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Proverbs 17:16

New American Standard Bible (NASB ©1995) [2]
— Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, When he has no sense?
King James Version (KJV 1769) [2]
— Wherefore [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?
English Revised Version (ERV 1885)
— Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he hath no understanding?
American Standard Version (ASV 1901) [2]
— Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?
Webster's Revision of the KJB (WEB 1833)
— Why [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?
Darby's Translation (DBY 1890)
— To what purpose is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he] hath no sense?
Rotherham's Emphasized Bible (EBR 1902)
— Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a dullard? that he who is without sense, may acquire wisdom.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT 1898)
— Why [is] this—a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?
Douay-Rheims Challoner Revision (DR 1750)
— What doth it avail a fool to have riches, seeing he cannot buy wisdom? He that maketh his house high, seeketh a downfall: and he that refuseth to learn, shall fall into evils.
Geneva Bible (GNV 1560)
— Wherefore is there a price in the hand of the foole to get wisdome, and he hath none heart?
Original King James Bible (AV 1611) [2]
— Wherfore [is there] a price in the hand of a foole to get wisedome, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?
Lamsa Bible (1957)
— What good is wealth in the possession of a fool who has no desire to acquire wisdom?
Brenton Greek Septuagint (LXX, Restored Names)
— Why has the fool wealth? for a senseless man will not be able to purchase wisdom. He that exalts his own house seeks ruin; and he that turns aside from instruction shall fall into mischief.
Full Hebrew Names / Holy Name KJV (2008) [2] [3]
— Wherefore [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?

Strong's Numbers & Hebrew NamesHebrew Old TestamentColor-Code/Key Word Studies
Wherefore x4100
(4100) Complement
מָּה
mah
{maw}
A primitive particle; properly interrogitive what? (including how?, why? and when?); but also exclamations like what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjugational senses.
x2088
(2088) Complement
זֶה
zeh
{zeh}
A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that.
[is there] a price 4242
{4242} Prime
מְחִיר
m@chiyr
{mekk-eer'}
From an unused root meaning to buy; price, payment, wages.
in the hand 3027
{3027} Prime
יָד
yad
{yawd}
A primitive word; a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), in distinction from H3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote.
of a fool 3684
{3684} Prime
כְּסִיל
k@ciyl
{kes-eel'}
From H3688; properly fat, that is, (figuratively) stupid or silly.
to get 7069
{7069} Prime
קָנָה
qanah
{kaw-naw'}
A primitive root; to erect, that is, create; by extension to procure, especially by purchase (causatively sell); by implication to own.
z8800
<8800> Grammar
Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Infinitive (See H8812)
Count - 4888
wisdom, 2451
{2451} Prime
חָכְמָה
chokmah
{khok-maw'}
From H2449; wisdom (in a good sense).
seeing [he hath] no x369
(0369) Complement
אַיִן
'ayin
{ah'-yin}
As if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle.
heart 3820
{3820} Prime
לֵב
leb
{labe}
A form of H3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything.
[to it]?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

Proverbs 17:16

_ _ Though wealth cannot buy wisdom for those who do not love it, yet wisdom procures wealth (Proverbs 3:16; Proverbs 14:24).

Matthew Henry's Commentary

Proverbs 17:16

_ _ Two things are here spoken of with astonishment: — 1. God's great goodness to foolish man, in putting a price into his hand to get wisdom, to get knowledge and grace to fit him for both worlds. We have rational souls, the means of grace, the strivings of the Spirit, access to God by prayer; we have time and opportunity. He that has a good estate (so some understand it) has advantages thereby of getting wisdom by purchasing instruction. Good parents, relations, ministers, friends, are helps to get wisdom. It is a price, therefore of value, a talent. It is a price in the hand, in possession; the word is nigh thee. It is a price for getting; it is for our own advantage; it is for getting wisdom, the very thing which, being fools, we have most need of. We have reason to wonder that God should so consider our necessity, and should entrust us with such advantages, though he foresaw we should not make a right improvement of them. 2. Man's great wickedness, his neglect of God's favour and his own interest, which is very absurd and unaccountable: He has no heart to it, not to the wisdom that is to be got, nor to the price in the use of which it may be got. He has no heart, no skill, nor will, nor courage, to improve his advantages. He has set his heart upon other things, so that he has no heart to his duty or the great concerns of his soul. Wherefore should a price be thrown away and lost upon one so undeserving of it?

John Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Proverbs 17:16

A price — Opportunities and abilities of getting it. No heart — Neither discretion to discern the worth of wisdom, nor any sincere desire to get it.

Geneva Bible Translation Notes

Proverbs 17:16

Why [is there] a (g) price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?

(g) What good does it do the wicked to be rich, seeing he does not set his mind to wisdom?

Cross-Reference Topical ResearchStrong's Concordance
a price:

Proverbs 1:22-23 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? ... Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
Proverbs 8:4-5 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice [is] to the sons of man. ... O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
Proverbs 9:4-6 Whoso [is] simple, let him turn in hither: [as for] him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, ... Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
Isaiah 55:1-3 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. ... Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, [even] the sure mercies of David.
Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
2 Corinthians 6:1 We then, [as] workers together [with him], beseech [you] also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

seeing:

Proverbs 14:6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and [findeth it] not: but knowledge [is] easy unto him that understandeth.
Proverbs 18:15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
Proverbs 21:25-26 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. ... He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
Deuteronomy 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
Psalms 81:11-13 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. ... Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, [and] Israel had walked in my ways!
Hosea 4:11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.
John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Acts 28:26-27 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: ... For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
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Chain-Reference Bible SearchCross References with Concordance

Dt 5:29. Ps 81:11. Pv 1:22; 8:4; 9:4; 14:6; 18:15; 21:25. Is 55:1. Ho 4:11. Jn 3:20. Ac 13:46; 28:26. 2Co 6:1.

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