Proverbs 17:12 — Word Study
WLCפָּג֬וֹשׁ דֹּ֣ב שַׁכּ֣וּל בְּאִ֑ישׁ וְאַל־ כְּ֝סִ֗יל בְּאִוַּלְתּֽוֹ׃
BSA[It is better]ʼîysh [more desirable, preferable] to meetpâgash [encounter, come face to face with] a beardôb [slow-moving animal, fierce creature] robbed of her cubsshakkûwl [bereaved, having lost her young] thanʼal a foolkᵉçîyl [stupid person, one who rejects God] in his follyʼivveleth [foolishness, silliness, absurd behavior]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| פָּג֬וֹשׁ | may he meet | Verb, Qal, infinitive absolute |
| דֹּ֣ב | a bear | Noun common, both singular absolute |
| שַׁכּ֣וּל | robbed of cubs | Adj |
| בְּאִ֑ישׁ | a person | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וְאַל־ | and may not [he meet] | Conjunction, particle |
| כְּ֝סִ֗יל | a fool | Adj |
| בְּאִוַּלְתּֽוֹ׃ | in foolishness his | Preposition, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly. |
| KJV | Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. |
| ASV | Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly. |
| YLT | The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And — not a fool in his folly. |
| WEB | Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. |
| BBE | It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly. |
Where they part company is כְּ֝סִ֗יל — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause presents the comparison, with two subordinate phrases detailing the subjects of the encounter.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbפָּגַשׁ
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Proverbs 17:12
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Wisdom in Proverbsgenerated
Proverbs 17:12 presents a stark comparison between the peril of facing a bear that has lost her cubs and encountering a fool in his folly. The surrounding verses emphasize the dangers posed by evil and foolish behavior, illustrating the wisdom in avoiding such encounters. This proverb serves as a warning about the consequences of folly, urging readers to consider the severity of foolishness in their lives.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 28:15 | Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people. |
| 2 | 2 Samuel 17:8 | He continued, “You know your father and his men. They are mighty men, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Moreover, your father is a man of war who will not spend the night with the troops. |
| 3 | 2 Kings 2:24 | Then he turned around, looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Suddenly two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys. |
| 4 | Hosea 13:8 | Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast would tear them apart. |
| 5 | Proverbs 27:3 | A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — כְּ֝סִ֗יל, ke.Silgenerated
The word כְּסִיל (kciyl) refers to a fool or a stupid person, often characterized by a rejection of wisdom and understanding. It is derived from a root meaning 'fat', which metaphorically denotes a lack of insight or discernment. The parsing indicates it is used as an adjective, describing someone lacking in wisdom.
In this verse, the fool is contrasted with the bear, highlighting the greater danger posed by foolishness. The use of this term underscores the seriousness of folly, as it can lead to destructive behavior and consequences.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses a fool to translate כְּ֝סִ֗יל. Other versions, such as the FBV, render it as stupid person, showcasing a slight variation in interpretation.
The translations generally agree on the meaning, with the primary distinction being the choice of the word for כְּ֝סִ֗יל.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse is governed by the main verb פָּג֬וֹשׁ, may he meet, which introduces the comparison. The sentence is built around this verb, with two main phrases: one describing the bear and the other the fool.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the bear and the fool, highlighting the severity of encountering each. The contrast between the two subjects is central to the verse's meaning.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates פָּג֬וֹשׁ as ἐμπεσεῖται, suggesting an encounter or meeting, similar to the Hebrew. This choice maintains the focus on the act of meeting but does not carry the same nuance of 'may he meet' as in the Hebrew.
The Greek term for fool, ἄφρονες, aligns with the Hebrew כְּ֝סִ֗יל, emphasizing foolishness, but the broader context may shift slightly in interpretation.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 17:12 tells us that encountering a bear that has lost her cubs is less desirable than meeting a fool in his foolishness. This verse warns about the dangers of foolish behavior, emphasizing that dealing with a fool can be more perilous than facing a fierce animal.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It symbolizes a dangerous situation, as a mother bear is fierce and protective when she has lost her young.
A fool's behavior can lead to unpredictable and harmful consequences, making encounters with them particularly perilous.
