Proverbs 17:25 — Word Study
WLCכַּ֣עַס לְ֭אָבִיו בֵּ֣ן כְּסִ֑יל וּ֝מֶ֗מֶר לְיוֹלַדְתּֽוֹ׃
BSAA foolishkᵉçîyl [stupid, silly] sonbên [child, descendant] brings griefkaʻaç [vexation, anger] to his fatherʼâb [parent, ancestor] and bitternessmemer△ [sorrow, pain] to her who bore himyâlad [his mother, gave birth to, begot]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| כַּ֣עַס | [is] grief | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| לְ֭אָבִיו | to father his | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| בֵּ֣ן | a son | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| כְּסִ֑יל | a fool | Adj |
| וּ֝מֶ֗מֶר | and bitterness | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| לְיוֹלַדְתּֽוֹ׃ | to [the] [one who] bore him | Preposition, verb qal participle (active) feminine singular common, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him. |
| KJV | A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him. |
| ASV | A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bare him. |
| YLT | A provocation to his father [is] a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him. |
| WEB | A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him. |
| BBE | A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth. |
Where they part company is מֶמֶר — see How Translations Differ.
Two main clauses express the dual impact of a foolish son on both parents.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 6 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
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 17:25
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 — The Consequences of Foolishnessgenerated
Proverbs 17:25 presents a stark view of the impact of foolishness within a family. The verse highlights the emotional distress caused by a foolish child, emphasizing how such behavior affects both parents. This is part of a larger discourse on wisdom and folly, where the author contrasts the outcomes of wise living versus foolish actions, as seen in the surrounding verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 10:1 | The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother. |
| 2 | Proverbs 15:20 | A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother. |
| 3 | Proverbs 19:13 | A foolish son is his father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping. |
| 4 | 2 Samuel 13:1–22 | After some time, David’s son Amnon fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of David’s son Absalom. |
| 5 | Ecclesiastes 2:18–19 | I hated all for which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — כַּעַס, Ka.'asgenerated
The word כַּעַס (ka.as) is a noun that conveys strong feelings of vexation and anger, often associated with grief. It is derived from a root that suggests irritation or sorrow, indicating a deep emotional response. The parsing as a masculine singular noun indicates it refers to a specific instance of grief experienced by the father in this context.
This term appears frequently in the Hebrew Bible, often describing not just personal grief but also divine anger, as in the case of God's vexation with Israel. Here, it captures the profound emotional toll that a foolish son can impose on his father.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses grief for כַּעַס and bitterness for מֶמֶר.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse contains two main clauses: the first describes the foolish son bringing grief to his father, and the second describes the bitterness brought to his mother. The structure emphasizes the dual impact of the son's foolishness on both parents.
The finite verbs in each clause — כַּעַס and מֶמֶר — serve as predicates, linking the subject (the foolish son) to the emotional consequences experienced by the father and mother.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word כַּעַס is rendered as ὀργὴ (orge), which means 'anger' or 'wrath'. This choice highlights the emotional intensity of the grief experienced by the father, suggesting a direct link between foolishness and anger.
The term מֶמֶר is translated as ὀδύνη (odynē), meaning 'pain' or 'sorrow', which aligns with the emotional weight of the original Hebrew, emphasizing the distress caused to the mother.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 17:25 tells us that a foolish son causes pain for his father and sorrow for his mother. This verse highlights the emotional consequences of foolish behavior within a family, showing how it affects both parents.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
A foolish son is one who acts without wisdom or understanding, often leading to negative consequences for himself and his family.
The actions of a foolish son can lead to disappointment, worry, and emotional pain for his father, as he sees his child making poor choices.
The bitterness refers to the sorrow and pain a mother feels when her child behaves foolishly, reflecting her emotional investment in his well-being.
This verse emphasizes the deep emotional bonds between parents and children, illustrating how a child's behavior can profoundly impact their parents' emotional health.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I seen foolishness affect relationships in my life?
- How can I encourage wisdom in my own family or community?
- What steps can I take to avoid foolish behavior and its consequences?
- How can I support those who are struggling with the actions of a foolish child?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 17:25 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleA foolish son [is] a grief to his father,.... Because of his folly and wickedness, and the ruin he is bringing himself to; and bitterness to her that bare him; a cause of bitterness of soul to his
Read John Gill on Proverbs 17 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryA foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him. A foolish son (is) a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 17 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThis he said before, , and elsewhere; but he here repeats it as a point of great moment and constant use, and as a powerful motive to oblige both children to carry themselves wisely and dutifully to their parents, as they would not be thought to be unnatural or inhuman, and parents to educate their children prudently and religiously, at least for their own comfort, if not for the public good.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 17 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 17:25 A foolish son [is] a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.Ver. 25. A foolish son is a grief to his father.]
