Proverbs 13:20
“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Set within chapter 13's contrasts of conduct and consequence, this verse turns to the formative power of friendship, showing how companions shape destiny.
What Does Proverbs 13:20 Mean?
The people you spend time with shape who you become. This proverb states a principle as old as human society: companionship transmits character. "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise" -- close, ongoing association with the wise makes a person wise over time. The reverse is equally true: "a companion of fools shall be destroyed."
The verb "walketh" implies more than occasional contact; it pictures a shared journey, the steady companionship of those who travel through life together. Over such time, the values, habits, and outlook of one's companions seep in almost unnoticed. Walk with the wise, and their good judgment, reverence for God, and steady character begin to rub off. The influence is gradual but real, and its fruit is increasing wisdom. The second line carries a sober warning. To be a "companion of fools" is to absorb their foolishness, and the outcome is destruction -- the same ruin the fool brings on himself eventually overtakes those who walk beside him. The proverb does not forbid all contact with the foolish, but it warns against choosing them as one's intimate companions. We become like those we keep closest. This makes the choice of friends one of life's most consequential decisions, quietly steering a person toward either wisdom or wreckage.
In the Original Language
"Walketh" renders halak, to go or journey, here implying ongoing association. "Companion" is ra'ah, to associate with or befriend. "Destroyed" is rua, to be broken or harmed.
Cross References
“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”
- 1 Corinthians 15:33
“Make no friendship with an angry man... Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.”
- Proverbs 22:24-25
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners.”
- Psalms 1:1
Application
Choose your closest companions wisely, seeking friendships with those whose wisdom and character you want to take on yourself.