Proverbs 15:31 Meaning and Explanation
“The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The one who listens to corrective reproof belongs among the wise.
The Context of Proverbs 15:31
The mark of the wise is the willingness to listen to corrective reproof.
What Does Proverbs 15:31 Mean?
Reproof of life—correction aimed at leading you toward life—must be heard. Listening to it is the single act that places you among the wise. This is less about intelligence and more about receptivity: do you hear the voice correcting you toward life?
The ear that listens to reproof establishes itself in the community of the wise. This suggests that wisdom is, in part, a community determined by one's responsiveness to correction. The wise are those who have ears to hear reproof and the humility to heed it.
Proverbs 15:31 in the Original Language
mussar (מוּסַר), 'reproof/instruction'—discipline and correction aimed at moral formation, not mere criticism.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 15:31
What does Proverbs 15:31 mean?
The one who listens to corrective reproof belongs among the wise.
What is the context of Proverbs 15:31?
The mark of the wise is the willingness to listen to corrective reproof.