Proverbs 15:2 - The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of fools gush out folly.

Generated Verse: Proverbs 15:2

What does "Proverbs 15:2" mean?


Proverbs 15:2, "The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of fools gush out folly," highlights the contrasting ways that wise and foolish people communicate. Let's break down each part:

"The tongue of the wise commends knowledge": This means that wise people use their words to praise, recommend, or endorse knowledge. Their speech reflects their understanding and is used to share wisdom in a way that is beneficial and helpful to others. They carefully choose their words to impart insight, understanding, and valuable information. They don't just spew out facts; they present knowledge in a way that's persuasive, insightful, and encourages learning.

"but the mouth of fools gush out folly": In contrast, foolish people readily and abundantly express foolishness. The word "gush out" implies that their speech is uncontrolled, excessive, and flows out without thought or consideration. Their words are characterized by nonsense, stupidity, and lack of understanding. Their speech may be hurtful, disruptive, or simply meaningless.

In essence, the verse contrasts the quality and quantity of speech between the wise and the foolish. The wise carefully consider their words and use them to share valuable knowledge. The foolish speak thoughtlessly and abundantly, revealing their lack of wisdom through their foolish and uncontrolled utterances.

Key takeaways:

Wise Speech: Deliberate, beneficial, thoughtful, and conveys knowledge effectively.
Foolish Speech: Uncontrolled, excessive, meaningless, and reveals a lack of understanding.

The proverb serves as a reminder to choose our words wisely, reflecting a commitment to knowledge and understanding. It cautions against the thoughtless expression of foolishness.