Read Proverbs 14 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraph:
10:1b-19:9 {p} …
Proverbs 14:6-18 Chiastic Structure
Hebrew has five different words to describe the foolish person, from the most innocent progressing to the most depraved. We saw that the most innocent is the simpleton, followed by the proud fool, followed by the complacent fool. If a conplacent fool has not turned from his foolishness, he then descends to folly as this chapter describes, becoming a scorning fool.
A scorner seeks wisdom, and does not find it, but knowledge is easy to him who has discernment. Pro 14:6
Fools scoff at sin, but among the upright there is favor. Pro 14:9
The Hebrew is from Strong’s H3887 לוץ luwts, a primitive root meaning, “to scorn.” The ancient pictographs are lamed + vav + tsadey.
lamed ל = the shepherd’s staff, thus teach, yoke, to, bind
vav ו = the tent peg, thus add, secure, hook
tsadey צ, ץ = the trail, thus a man concealed, journey, chase, hunt
The parable the Hebrew Root Word is telling, is of one who speaks derisively or mockingly as an authority (lamed) whether he is a true authority or not, in order to hook (vav) or ensnare others covertly onto his own path (tsadey).
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. Psa 1:1
“Sitting in the seat” is a Hebrew idiom for authority, and where the West gets its idea of thrones for kings.
A scorning fool is a proselytizer, whether he realizes it or not. He is not content to let others have their own opinions or their own path, he seeks to make converts to his opinions and his path by mocking the virtue of others, or mocking the sinfulness of sin, in which he delights.
Fools scoff at sin, but among the upright there is favor. Pro 14:9
How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge. Pro 1:22
Scorners are proud and arrogant, and a root source of contention, strife, and dishonor.
A proud and haughty man—“Scoffer” is his name; he acts with arrogant pride. Pro 21:24
Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave; yes, strife and reproach will cease. Pro 22:10
Like other fools, scorners despise instruction or correction; scorners take it a step further and actively hate the one who reveals the wickedness of their ways.
A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a scorner does not listen to rebuke. Pro 13:1
A scorner does not love one who corrects him, nor will he go to the wise. Pro 15:12
He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, and he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. Do not correct a scoffer lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Pro 9:7-8
The root of scorn is unbelief; it is why a scorner can seek for wisdom and not find it; because the root of wisdom is belief.
A scorner seeks wisdom, and does not find it, but knowledge is easy to him who has discernment. Pro 14:6
So how is this fool turned from his foolishness so that he may live?
Scorners hate to be mocked; hate receiving what they themselves dish out. But, it shows them that their authority is nil, and all their scorning is futile in turning others to their path. Getting others to join them makes them feel powerful; rather they must be made to feel isolated in their scoffing.
Surely He scorns the scornful but gives grace to the humble. Pro 3:34
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, you will bear it alone. Pro 9:12
When they commit a crime, they must receive justice, the judgment required for their crime. Leniency has no effect to turn a scorning fool from their foolishness.
A disreputable witness scorns justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity. Judgments are prepared for scoffers and beatings for the backs of fools. Pro 19:28-29
And while corporal punishment does not turn a scorner, seeing it meted out turns the simple fool to wisdom.
Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge. Pro 19:25
When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; but when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge. Pro 21:11
If he does not turn, he is in danger of progressing to the next, worst, and final level of foolishness.
If there are questions, these are good resources:
Proverbs 8, The Simple Fool – Christine Miller
Proverbs 10, The Proud Fool – Christine Miller
Proverbs 13, The Complacent Fool – Christine Miller
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