Proverbs 12:1 (NKJV) Knowledge or Stupidity

Today, we are starting a new chapter in Proverbs, and this first verse speaks of the difference between those that thirst for knowledge and those that reject correction or training.

Proverbs 12:1

1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge,

But he who hates correction is stupid.

instruction: 1. a direction or order 2. the process or act of imparting knowledge; teaching; education

knowledge: 1. The state or fact of knowing. 2. Familiarity, awareness, or understanding gained through experience or study. 3. The sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered, or learned.

correction: 1. The act or process of correcting. 2. Something offered or substituted for a mistake or fault

stupid: 1. Slow to learn or understand; obtuse. 2. Tending to make poor decisions or careless mistakes. 3. Marked by a lack of intelligence or care; foolish or careless

Using the definitions of the main words in today’s verse, we find that those that love receiving directions or orders that help them to learn will find that they will come to love HAVING that knowledge… it comes in handy so often somewhere along the line. Others also end up looking up to knowledgeable people.

In contrast, those that dislike or “hate” being corrected and being taught correctly, will find that they will be slower to learn. They will also tend to make poor decisions or careless mistakes.

As we have seen in so many verses in this book, God wants us to seek wisdom and knowledge BECAUSE He doesn’t want us to make poor decisions and careless mistakes throughout our lives. He wants us to have abundantly blessed lives because He loves us.

Proverbs 11: 31 Reap What You Sow

Proverbs 11: 31 (NKJV)

31 If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth,

How much more the ungodly and the sinner.

recompense: Payment in return for something

ungodly : 1. Not revering God; impious. 2. Sinful; wicked

Today’s verse is the last one in this chapter, and is another way of saying, “You will reap what you sow.” It tells us that those that are morally upright, and without guilt or sin, will receive a “just” payment for the way they have lived. We have seen, in other studies, that living wisely (following God’s Will and ways) bring rewards in our lives here on earth in the blessings that God pours out on us: Peace, Joy, Love, etc.

The second part of this verse says that those that don’t follow God’s way, but choose to live in a sinful and wicked way, will also be “payed back” for the things that they do. We need to remember to build our "house" or life, upon the rock of God and not the sand of Sin.

Proverbs 11: 30 Fruit of the Righteous

Proverbs 11: 30 (NKJV)

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And he who wins souls is wise.

The following definitions were taken from the Online Dictionary…

fruit: Result; outcome (in this usage of the word)

righteous: Morally upright; without guilt or sin

tree of life: A tree in the Garden of Eden whose fruit, if eaten, gave everlasting life

wins: To achieve success in an effort or venture

soul: 1. The animating and vital principle in humans, credited with the faculties of thought, action, and emotion and often conceived as an immaterial entity. 2. The spiritual nature of humans, regarded as immortal, separable from the body at death, and susceptible to happiness or misery in a future state. 3. A person considered as the perfect embodiment of an intangible quality; a personification 4. A person's emotional or moral nature:


Using these definitions, we see that this verse tells us, those that follow a life of righteousness will have the result of gaining everlasting life. Also, they are wise if they achieve success in bringing another person’s immortal, moral nature into a relationship with God so that they can become morally upright and without sin (through the salvation Christ offers).

Proverbs 11: 29 Heir or Servant

Proverbs 11: 29 (NKJV)

29 He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind,

And the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

heir: 1. A person who inherits or is entitled by law or by the terms of a will to inherit the estate of another. 2. A person who succeeds or is in line to succeed to a hereditary rank, title, or office. 3. One who receives or is expected to receive a heritage, as of ideas, from a predecessor.

v. troubles: 1. To agitate; stir up. 2. To afflict with pain or discomfort. 3. To cause emotional strain or anxiety to; worry or distress. 4. To inconvenience; bother

servant: 1. One who expresses submission, recognizance, or debt to another


The first part of today’s verse talks about a person who agitates, or stirs up problems in their own home. This type of person brings worry, distress and emotional strain to all those around them. A person of this type can cause so much trouble that they could be “kicked out” or “disinherited” from the family, thus inheriting nothing but “wind/air” in the long run.

The second part of the verse goes on to say that a person that is foolish like this, will end up serving or owing others who are “wise of heart.” In past verses, we have seen that, in the Bible, God considers a person to be “wise of heart” when they follow His leading and teachings in their lives.

Several of the “Fruits of the Spirit,” which grow in those that DO choose to follow God and become born again so that His Spirit lives within them, are attributes that would be the opposite of “stirring up troubles,” but instead, will bring peace and love into the family.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.