What is the meaning of Proverbs 17:25? A foolish son “Foolish” in Proverbs is never about low intelligence; it is willful disregard for God’s wisdom. A son who chooses rebellion, mocks authority, and follows his own impulses is called “foolish” (Proverbs 1:7; 15:5). That pattern shows up in: • Proverbs 10:1—“A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is grief to his mother.” • Deuteronomy 21:18-21—Israel’s law for the “stubborn and rebellious son.” The verse warns every reader—parent or child—that life apart from God’s guidance injures the family first. brings grief to his father The word picture is heavy sorrow settling on a dad’s heart. Think of: • Genesis 26:34-35—Esau’s marriages “were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.” • Proverbs 19:13—“A foolish son is his father’s ruin.” A father invests energy, discipline, and prayer, hoping to see his child flourish in the fear of the Lord. When the child rejects that path, the father feels genuine grief, mirroring the ache our heavenly Father feels over wandering children (Luke 15:11-32). and bitterness to her who bore him Scripture often highlights a mother’s unique anguish: • Proverbs 10:1 repeats that a foolish son “is grief to his mother.” • Proverbs 30:17 warns of the eye that “mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother.” Moms carry the memory of birth and nurturing, so a child’s rebellion can feel like a personal betrayal (Genesis 27:46—Rebekah, drained by Esau’s choices). The “bitterness” here suggests deep heartache that can sap joy and strength. summary Proverbs 17:25 states: “A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.” The verse delivers a sober, literal truth: a child who rejects wisdom wounds both parents profoundly. It calls every child to walk in righteousness for the Lord’s honor and the family’s joy, and it reminds parents to keep pointing their sons and daughters toward the only cure for folly—submission to God’s unchanging wisdom. |
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