Proverbs 17:25 Meaning and Explanation
“A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A foolish child brings pain to both parents, especially the mother who carried him.
The Context of Proverbs 17:25
Proverbs shows that sin and folly ripple outward to wound those closest to us.
What Does Proverbs 17:25 Mean?
The verse moves beyond individual folly to its relational cost. A son's foolishness is not his own private tragedy but a wound inflicted on those who love him. The father experiences grief; the mother (explicitly named as "her that bare him") experiences bitterness. Both parents carry the ache of watching the child they nourished and sacrificed for choose a destructive path.
The emphasis on the mother—the one who carried him in her body—intensifies the emotional weight. She invested her physical self in his creation and then the years of nurture and hope. His foolishness represents a betrayal not just of her dreams but of the very sacrifice she made to bring him into the world.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 17:25
What does Proverbs 17:25 mean?
A foolish child brings pain to both parents, especially the mother who carried him.
What is the context of Proverbs 17:25?
Proverbs shows that sin and folly ripple outward to wound those closest to us.