The comparison highlights the severity of foolishness, suggesting that it poses a greater threat than even a wild animal.
It emphasizes the importance of wisdom and the dangers of folly, a recurring theme throughout the book.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some examples of foolish behavior that can lead to negative consequences?
- How can I apply the wisdom of this verse in my interactions with others?
- In what ways can I recognize and avoid foolishness in my own life?
- How does understanding the dangers of folly help me make better decisions?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Bede comments on this verse, illustrating the challenges holy teachers face when confronting folly, likening it to facing a bear.
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs, etc. It was easier for the holy teachers to confront the fury of the pagans,Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 17 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 17:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleLet a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man,.... A bear is a very fierce and furious creature, especially a she bear; and she is still more so when robbed of her whelps, which she has just whelped,
Read John Gill on Proverbs 17 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryLet a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than (literally, and not; Proverbs 8:10) a fool in his folly.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 17 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleRobbed of her whelps, when she is most cruel and fierce. In his folly; in the heat of his lust or passion, because the danger is greater, all things considered, and more unavoidable.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 17 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 17:12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.Ver. 12. Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man.] A bear is a fierce and fell creature, the she ear especially, as Aristotle notes, but most of all when robbed of her whelps, which she licketh into form, and loveth without measure. To meet her in this rage is to meet death in the face; and yet that danger may be sooner shifted and shunned than a furious fool set upon mischief. Such were the primitive persecutors, not sparing those Christians whom bears and lions would not meddle with. Such a one was our bloody Bonner, who in five years’ time took and roasted three hundred martyrs, most of them…
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 17 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(12) A bear robbed of her whelps.—Proverbially dangerous then (2 Samuel 17:8; Hosea 13:8). (See also 1 Kings 2:24.) A fool (khesîl).—Comp. Proverbs 1:32.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 17 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 12. Let a bear robbed of her whelps] At which times such animals are peculiarly fierce. 2 Samuel 17:8.
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 17 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges12. a bear &c.] “The Syrian bear is fiercer than the brown bears to which we are accustomed. It attacks flocks (1 Samuel 17:34), and even oxen (Plin. viii. 64). The fierceness of the she-bear, bereaved of her whelps, became a proverb (2 Samuel 17:8).” Pusey on Hosea 13:8. rather than] Lit. and not.
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 17 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe large brown bear of Syria, in her rage at the loss of her whelps, was to the Israelites the strongest type of brute ferocity. Compare 2 Samuel 17:8; 2 Kings 2:24.
Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 17 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
It is better for a person to meet a mother bear being robbed of her cubs, than to encounter a fool in his folly.
Tyndale line
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly.
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
It is better for a man to meete a beare robbed of her whelpes, then a foole in his follie.
Strictly literal
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man rather than a fool in his folly.
The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And — not a fool in his folly.
The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, || And—not a fool in his folly.
A man may meet a she-bear robbed of her whelps, but not a fool in his folly.
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to meet a fool in his foolishness.
From the Latin
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool trusting in his own folly.
Simplified
Better to meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs than a stupid person and their foolishness.
It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly.
Word by word, the decisions they made
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording, with six out of seven words matched. The Septuagint's translation reflects the same concepts but may present them in a different order, affecting the overall flow.
פָּג֬וֹשׁ דֹּ֣ב שַׁכּ֣וּל בְּאִ֑ישׁ וְאַל־ כְּ֝סִ֗יל בְּאִוַּלְתּֽוֹ׃
6 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 17:12
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
פָּגַשׁ (pagash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to meet or encounter. It can describe various forms of meeting, whether by chance or intention, and includes nuances of coming together or joining. The entries indicate its use in different grammatical forms, such as Qal (to meet) and Niphal (to meet each other).
[פָּגַשׁ] vb. meet, encounter
Qal meet
Niph. meet together, each other
Pi. intens. they keep encountering darkness in the daytime.
base
H6298 [פָּגַשׁ] meet, encounter
6298 pagash paw-gash'
a primitive root; to come in contact with, whether by
accident or violence; figuratively, to concur:--meet (with,
together).
