What is the meaning of Proverbs 9:13?

The woman named Folly

- Solomon sets Folly in sharp relief against Lady Wisdom (Proverbs 8:1-3, 8:35-36).

- Personifying foolishness gives it a face, making the danger tangible like the adulteress of Proverbs 7:10-27.

- By naming her, the verse calls out foolishness as a real, personal adversary rather than a harmless mistake (Proverbs 14:1).

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is loud

- Folly’s volume masks emptiness; noise becomes her only credential. The same pattern appears in Proverbs 15:2, “the mouth of fools spouts folly”.

- Loudness lures the unguarded ear; Wisdom, by contrast, invites but never coerces (Proverbs 9:3-4).

- • Volume without substance

• Urgency without truth

• Appeal to the senses, not the spirit (2 Peter 2:18).

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she is naive

- Folly lacks discernment; she cannot see consequences (Proverbs 14:15).

- Her naiveté is contagious: “a companion of fools suffers harm” (Proverbs 13:20).

- The verse exposes immaturity posing as sophistication, echoing Romans 16:18 where smooth talk deceives the hearts of the naive.

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and knows nothing

- Absolute ignorance contrasts with the “knowledge of the Holy One” that brings understanding (Proverbs 9:10).

- Foolishness offers promises it cannot comprehend or fulfill, like clouds without rain (Jude 12).

- • No grasp of truth

• No awareness of danger

• No capacity to guide others (Matthew 15:14).

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summary

Proverbs 9:13 paints Folly as a named, noisy, inexperienced, and utterly ignorant voice. Her allure is volume, not value; confidence, not competence. Scripture calls believers to recognize and reject her empty invitations, choosing instead the quiet, rich, life-giving counsel of Wisdom found in the fear of the Lord.