Proverbs 17:10 Meaning and Explanation
“A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A wise person learns from mild rebuke; a fool learns nothing from severe punishment.
The Context of Proverbs 17:10
Proverbs emphasizes the difference between the wise and the foolish in their response to correction.
What Does Proverbs 17:10 Mean?
The verse compares the receptivity of two types of people. A single word of correction—a gentle reproof—penetrates the heart of a wise person and moves him to change. By contrast, even a hundred physical blows cannot reach the fool's understanding or move him to reform. The difference lies not in the intensity of consequence but in the person's willingness to receive correction.
This reveals a truth about moral development: punishment without willingness to learn is useless. A wise person's openness to feedback makes him teachable, while a fool's defensive resistance means no amount of pain teaches anything. Virtue begins with the desire to hear and change.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 17:10
What does Proverbs 17:10 mean?
A wise person learns from mild rebuke; a fool learns nothing from severe punishment.
What is the context of Proverbs 17:10?
Proverbs emphasizes the difference between the wise and the foolish in their response to correction.