פָּגַשׁ (pa.gash) — to meet.
1) to meet, join, encounter
1a) (Qal) to meet, encounter
1b) (Niphal) to meet together, meet each other
1c) (Piel) to meet, encounter
V-Qal-Ptc — Verb · Qal · infinitive absoluteHVqaa
met, adjective (yashar; axios): Various words are employed to express meetness, the sense of what is proper, worthy, or fit. We have yashar, "straight," "upright," "right" (2Ki 10:3, "meetest"; Jer 26:14, the Revised Version (British and American) "right"); yashar (Jer 27:5, the Revised Version (British and American) "right"); yosher (Pr 11:24, the Revised Version margin "what is justly due"); 'arikh, Aramaic "meet" (Ezr 4:14); bene, "sons of" (De 3:18, the King James Version "meet for the war," margin "Hebrew sons of power," the Revised Version (British and…
דֹּב (dob) means 'bear' and is derived from a root suggesting a soft or gliding motion. The entries consistently define it as a bear, with a mention of its Aramaic equivalent. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons.
דֹּב n.m., f. bear (from soft or gliding motion)
base
H1677 דֹּב bear (from soft or gliding motion)
1677 dob dobe
or (fully) dowb {dobe}; from 1680; the bear (as slow):--
bear.
see HEBREW for 01680
דֹּב (dov) — bear.
bear
Aramaic equivalent: dov (דֹּב "bear" H1678)
N-ms — Noun common · both singular absoluteHNcbsa
bar (dobh; compare Arabic dubb): In 1Sa 17:34-37, David tells Saul how as a shepherd boy he had overcome a lion and a bear. In 2Ki 2:24 it is related that two she bears came out of the wood and tore forty-two of the children who had been mocking Elisha. All the other references to bears are figurative; compare 2Sa 17:8; Pr 17:12; 28:15; Isa 11:7; 59:11; La 3:10; Da 7:5; Ho 13:8; Am 5:19;
Bear
A native of the mountain regions of Western Asia, frequently mentioned in Scripture. David defended his flocks against the attacks of a bear (1 Sam. 17:34-37). Bears came out of the wood and destroyed the children who mocked the prophet Elisha (2 Kings 2:24). Their habits are referred to in Isa. 59:11; Prov. 28:15; Lam. 3:10. The fury of the female bear when robbed of her young is spoken of (2 Sam. 17:8; Prov. 17:12; Hos. 13:8). In Daniel’s vision of the…
(1 Samuel 17:34; 2 Samuel 17:8) The Syrian bear, Ursus syriacus, which is without doubt the animal mentioned in the Bible, is still found on the higher mountains of Palestine. During the summer months these bears keep to the snowy parts of Lebanon, but descend in winter to the villages and Gardens. It is probable also that at this period in former days they extended their visits to other parts of Palestine.
That bears were common in Palestine appears from several passages in the Old Testament, 1Sa 17:34,36,37; 2Sa 17:8; 2Ki 2:24. The species known in Syria resembles the common brown bear; it is sill met in the recesses of Lebanon. To a sullen and ferocious disposition, the bear joins immense strength, considerable sagacity, and the power of climbing trees. Her ferocity, especially when her young are injured, is proverbial. See 2Sa 17:8; Pr 17:12; Isa 11:7; Ho 13:8.
שַׁכּוּל (shakkuwl) refers to being bereaved or childless, particularly through the loss of offspring. It is derived from the root meaning to be bereaved, and the entries emphasize its connection to loss and barrenness.
שַׁכּוּל adj. bereaved, robbed of offspring
base
H7909 שַׁכּוּל, שַׁכֻּל
7909 shakkuwl shak-kool'
or shakkul {shak-kool'}; from 7921; bereaved:--barren,
bereaved (robbed) of children (whelps).
see HEBREW for 07921
שַׁכּוּל (shak.kul) — childless.
1) childless (through bereavement)
2) bereaved, robbed of offspring
Adj — AdjHAamsa
The Hebrew word אִישׁ (iysh) means 'man' and can refer to an individual male, a husband, or a human being in general. It encompasses various meanings, including champion and great man, and can also imply 'whosoever' or 'each.' The word is built from a root suggesting existence and is used throughout the Old Testament.
