Proverbs 9:8 Meaning and Explanation
“Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Avoid correcting a scorner, but rebuke the wise, who will appreciate your guidance.
The Context of Proverbs 9:8
Correct the wise, but avoid correcting the scorner, who will only resent you.
What Does Proverbs 9:8 Mean?
Verse 7 and 8 work together. Do not reprove a scorner because he will hate you—your correction becomes fuel for enmity. He rejects the rebuke and redirects the energy into hatred of the rebuker. But the wise man is the opposite: rebuke him and he will love you. He recognizes the correction as a gift, evidence of your care for his growth. Rebuke from a wise source is recognized as wisdom itself.
This reveals the fundamental difference between two types of hearers. The scorner's pride makes him hostile to correction. The wise person's humility makes him grateful for it. The same action—rebuke—produces opposite fruit depending on the recipient's disposition. This is why discernment matters: know your audience before you speak.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 9:8
What does Proverbs 9:8 mean?
Avoid correcting a scorner, but rebuke the wise, who will appreciate your guidance.
What is the context of Proverbs 9:8?
Correct the wise, but avoid correcting the scorner, who will only resent you.