The Meaning of Proverbs 7:7 Explained

Proverbs 7:7

KJV: And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,

YLT: And I do see among the simple ones, I discern among the sons, A young man lacking understanding,

Darby: and I beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the sons, a young man void of understanding,

ASV: And I beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, A young man void of understanding,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And beheld  among the simple ones,  I discerned  among the youths,  a young man  void  of understanding, 

What does Proverbs 7:7 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 7

1  Solomon persuades to a sincere and kind familiarity with wisdom
6  In an example of his own experience he shows
10  the cunning of a harlot
22  and the desperate simplicity of a young wanton
24  He detests such wickedness

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

And saw among the simple I perceived among the youths a young man lacking understanding
וָאֵ֤רֶא בַפְּתָאיִ֗ם אָ֘בִ֤ינָה בַבָּנִ֗ים נַ֣עַר חֲסַר־ לֵֽב

וָאֵ֤רֶא  And  saw 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
בַפְּתָאיִ֗ם  among  the  simple 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: פֶּתִי 
Sense: simplicity, naivete adj.
אָ֘בִ֤ינָה  I  perceived 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Cohortative, first person common singular
Root: בִּין  
Sense: to discern, understand, consider.
בַבָּנִ֗ים  among  the  youths 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
נַ֣עַר  a  young  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: נַעַר  
Sense: a boy, lad, servant, youth, retainer.
חֲסַר־  lacking 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: חָסֵר  
Sense: in need of, lacking, needy, in want of.
לֵֽב  understanding 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.