אִישׁ 2166 n.m. man (= vir)
base
H376 אִישׁ man (= vir)
376 'iysh eesh
contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root
meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male
person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and
in such cases frequently not expressed in
translation):--also, another, any (man), a certain, +
champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-,
husband-)man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree),
him (that is), husband, man(-kind), + none, one, people,
person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy.
Compare 802.
see HEBREW for 0582
see HEBREW for 0802
אִישׁ (ish) — man.
: man
1) man
1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)
1b) husband
1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)
1d) servant
1e) mankind
1f) champion
1g) great man
2) whosoever
3) each (adjective)
אִישׁ (ish) — man: husband.
: husband
1) man
1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)
1b) husband
1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)
1d) servant
1e) mankind
1f) champion
1g) great man
2) whosoever
3) each (adjective)
אִישׁ (ish) — man: anyone.
: anyone/someone
1) man
1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female)
1b) husband
1c) human being, person (in contrast to God)
1d) servant
1e) mankind
1f) champion
1g) great man
2) whosoever
3) each (adjective)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
אַל (al) is a negative particle meaning 'not' or 'no,' often used to express a wish or prohibition rather than an objective fact. It can also function as a noun meaning 'nothing.' The lexicons highlight its use in various contexts, including deprecative forms, but do not show significant disagreement.
אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition
base
H408 אַל adv. of negation, denying however, not objectively as a fact, but subjectively as a wish, expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition
408 'al al
a negative particle (akin to 3808); not (the qualified
negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun,
nothing:--nay, neither, + never, no ,nor, not, nothing
(worth), rather than.
see HEBREW for 03808
אַל (al) — not.
1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference)
1a) do not, let not (with a verb)
1b) let there not be (with a verb understood)
1c) not, no (with substantive)
1d) nothing (as substantive)
Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particleHC/Tn
met, adjective (yashar; axios): Various words are employed to express meetness, the sense of what is proper, worthy, or fit. We have yashar, "straight," "upright," "right" (2Ki 10:3, "meetest"; Jer 26:14, the Revised Version (British and American) "right"); yashar (Jer 27:5, the Revised Version (British and American) "right"); yosher (Pr 11:24, the Revised Version margin "what is justly due"); 'arikh, Aramaic "meet" (Ezr 4:14); bene, "sons of" (De 3:18, the King James Version "meet for the war," margin "Hebrew sons of power," the Revised Version (British and…
כְּסִיל (kciyl) refers to a fool or a stupid person. It is derived from a root meaning 'fat' and is used figuratively to describe someone who is foolish, simple-minded, or arrogant. The term appears in various contexts in the Old Testament, emphasizing a lack of wisdom or understanding.
כְּסִיל 70 n.m. stupid fellow, dullard, fool
base
H3684 כְּסִיל
3684 kciyl kes-eel'
from 3688; properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or
silly:--fool(-ish).
see HEBREW for 03688
כְּסִיל (ke.sil) — fool.
fool, stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one
Adj — AdjHAamsa
Any person who does not act wisely, that is, does not follow the warnings and requirements of God, which are founded in infinite wisdom. Hence "a fool" is put for a wicked man, an enemy or neglecter of God, Ps 14:1 Pr 19:1. So folly is put for wickedness, 2Sa 13:12,13 Ps 38:5, foolish lusts for wicked lusts, etc. Foolish talking, foolish questions, are vain, empty, unprofitable conversation, 2Ti 2:23.
אִוֶּ֫לֶת (ivveleth) refers to folly or foolishness. It is derived from a root meaning silliness, and is categorized as a feminine noun. The term appears in contexts discussing foolish behavior or actions.
אִוֶּ֫לֶת 25 n.f. folly
base
H200 אִוֶּ֫לֶת
200 'ivveleth iv-veh'-leth
from the same as 191; silliness:--folly, foolishly(-ness).
see HEBREW for 0191
אִוֶּ֫לֶת (iv.ve.let) — folly.
foolishness, folly
Prep | N-fs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms