The Meaning of Proverbs 14:16 Explained

Proverbs 14:16

KJV: A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

YLT: The wise is fearing and turning from evil, And a fool is transgressing and is confident.

Darby: A wise man feareth and departeth from evil; but the foolish is overbearing and confident.

ASV: A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

A wise  [man] feareth,  and departeth  from evil:  but the fool  rageth,  and is confident. 

What does Proverbs 14:16 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 14

1  A wise woman builds her house

What do the individual words in Proverbs 14:16 mean?

A wise [man] fears and departs from evil but a fool rages and is self-confident
חָכָ֣ם יָ֭רֵא וְסָ֣ר מֵרָ֑ע וּ֝כְסִ֗יל מִתְעַבֵּ֥ר וּבוֹטֵֽחַ

חָכָ֣ם  A  wise  [man] 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חָכָם  
Sense: wise, wise (man).
יָ֭רֵא  fears 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָרֵא  
Sense: fearing, reverent, afraid.
וְסָ֣ר  and  departs 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: סוּר 
Sense: to turn aside, depart.
מֵרָ֑ע  from  evil 
Parse: Preposition-m, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
וּ֝כְסִ֗יל  but  a  fool 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כְּסִיל  
Sense: fool, stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one.
מִתְעַבֵּ֥ר  rages 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
וּבוֹטֵֽחַ  and  is  self-confident 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בָּטוּחַ 
Sense: to trust.