Proverbs 1:22

KJV

How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

KJV (with Strong's)

How long, ye simple ones {H6612}, will ye love {H157} simplicity {H6612}? and the scorners {H3887} delight {H2530} in their scorning {H3944}, and fools {H3684} hate {H8130} knowledge {H1847}?

Complete Jewish Bible

"How long, you whose lives have no purpose, will you love thoughtless living? How long will scorners find pleasure in mocking? How long will fools hate knowledge?

Berean Standard Bible

“How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?

American Standard Version

How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers delight them in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Proverbs 1:22 captures a profound lament from personified Wisdom, who directly confronts three distinct categories of individuals—the simple, the scorners, and the fools—for their persistent and willful rejection of her life-giving instruction. This verse marks a pivotal moment in Wisdom's public address, shifting from a general invitation to an exasperated interrogation, highlighting their stubborn attachment to spiritual immaturity, cynical mockery, and outright hatred of divine knowledge, thereby setting the stage for the inevitable consequences of such intellectual and spiritual complacency.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within the opening chapters of Proverbs, which serve as a foundational prologue to the entire book. Following the declaration that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" in [Proverbs 1:7](/proverbs/1-7 "Proverbs 1:7 - The Fear of the Lord"), Wisdom herself is vividly personified as an active, public figure. She is depicted crying out in the bustling streets and city gates, inviting all who will listen to embrace her instruction ([Proverbs 1:20-21](/proverbs/1-20 "Proverbs 1:20-21 - Wisdom's Public Call")). Verse 22 represents a crucial shift from this broad, open invitation to a direct, poignant, and almost exasperated challenge to those who have consistently ignored her persistent call. It precisely defines the specific categories of individuals who resist wisdom, laying the theological and narrative groundwork for the severe warnings and dire consequences that follow, particularly the detailed portrayal of judgment in [Proverbs 1:24-32](/proverbs/1-24-32 "Proverbs 1:24-32 - Wisdom's Rejection and Its Consequences"). Thus, this verse acts as a critical pivot, clarifying the nature of human resistance to divine wisdom before detailing its destructive outcomes.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Proverbs is deeply embedded within the ancient Near Eastern tradition of wisdom literature, a genre also found in cultures such as Egypt and Mesopotamia. However, in Israel, this genre was uniquely rooted in Yahwistic theology, emphasizing that true wisdom originates from God alone. The setting for Wisdom's public outcry is distinctly urban, with her voice resonating in public squares and city gates—locations that were central to commerce, justice, and community discourse ([Proverbs 1:20-21](/proverbs/1-20-21 "Proverbs 1:20-21 - Wisdom's Public Proclamation")). This reflects a societal context where oral instruction, public teaching, and communal deliberation were primary modes of education and moral formation. The "simple," "scorners," and "fools" are not merely abstract concepts but archetypal characters, representing pervasive forms of resistance to moral and spiritual truth found in any human society. The recurring "father-son" address throughout Proverbs ([Proverbs 1:8](/proverbs/1-8 "Proverbs 1:8 - Parental Instruction to Heed Wisdom")) suggests a pedagogical framework, where a seasoned teacher or parent imparts life-giving principles, rendering Wisdom's lament over those who reject instruction all the more poignant and urgent.

* **Key Themes:** Proverbs 1:22 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes that permeate the entire book. Firstly, it emphatically underscores the **active and urgent nature of Wisdom's call**, portraying her not as a passive philosophical concept but as an urgent, vocal entity actively seeking to draw humanity towards truth and life. Secondly, the verse vividly **delineates the varied forms of human resistance to wisdom**, categorizing those who reject divine instruction into distinct psychological and moral profiles: the naive (simple), the cynical (scorners), and the obstinate (fools). This categorization highlights that the rejection of wisdom is not monolithic but manifests in different degrees of complacency, malice, and stubbornness. Thirdly, the rhetorical question "How long...?" profoundly introduces the theme of **divine patience reaching its limit** and the **existential urgency of choice**. It strongly implies that the window for repentance and turning to wisdom is not infinite, foreshadowing the inevitable judgment and dire consequences for those who persist in their folly, a theme dramatically elaborated upon in [Proverbs 1:24-32](/proverbs/1-24-32 "Proverbs 1:24-32 - Wisdom's Rejection and Its Consequences"). This verse thus sets a critical stage for understanding the profound and often tragic consequences of rejecting God's wisdom.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Simple ones (Hebrew, _pᵉthîy'_):** (H6612) This term describes individuals who are open, naive, or easily persuaded. Their "simplicity" is not innocence but rather a dangerous lack of discernment, making them highly susceptible to deception and folly. They are characterized by a spiritual and intellectual immaturity, often preferring ignorance or a lack of moral clarity to the diligent pursuit of truth.
* **Scorners (Hebrew, _lûwts'_):** (H3887) These are mockers, scoffers, or arrogant individuals who actively disdain and ridicule wisdom, righteousness, and those who earnestly pursue them. Their attitude is characterized by profound cynicism, contempt, and a perverse pleasure in ridiculing divine instruction and moral rectitude. Their "scorning" is a deliberate, defiant, and often aggressive rejection of divine authority and truth.
* **Knowledge (Hebrew, _daʻath'_):** (H1847) This term refers to intellectual and experiential understanding, particularly in a moral and spiritual sense. In Proverbs, "knowledge" is intrinsically linked to the fear of the Lord and the apprehension of divine truth. For the fool to "hate knowledge" signifies a deep-seated antagonism not just towards facts, but towards the very moral and spiritual insights that lead to life and righteousness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?"**: This opening clause is a powerful rhetorical question, expressing Wisdom's profound lament, exasperation, and urgent plea. It directly addresses the "simple ones," highlighting their dangerous complacency and their active affection for a state of naivety and lack of discernment. Their "love of simplicity" implies a conscious preference for ease over effort, ignorance over understanding, and an unwillingness to engage with the demanding yet life-giving truths of wisdom.
* **"and the scorners delight in their scorning"**: This clause shifts focus to the "scorners," emphasizing their active and malicious pleasure in ridiculing truth, righteousness, and those who embody them. Their "delight" in "scorning" reveals a profoundly hardened heart, where contempt for God's ways and for moral rectitude has become a source of perverse satisfaction and identity. This group is not merely passive in their folly but actively hostile to wisdom.
* **"and fools hate knowledge?"**: The final clause addresses the "fools," revealing the most extreme and dangerous form of resistance: an outright "hate" for "knowledge." This hatred signifies a deep-seated, active antagonism towards instruction, understanding, and divine truth. For the fool, knowledge is not merely inconvenient or uninteresting but a direct threat to their chosen path of moral rebellion, self-will, and destructive habits.

