Proverbs 9:13 Meaning and Explanation
“A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Folly is personified as a loud, foolish woman who lacks true knowledge, contrasting sharply with wisdom.
The Context of Proverbs 9:13
Folly, like wisdom, is personified as a woman, but her character is shallow and loud.
What Does Proverbs 9:13 Mean?
Just as wisdom is personified as a woman building and inviting, so is folly. But the contrast is stark. Folly is clamorous—loud, uncontrolled, making noise without substance. She is simple (the same word as the simple person in verse 4, but in her case indicating not openness to learning but groundless ignorance). She knows nothing—claims knowledge but possesses none.
This characterization sets up the false choice in verses 14-17. Folly is not silent or modest; she is loud and insistent. She lacks the careful preparation of wisdom and relies instead on noise and false claims to attract followers. Her simplicity is not innocence but ignorance—a fundamental gap between what she claims and what she is.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 9:13
What does Proverbs 9:13 mean?
Folly is personified as a loud, foolish woman who lacks true knowledge, contrasting sharply with wisdom.
What is the context of Proverbs 9:13?
Folly, like wisdom, is personified as a woman, but her character is shallow and loud.