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 17 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleCompare Proverbs 17:21. Here is added a reference to the sorrow which the folly of a child brings especially to the mother.
Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 17 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible25. Foolish son — Comp, Proverbs 17:21; Proverbs 10:1.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon 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
A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
A foolish child is a grief to his father, and bitterness to the mother who bore him.
Tyndale line
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bare him.
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
A foolish sonne is a griefe vnto his father, and a heauines to her that bare him.
Strictly literal
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
A provocation to his father [is] a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him.
A foolish son [is] a provocation to his father, || And bitterness to her bearing him.
A foolish son is a vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that hath born him.
A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to the woman who bore him.
From the Latin
A foolish son is the anger of the father: and the sorrow of the mother that bore him.
Simplified
A stupid son brings grief to his father and sadness to his mother who gave birth to him.
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth.
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 states, "כַּ֣עַס לְ֭אָבִיו בֵּ֣ן כְּסִ֑יל וּ֝מֶ֗מֶר לְיוֹלַדְתּֽוֹ׃" which translates to "A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in content, as all six words match in meaning, although the word order and articles may differ due to the nature of the Greek language. There are no significant differences noted in the Samaritan Pentateuch or the Dead Sea Scrolls for this verse, indicating a consistent transmission of this text across these ancient witnesses.
כַּ֣עַס לְ֭אָבִיו בֵּ֣ן כְּסִ֑יל וּ֝מֶ֗מֶר לְיוֹלַדְתּֽוֹ׃
6 of the 6 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 17:25
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.
כַּ֫עַס (ka.as) refers to feelings of vexation and anger, encompassing grief and provocation. It is derived from a root that suggests a sense of irritation or sorrow. The word appears in contexts relating to both human and divine emotions, indicating a range of feelings from frustration to wrath.
כַּ֫עַס n.m. vexation, anger
base
כַּ֫עַשׂ n.m.
vexation, grief
vexation, anger
base
H3708a כַּ֫עַס vexation, anger H3708b כַּ֫עַשׂ . vexation, grief
. vexation, anger
3708 ka`ac kah'-as
or (in Job) kaoas {kah'-as}; from 3707; vexation: -anger,
angry, grief, indignation, provocation, provoking, X sore,
sorrow, spite, wrath.
see HEBREW for 03707
כַּ֫עַס (ka.as) — vexation.
anger, vexation
Also means: ka.as (כַּ֫עַשׂ "vexation" H3708B)
כַּ֫עַשׂ (ka.as) — vexation.
1) anger, vexation, provocation, grief
1a) vexation
1a1) of men
1a2) of God
1b) vexation, grief, frustration
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
אָב (av) means 'father' and encompasses various roles such as the literal father of an individual, God as the father of His people, and the head of a household or clan. It can also refer to an ancestor, originator of a profession, or a figure of respect and protection. Notably, it can imply a ruler or chief in later contexts.
אָב 1101 n.m. father
father of individual
of God as father of his people
head of household, family or clan
ancestor
originator or patron of a class, profession, or art
fig. of producer, generator
fig. of benevolence & protection
term of respect & honor
specif., ruler, chief (late)
base
H1 אָב father . father of individual
. of God as father of his people
. head of household, family or clan
. ancestor
. originator or patron of a class, profession, or art
. fig. of producer, generator
. fig. of benevolence & protection
. term of respect & honor
. specif., ruler, chief (late)
1 'ab awb
a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or
figurative and remote application):--chief,
(fore-)father(-less), X patrimony, principal. Compare names
in "Abi-".
אָב (av) — father.
1) father of an individual
2) of God as father of his people
3) head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan
4) ancestor
4a) grandfather, forefathers - of person
4b) of people
5) originator or patron of a class, profession, or art
6) of producer, generator (fig.)
7) of benevolence and protection (fig.)
8) term of respect and honour
9) ruler or chief (spec.)
Also means: av (אַב "father" H0002)
אָב (av) — (Huram)-abi.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.7.13; also called Huram-abi (KJV: "Huram my father's") at 2Ch.2.13; 4.16;
Combined with chi.ram (חִירָם "Hiram" H2438H)
אָב (av) — father of.
