The Meaning of Proverbs 24:7 Explained

Proverbs 24:7

KJV: Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

YLT: Wisdom is high for a fool, In the gate he openeth not his mouth.

Darby: Wisdom is too high for a fool: he will not open his mouth in the gate.

ASV: Wisdom is too high for a fool: He openeth not his mouth in the gate.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Wisdom  [is] too high  for a fool:  he openeth  not his mouth  in the gate. 

What does Proverbs 24:7 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Wisdom is beyond the fool"s reach. Therefore he does not, if he has any wisdom at all, seek to give advice in the decision-making places of his world. [1]
"This saying inferentially commends becoming competently wise by warning against being an incompetent fool." [2]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 24

1  Precepts and Warnings

What do the individual words in Proverbs 24:7 mean?

Too lofty for a fool Wisdom [is] in the gate Not He does open his mouth
רָאמ֣וֹת לֶֽאֱוִ֣יל חָכְמ֑וֹת בַּ֝שַּׁ֗עַר לֹ֣א יִפְתַּח־ פִּֽיהוּ

רָאמ֣וֹת  Too  lofty 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine plural
Root: יָרוּם 
Sense: to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted.
לֶֽאֱוִ֣יל  for  a  fool 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱוִיל  
Sense: be foolish, foolish.
חָכְמ֑וֹת  Wisdom  [is] 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: חָכְמֹות  
Sense: wisdom.
בַּ֝שַּׁ֗עַר  in  the  gate 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שַׁעַר  
Sense: gate.
יִפְתַּח־  He  does  open 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּתַח 
Sense: to open.
פִּֽיהוּ  his  mouth 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.