Proverbs 1:22 Meaning and Explanation
“How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Wisdom questions why the simple, scorners, and fools reject her.
The Context of Proverbs 1:22
Wisdom directly addresses and questions those who reject her.
What Does Proverbs 1:22 Mean?
Wisdom addresses three groups: the simple (those lacking judgment), the scorners (those who mock wisdom), and the fools (those who hate knowledge). Her question expresses both exasperation and invitation: how long will you continue in this self-destructive way? She calls them to recognize what they are doing and to turn back.
The verse reveals that these are not people without choice. The simple love their simplicity, as if they have chosen ignorance. The scorners take delight in mocking. The fools actively hate knowledge. At some point, their condition becomes a matter of will—they have begun to love and delight in their folly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 1:22
What does Proverbs 1:22 mean?
Wisdom questions why the simple, scorners, and fools reject her.
What is the context of Proverbs 1:22?
Wisdom directly addresses and questions those who reject her.