Bible Strands
Proverbs 11:9
With his mouth the ungodly man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The text delivers wisdom instruction contrasting the speech of the ungodly with the preservation of the righteous. It follows a declaration that the righteous are delivered from trouble and precedes a description of communal rejoicing when the righteous thrive and the wicked perish.
The words — דַּעַת (Da'at) translates literally as knowledge, and יֵחָלֵצוּ (yeḥalēṣû) means they are delivered or rescued. These terms establish the verse's structural opposition between destructive speech and salvific understanding.
The thread — This focus on knowledge and wisdom appears in Proverbs 2:10, where wisdom enters the heart, and Proverbs 4:5, which commands the pursuit of understanding. The New Testament parallels this reliance on internal spiritual instruction in 1 John 2:27.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to identify and halt speech that ruins others and to pursue knowledge that actively preserves the righteous. It demands a practical reorientation from careless words to disciplined understanding.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 2:10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will delight your soul.
- Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.
- 1 John 2:27 And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught.
- Job 8:13 Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.
- Psalms 55:12 For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide.
- Psalms 55:20 My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.
- Proverbs 6:23 For this commandment is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way to life,
- Acts 20:30 Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.
- 2 Corinthians 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
- 1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,