in Deuteronomy 30:19, where it says, 'I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse.'
How does this verse relate to my everyday life?
This verse is relevant to our everyday lives because it reminds us that the choices we make have consequences, and choosing to follow God's wisdom and leave behind foolish behaviors can lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful life, as seen in Jeremiah 29:11, where it says, 'For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.'
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I am currently walking in folly, and how can I turn away from them?
- What does it mean for me to 'walk in the way of understanding', and how can I apply this to my daily decisions and actions?
- How can I seek God's wisdom and guidance in my life, and what role does prayer and scripture play in this process?
- What are some potential consequences of not leaving folly behind, and how can I avoid these in my own life?
- How can I share the message of leaving folly behind and walking in the way of understanding with others, and what impact could this have on their lives?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 9:6
Forsake the foolish,.... Foolish men and their company; not men of weak abilities in things natural and civil, or who are reckoned foolish by the world; for so the saints are, whose company is not to
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 9:6
Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 9:6
The foolish, i.e. the wicked, and their courses and society: you must either forsake them or me, for we are irreconcilable enemies. In the way of understanding; which leads to it, and is prescribed by it.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 9:6
Proverbs 9:6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.Ver. 6. Forsake the foolish.] No coming to this feast in the tattered rags of the old Adam; you must relinquish your former evil courses and companies. There are those who read the words thus, "Forsake, O foolish ones - viz., your own ways - and live." And go in the way of understanding.] Renounce your vices, and practise the contrary graces. True repentance stands in an entire change of the whole man, from all that is evil to all that is good.
Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 9:6
(6) Forsake the foolish.—Rather, the simple; be no longer counted among the weak, who can be “carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14), but “stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 9:6
Verse 6. Forsake the foolish] For the companion of fools must be a fool. And live] Answer the end for which thou wert born.
Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 9:6
6. Forsake the foolish] Rather, forsake, ye simple (sc. your simplicity): come to a decision; your present neutral position (see note on Proverbs 1:4, “the simple”) is untenable. Your choice lies between Wisdom and “the scorner,” Proverbs 9:7. Therefore break altogether with the scorner and the wicked man, and become the guests of Wisdom. See next note. Comp. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18; 2 Corinthians 7:1. “The old versions” (e.g. LXX. ἀπολείπετεἀφροσύνην) and most modern commentators regard the noun as abstract, equivalent to the sing. τְ ?ηִ ?ι in Proverbs 1:22, or the abstract derivative τְ ?ηַ ?ιεּ ?η in Proverbs 9:13 below, and therefore translate, ‘Forsake simplicity, let your simplicity go’.” Lange ad loc., who however rejects this view.
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 9:6
6. The foolish — Same word as in Proverbs 9:4, rendered “simple,” but here in the plural abstract, follies. And go — àùׁ ?øå, (ishrou,) go straight forward.
Sermons on Proverbs 9:6
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Seven Pillars of Wisdom by Zac Poonen | Zac Poonen preaches on the clear contrast between the Bride and the Harlot as depicted in Proverbs chapter 9. The Bride invites the foolish to turn from sin and learn the fear of t |
|
(2008 Usa Tour) Singles Table Talk by Keith Daniel | In this sermon, the preacher describes a journey up a cableway to a beautiful mountain, followed by a visit to a tea place and a boat ride around Seal Island. The preacher then men |
|
A Fragrant Life by Erlo Stegen | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having a heart that has been visited and filled by Jesus. He uses the story of Baron von Sincendorf and his friends discuss |
|
Becoming Strong in Spirit by Alan Martin | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the idea of compelling others to come to the word of God. He acknowledges that he may have misunderstood how this should be done, but believ |
|
Audio Sermon: Spiritual Warfare and Deception by Jim Cymbala | This sermon emphasizes the importance of discerning spiritual warfare, highlighting the dangers of deception and seduction by Gibeonites, who masquerade as harmless but aim to dece |
|
Living for Jesus in a Modern Babylon - 1 by Freddy Bafuka | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of making wise choices in life. He uses the example of Daniel from the Bible, who chose to follow God and was rewarded with wi |
|
|
No One Cried at the Funeral by Jim Cymbala | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with good influences to fight against evil. He encourages the audience to spend time in prayer and in |