The father of Gibeon, also known as Abiel - a man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.9.1;
son of: Zeror (H6872C); married to Maacah (H4601N);
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.
בֵּן 4870 n.m. son
son, male child, born of a woman
children (male and female)
youth, young men
the young of animals
of plant shoots
fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
member of a guild, order or class
of animals son of (the) herd
ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
n. relat. of age
base
בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.
done
H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman
. children (male and female)
. youth, young men
. the young of animals
. of plant shoots
. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
. . member of a guild, order or class
. of animals son of (the) herd
. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
. n. relat. of age
H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son
1121 ben bane
from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the
widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,
including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,
etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)
(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,
(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,
bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X
came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of
first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +
kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)
people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +
spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous
one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
see HEBREW for 01129
see HEBREW for 01
see HEBREW for 0251
בֵּן (ben) — son: child.
: child/son
בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;
son of: Jaaziah (H3269);
brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)
§ Beno = "his son"
the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)
בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.
: descendant, people, tribe, nation
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : child/son
בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.
: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : descendant
בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.
: rebel/son(Belial)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : people/men/nation/tribe
בֵּן (ben) — son.
: [inheriting]son/heir
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.
: warrior/son(strong)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
The term "son" is used in Scripture language to imply almost any kind of descent or succession, as ben shanah , "son of a year," i.e. a year old; ben kesheth , "son of a bow," i.e. an arrow. The word bar is often found in the New Testament in composition, as Bar-timaeus.
Sometimes denotes a grandson, or any remote descendant, Ge 29:5 2Sa 19:24. At other times a son by adoption is meant, Ge 48:5; or by law, Ru 4:17; or by education, 1Sa 3:6 20:35; or by conversion, as Titus was Paul’s "son father the common faith," Tit 1:4. And again it denotes a mental or moral resemblance, etc., Jud 19:22 Ps 89:6 Isa 57:3 Ac 13:10. In a…
→ FIGURATIVE
Of a person' s relation to God Ex 4:22
See ADOPTION
See GOD, FATHERHOOD OF
See JESUS, SON OF GOD
See JESUS, SON OF MAN
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.
מֶ֫מֶר (memer) refers to bitterness or sorrow. It is derived from an unused root that conveys the idea of grieving. The term appears in Proverbs 17:25, highlighting its emotional weight.
מֶ֫מֶר n.[m.] bitterness;—Pr 17:25
ref
H4470 מֶ֫מֶר
4470 memer meh'-mer
from an unused root meaning to grieve; sorrow:--bitterness.
מֶ֫מֶר (me.mer) — bitterness.
bitterness
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
The Hebrew word יָלַד (*yalad*) means to bear, bring forth, or beget, and it encompasses various forms of childbirth and lineage declaration. It can refer to both the act of giving birth and the role of a midwife. The entries also note its use in contexts of distress and wicked behavior, as well as in reference to birthdays.
יָלַד 497 vb. bear, bring forth, beget
Qal
bear, bring forth
less often beget
of both parents
Niph. be born
Pi. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife
Pu. be born
Hiph.
beget (a father a child)
bear
Hoph. day of one's being born = birthday
Hithp. declared their pedigree
base
H3205 יָלַד bear, bring forth, beget .. bear, bring forth
. less often beget
. of both parents
. be born
. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife
. be born
. . beget (a father a child)
. bear
. day of one's being born = birthday
. declared their pedigree
3205 yalad yaw-lad'
a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget;
medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show
lineage:--bear, beget, birth((-day)), born, (make to) bring
forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be
delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch,
labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be
the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).
יָלַד (ya.lad) — to beget.
1) to bear, bringforth, beget, gender, travail
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to bear, bring forth
1a1a) of child birth
1a1b) of distress (simile)
1a1c) of wicked (behaviour)
1a2) to beget
1b) (Niphal) to be born
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to cause or help to bring forth
1c2) to assist or tend as a midwife
1c3) midwife (participle)
1d) (Pual) to be born
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to beget (a child)
1e2) to bear (fig. -of wicked bringing forth iniquity)
1f) (Hophal) day of birth, birthday (infinitive)
1g) (Hithpael) to declare one's birth (pedigree)
Prep | V-Qal | Suff — Preposition · verb qal participle (active) feminine singular common · suffixHR/Vqrfsc/Sp3ms