Bible Strands
Proverbs 15:31
He who listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The wisdom author addresses the reader within a structured collection of practical instructions, positioning this verse between statements on the physiological impact of good news and the self-despising nature of ignoring discipline.
The words — תּוֹכַ֣חַת (to.Kha.chat) means correction or reproof, directly modified by חַיִּ֑ים (chai.Yim) meaning life. The text literally presents the object of listening as "correction of life."
The thread — The mechanism of heeding correction appears in Proverbs 15:5, Proverbs 25:12, and Proverbs 9:8, where receptive listening to wise rebuke is consistently paired with prudence and relational value.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to actively receive corrective instruction as the explicit condition for dwelling among the wise. It presents a binary outcome: accept the reproof to join the prudent, or dismiss it and remain outside their circle.
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
The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 15:5 A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction is prudent.
- Proverbs 25:12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.
- Proverbs 9:8 Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
- Proverbs 19:20 Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.
- John 15:3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
- Proverbs 1:23 If you had repented at my rebuke, then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you; I would have made my words known to you.
- Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
- Isaiah 55:3 Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant—My loving devotion promised to David.
- 1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us.