The Meaning of Proverbs 23:23 Explained

Proverbs 23:23

KJV: Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

YLT: Truth buy, and sell not, Wisdom, and instruction, and understanding,

Darby: Buy the truth, and sell it not; wisdom, and instruction, and intelligence.

ASV: Buy the truth, and sell it not; Yea , wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Buy  the truth,  and sell  [it] not; [also] wisdom,  and instruction,  and understanding. 

What does Proverbs 23:23 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 23

1  Consider carefully what is before you

What do the individual words in Proverbs 23:23 mean?

The truth Buy and not do sell [it] [Also] wisdom and instruction and understanding
אֱמֶ֣ת קְ֭נֵה וְאַל־ תִּמְכֹּ֑ר חָכְמָ֖ה וּמוּסָ֣ר וּבִינָֽה

אֱמֶ֣ת  The  truth 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֱמֶת  
Sense: firmness, faithfulness, truth.
קְ֭נֵה  Buy 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: קָנָה 
Sense: to get, acquire, create, buy, possess.
וְאַל־  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַל  
Sense: not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference).
תִּמְכֹּ֑ר  do  sell  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: מָכַר  
Sense: to sell.
חָכְמָ֖ה  [Also]  wisdom 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: חָכְמָה  
Sense: wisdom.
וּמוּסָ֣ר  and  instruction 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מוּסָר  
Sense: discipline, chastening, correction.
וּבִינָֽה  and  understanding 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: בִּינָה  
Sense: understanding, discernment.