The big picture
Proverbs 9 opens in verse 1 with “Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:”, reaches its middle movement near verse 9 with “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will…”, and closes in verse 18 with “But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of…” Repeated or prominent terms include understanding, wise, simple, bread, city. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Proverbs · King James Version · 18Proverbs 9:1-6
1–6: Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
Proverbs 9:1–6 opens with “Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:” and reaches “Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Two contrasting invitations and tables: Wisdom’s prepared feast and Folly’s stolen meal, with particular weight carried by mingled, understanding, wine.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
Proverbs 9:1-6
King James Version1Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
2She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
3She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
4Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
5Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
Proverbs 9:7-12
7–12: He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that…
Proverbs 9:7–12 opens with “He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth…” and reaches “If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Two contrasting invitations and tables: Wisdom’s prepared feast and Folly’s stolen meal, with particular weight carried by wise, getteth, scorner.
Context that brings the passage to life
“He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.” The line’s distinctive content terms include getteth, blot, rebuketh. Its relationship to verses 8 shows what work it does in this passage.
Proverbs 9:7-12
King James Version7He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
8Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
9Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
11For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
12If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
Proverbs 9:13-18
13–18: A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
Proverbs 9:13–18 opens with “A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.” and reaches “But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Two contrasting invitations and tables: Wisdom’s prepared feast and Folly’s stolen meal, with particular weight carried by knoweth, simple, bread.
Context that brings the passage to life
“A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.” The line’s distinctive content terms include clamorous, foolish, knoweth. Its relationship to verses 14 shows what work it does in this passage.
Proverbs 9:13-18
King James Version13A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
14For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15To call passengers who go right on their ways:
16Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
17Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
18But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Proverbs 9:1 begins with “Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:”
Where the chapter turns
Proverbs 9:18 forms a natural hinge: “But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.”
The final note
Proverbs 9:18 leaves the reader with “But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words understanding, wise, simple, bread, city, foolish help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Who is included in the covenant?
Noah, his descendants and every living creature. Trace the repeated wording in verses 8-17.
Why does verse 6 matter after the flood?
It grounds the protection of every human life in the continuing divine image.
KJV words made clear
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
- lest
- so that something does not happen
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.