Proverbs 14 · Verse 6

Proverbs 14:6

A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
Proverbs 14:6, King James Version

Proverbs 14:6 in other translations

BSBA mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
WEBA scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn’t find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
ASVA scoffer seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not; But knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.
YLTA scorner hath sought wisdom, and it is not, And knowledge to the intelligent is easy.
DARBYA scorner seeketh wisdom, and there is none for him; but knowledge is easy unto the intelligent.
BBEThe hater of authority, searching for wisdom, does not get it; but knowledge comes readily to the open-minded man.
WebsterA scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy to him that understandeth.

What does Proverbs 14:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
6. An humble, teachable spirit succeeds in seeking (Pr 8:9; Joh 7:17; Jas 1:5, 6).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 A scorner seeketh wisdom - I believe the scorner means, in this book, the man that despises the counsel of God; the infidel. Such may seek wisdom; but he never can find it, because he does not seek it where it is to be found; neither in the teaching of God's Spirit, nor in the revelation of his will.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
A scorner treats Divine things with contempt. He that feels his ignorance and unworthiness will search the Scriptures in a humble spirit.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 14:6 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

בִּקֶּשׁ\־bi.kesh-he seeksH1245
לֵ֣ץletza mockerH3887
חָכְמָ֣הchokh.mahwisdomH2451
וָאָ֑יִןva.'A.yinand there [is] notH369
וְדַ֖עַתve.Da.'atand knowledgeH1847
לְנָב֣וֹןle.na.Vonto a discerning [person]H995
נָקָֽל\׃na.Kalit is triflingH7043

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 14:6

  • James 1:5

    If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

  • Matthew 13:11-12

    He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

  • Matthew 11:25-27

    At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:18-19

    Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

  • Proverbs 8:9

    They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

  • 1 Corinthians 8:2

    And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

  • Psalms 119:18

    Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

  • Proverbs 18:2

    A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

  • Jeremiah 8:9

    The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them?

  • Proverbs 26:12

    Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

  • Matthew 6:22-23

    The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

  • Proverbs 17:24

    Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
scorner.
18:2; 26:12; Isa 8:20; Jer 8:9; Mt 6:22,23; 11:25-27; Ro 1:21-28
Ro 9:31,32; 1Co 3:18,19; 8:2; 2Pe 3:3-5
knowledge.
8:9; 17:24; Ps 119:18,98-100; Mt 13:11,12; Jas 1:5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 14:5

    A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

  • Proverbs 14:6

    A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

  • Proverbs 14:7

    Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

Read all of Proverbs 14

Proverbs 14:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Busca el escarnecedor la sabiduría, y no la halla: mas la sabiduría al hombre entendido es fácil.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Le moqueur cherche la sagesse, et il n’y en a pas pour lui; mais la connaissance est aisée pour l’homme intelligent.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Der Spötter sucht Weisheit, und sie ist nicht da; aber für den Verständigen ist Erkenntnis leicht.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quærit derisor sapientiam, et non invenit; doctrina prudentium facilis.