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Even In the Minds of Fools, Wisdom Makes Herself Known

Proverbs 14:33 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
³³Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
but it makes itself known even in the midst^[1] of fools.

Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding. The Hebrew (נוּחַ nuach) rendered rest has the sense of not moving, to be in a resting position or state. So, wisdom is resting in the heart (לֵב leb) of a man who possesses understanding (בִּין bin). Some interpretive translations might render it rests or abides in the mind. The NEB and REB have “wisdom is at home in … mind,” and NJB has “Wisdom resides in … heart.” The interpretive might render of understanding as “an intelligent person,” “thoughtful people,” or “people with good sense” The wisdom of God must be deeply rooted in the person’s heart/mind, which is the center of one’s state of being and thinking.

Heart: (לֵב leb; καρδία kardia) In biblical Hebrew, the word for heart (leb) has twenty-four different meanings. Generally, it is a reference to the center of feelings. In many cases, in Hebrew, the heart here refers to the mind, the center of a person’s thoughts and emotions. The sense is the place of the person’s thoughts (mind), volition, emotions, and knowledge of right from wrong (conscience), translated by some as mind. However, it can refer to the whole person: the mind (knowledge), emotions (feelings), and awareness (knowledge or perception of a situation or fact). Understanding (בִּין bin; בּוּנָה Bunah) is the ability to see how the parts or aspects of something are connected to one another. One who understands can see the big picture (the entire matter) and not just the isolated facts. (Prov. 2:5; 9:10; 18:15) Discernment and understanding involve comprehending, perceiving, grasping what the authors meant, identifying individual verses in light of the whole, and weighing, or evaluating one verse considering the others.

but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools. Returning to 14:33a, the wisdom of God being deeply rooted in the person’s heart/mind will not simply remain there. In what way? This wisdom in the mind enables the person to live a successful life competently for the righteous man and even cleverly for the foolish man. However, many times the foolish man will act out or blurt out what he thinks is wise, and it will turn to folly.

[1] Or hearts; Lit inward part