Proverbs 9:9
New International Version
Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

New Living Translation
Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.

English Standard Version
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

Berean Standard Bible
Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.

King James Bible
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

New King James Version
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

New American Standard Bible
Give instruction to a wise person and he will become still wiser; Teach a righteous person and he will increase his insight.

NASB 1995
Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.

NASB 1977
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.

Legacy Standard Bible
Give knowledge to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Make a righteous man know it and he will increase his learning.

Amplified Bible
Give instruction to a wise man and he will become even wiser; Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.

Christian Standard Bible
Instruct the wise, and he will be wiser still; teach the righteous, and he will learn more.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will learn more.”

American Standard Version
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

Contemporary English Version
If you have good sense, instruction will help you to have even better sense. And if you live right, education will help you to know even more.

English Revised Version
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Give [advice] to a wise person, and he will become even wiser. Teach a righteous person, and he will learn more.

Good News Translation
Anything you say to the wise will make them wiser. Whatever you tell the righteous will add to their knowledge.

International Standard Version
Counsel a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will add to his learning.

Majority Standard Bible
Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.

NET Bible
Give instruction to a wise person, and he will become wiser still; teach a righteous person and he will add to his learning.

New Heart English Bible
Instruct a wise man, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

Webster's Bible Translation
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

World English Bible
Instruct a wise person, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous person, and he will increase in learning.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Give to the wise, and he is wiser still, "" Make known to the righteous, "" And he increases learning.

Young's Literal Translation
Give to the wise, and he is wiser still, Make known to the righteous, And he increaseth learning.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thou shalt give to the wise one and he will be more wise: make known to the just one and he will add receiving.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Give an occasion to a wise man, and wisdom shall be added to him. Teach a just man, and he shall make haste to receive it.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Present an opportunity to the wise, and wisdom shall be added to him. Teach the just, and he will hurry to receive it.

New American Bible
Instruct the wise, and they become still wiser; teach the just, and they advance in learning.

New Revised Standard Version
Give instruction to the wise, and they will become wiser still; teach the righteous and they will gain in learning.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Give an opportunity to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Give opportunity to a wise man that again he may learn wisdom, and teach the righteous that he may progress beyond his teacher.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Give to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Give an opportunity to a wise man, and he will be wiser: instruct a just man, and he will receive more instruction.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Way of Wisdom
8Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. 9Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning. 10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.…

Cross References
Proverbs 1:5
let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel

Proverbs 19:20
Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.

Proverbs 15:31-32
He who listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. / He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.

Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.

Proverbs 12:1
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.

Proverbs 13:1
A wise son heeds his father’s discipline, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.

Proverbs 10:8
A wise heart will receive commandments, but foolish lips will come to ruin.

Proverbs 18:15
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out.

Proverbs 23:12
Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.

Ecclesiastes 7:5
It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.

Matthew 13:12
Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

James 1:5
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, / so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.

Hebrews 5:14
But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.

Colossians 1:9-10
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, / so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,


Treasury of Scripture

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

Proverbs 1:5
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

Proverbs 25:12
As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

Hosea 6:3
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

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Proverbs 9
1. The discipline
4. and the doctrine of wisdom
13. The custom
16. and error of folly














Instruct a wise man
The Hebrew word for "instruct" is "יַסֵּר" (yasser), which implies discipline or correction. In the context of wisdom literature, this instruction is not merely academic but involves moral and spiritual guidance. The "wise man" here is someone who already possesses wisdom, which in the Hebrew context is not just intellectual knowledge but a deep understanding of God's ways and a life lived in accordance with His will. The wise are open to correction and eager to grow, reflecting a humility that is central to biblical wisdom.

and he will be wiser still
The promise here is that wisdom is not static; it is dynamic and ever-growing. The Hebrew root for "wiser" is "חָכַם" (chakam), which suggests skill and expertise. This growth in wisdom is a continuous process, indicating that no matter how wise one becomes, there is always more to learn and understand. This aligns with the biblical principle that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10), suggesting that a relationship with God is foundational to true wisdom.

teach a righteous man
The term "teach" comes from the Hebrew "לַמֵּד" (lamed), which means to instruct or train. The "righteous man" is one who lives in right standing with God, adhering to His commandments and living a life of integrity. In the biblical context, righteousness is not just about moral behavior but is deeply connected to one's relationship with God. Teaching a righteous man implies that he is receptive to learning and growing in his understanding of God's truth.

and he will increase his learning
The phrase "increase his learning" suggests an expansion of knowledge and understanding. The Hebrew word for "learning" is "לֶקַח" (leqach), which can also mean insight or doctrine. This increase is not just intellectual but involves a deeper comprehension of spiritual truths. The righteous man's openness to teaching results in a greater capacity to grasp and apply God's wisdom in his life. This reflects the biblical theme that those who seek God with a sincere heart will be rewarded with greater understanding and insight.

(9) Give instruction to a wise man.--Comp. Matthew 13:12; Matthew 25:29.

Verse 9. - Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser. The Hebrew is merely "give to the wise," with no object mentioned; but the context suggests "instruction," even though, as in ver. 8, it takes the form of rebuke. Vulgate and Septuagint, "Give an opportunity to a wise man, and he will be wiser" (comp. Matthew 13:12; Matthew 25:29). To make the best use of all occasions of learning duty, whether they present themselves in a winning or a forbidden shape, is the part of one who is wise unto salvation (see Proverbs 1:5, and note there). Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. Wisdom being a moral and not merely an intellectual, quality. there is a natural interchange of "wise" and "just," referring to the same individual, in the two clauses. Vulgate, festinabit accipere; Septuagint, "Instruct a wise man, and he shall have more given him." The wise are thus rewarded with larger measures of wisdom, because they are simple, humble, and willing to learn, having that childlike spirit which Christ commends (Matthew 18:3).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Instruct
תֵּ֣ן (tên)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

a wise man,
לְ֭חָכָם (lə·ḥā·ḵām)
Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2450: Wise

and he will be wiser
וְיֶחְכַּם־ (wə·yeḥ·kam-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2449: To be wise

still;
ע֑וֹד (‘ō·wḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 5750: Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more

teach
הוֹדַ֥ע (hō·w·ḏa‘)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

a righteous man,
לְ֝צַדִּ֗יק (lə·ṣad·dîq)
Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6662: Just, righteous

and he will increase
וְי֣וֹסֶף (wə·yō·w·sep̄)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3254: To add, augment

[his] learning.
לֶֽקַח׃ (le·qaḥ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3948: Something received, instruction, inveiglement


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 9:9 Instruct a wise man and he will (Prov. Pro Pr)
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