Verse 7 Hebrew Text

1:7יִרְאַ֣ת יְ֭הוָה רֵאשִׁ֣ית דָּ֑עַת חָכְמָ֥ה וּ֝מוּסָ֗ר אֱוִילִ֥ים בָּֽזוּ׃

Verse 7 Sentence Flow

יִרְאַ֣ת - Noun, Feminine, Singular, Construct = fear, reverence
  יְ֭הוָה - Noun, Masculine, Singular = (of) the Lord
רֵאשִׁ֣ית - Noun, Feminine, Singular, Construct = beginning
  דָּ֑עַת - Noun, Feminine, Singular = knowledge
בָּֽזוּ - Verb, Qal, Perfect, Third Person, Plural = despise
  אֱוִילִ֥ים - Subject, Adjective, Masculine, Plural = fools, the foolish ones
  חָכְמָ֥ה - Object, Noun, Feminine, Singular = wisdom
  מוּסָ֗ר - Object, Noun, Masculine, Singular = instruction/discipline

Verse 7 Translation Rationale

This ever-popular Proverb opens with a dual construct chain as two verbless clauses. Therefore, we need to supply the linking verb “is” in our translation to English. The first construct chain is the familiar phrase “the fear of the Lord.” We get the word “of” due to the construct chain, fear in the noun form, and then we translate the tetragrammaton as “Lord.” Perhaps interesting to note here is that “fear” is a noun, not a verb. When one reads this passage, it might seem as though there’s an idea of doing something. Rather, Solomon is making the case that when one has the fear of the Lord in a substantive form, it is the beginning of wisdom. Ultimately, possessing the fear of the Lord should result in righteousness and the proper foundation for knowledge.

The following clause is our second construct chain, translated as “beginning of knowledge.” This construct chain isn’t altogether noteworthy except perhaps the usage of the Hebrew דָּ֑עַת, which means “knowledge.” We might expect to find the Hebrew word חָכְמָה here, which means “wisdom,” but Solomon opts for knowledge instead. The fear of the Lord is the foundation for proper knowledge. This is so because, as Creator, God has spoken to the facts of the creation. We are to interpret the facts of creation in light of what the Creator has supplied. Indeed, the fallen man interpreting the facts of creation apart from the light of the Creator has led to a train wreck of thought through the ages. The fallen nature never ceases to come up with foolishness. Thus, a proper fear of the Lord is the foundation for knowledge because regard, awe, and fear will humbly receive the Lord’s Word for a definition of knowledge rather than seeking to define one’s own meaning. In totality, our first two construct chains are linked by a simple linking verb, and their final translation is “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”

In the following clause, we’re introduced to the fool. The fool is talked about extensively in Hebrew wisdom literature and the Psalms. Solomon will give us a good idea of who this person is in this clause. אֱוִילִ֥ים is a plural adjective translated as “fools” or perhaps “those who are foolish” and functions as the subject for the verb בָּֽזוּ. בָּֽזוּ is translated as “despise.” One of the definitions of the noun form of this root is “contempt springing from pride and wickedness.” We must be careful not to fall into the root word fallacy by placing too much weight on that idea. But, it is noteworthy that the noun carries that meaning when discussing the verbal meaning of “despise.”

The fool, then, despises something. The something that the fool despises is shown as two things: wisdom and מוּסָר. Wisdom is a straightforward translation, but מוּסָר needs a bit of consideration. מוּסָר is used several times in verses 1-6 of Proverbs 1. In the cases of usage in those verses, the English word “instruction” may be the most straightforward translation of the intended meaning. However, in verse 7, experientially, it appears that the English words “instruction” or “discipline” would fit aptly. A foolish person generally despises instruction, but that person will also despise discipline, which includes instruction, but sometimes will also carry chastisement. As such, I think the broader definition here is a better fit. It is foolish to despise discipline, especially when we consider a passage like Hebrews 12:5-6 and its exhortation to esteem the Lord’s discipline because He disciplines those He loves. Therefore, it seems that “discipline” may indeed be the better choice over against “instruction.” Our final translation is, “Those who are foolish despise wisdom and discipline.”

Verse 7 English Translation

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; those who are foolish despise wisdom and discipline.

Verse 7 Interpretive Questions

1. None