#### Literary Devices
Proverbs 1:22 is rich with potent literary devices that amplify its message. **Personification** is central, as Wisdom herself is presented as a living, sentient entity, capable of lamenting and questioning, thereby transforming abstract truth into a relatable and urgent voice. The verse is powerfully framed as a **Rhetorical Question**, "How long...?", which serves not to elicit an answer but to convey the speaker's profound exasperation and to provoke deep self-reflection and conviction within the audience. This question implicitly communicates a limit to divine patience and foreshadows impending consequences for continued resistance. Furthermore, the verse employs a form of **Parallelism**, specifically a tripartite structure, by presenting three distinct yet interconnected groups—the simple, the scorners, and the fools—each characterized by their specific, escalating form of resistance to wisdom (loving simplicity, delighting in scorning, hating knowledge). This tripartite categorization effectively illustrates the pervasive and varied nature of human folly.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Proverbs 1:22 profoundly underscores the moral and spiritual responsibility inherent in humanity's encounter with divine wisdom. It reveals that the rejection of wisdom is not a passive oversight or an innocent mistake but an active, often willful, choice rooted in various forms of spiritual blindness, moral complacency, and outright rebellion. The "love of simplicity," "delight in scorning," and "hatred of knowledge" are not mere intellectual deficiencies but deep-seated moral postures that actively resist God's truth and His call to righteousness. This verse sets the stage for the book's consistent message: true wisdom is not merely intellectual acumen but a practical, moral, and spiritual orientation towards God and His ways, leading invariably to life and flourishing, while folly leads inevitably to destruction. It highlights God's persistent call and humanity's stubborn refusal, a timeless theme echoed throughout Scripture concerning God's overtures to humanity and their response.

* [Psalm 1:1](/psalm/1-1 "Psalm 1:1 - The Blessed Man Walks Not with the Scornful")
* [Jeremiah 8:9](/jeremiah/8-9 "Jeremiah 8:9 - The Wise Are Put to Shame for Rejecting the Word of the Lord")
* [Romans 1:28](/romans/1-28 "Romans 1:28 - God Gives Them Up to a Debased Mind")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Proverbs 1:22 serves as a timeless and convicting mirror, inviting us to honestly examine our own hearts and attitudes toward truth, instruction, and the call of God. Are we, perhaps unknowingly, among the "simple," content in our spiritual or intellectual naivety, easily swayed by popular opinion, or preferring comfortable ignorance rather than diligently seeking God's deeper, more challenging truths? Do we, subtly or overtly, align with the "scorners," finding a perverse satisfaction in cynicism, mocking spiritual earnestness, or dismissing divine commands as outdated or irrelevant to modern life? Or is there a deeper, more troubling inclination within us, akin to the "fools," where we actively resist knowledge, especially that which challenges our comfortable habits, cherished sins, or self-serving desires, preferring our own misguided ways over the clear, righteous path of wisdom? This verse is a profound wake-up call, urging us to shed complacency, abandon cynicism, and cultivate a humble, teachable spirit that genuinely delights in God's knowledge, recognizing that true wisdom is not merely about accumulating facts but about transforming our lives in alignment with His holy and righteous path.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of my life might I be "loving simplicity" or preferring ignorance over the diligent effort required to seek out God's truth?**
* **Am I ever tempted to "delight in scorning" others' earnest pursuit of faith, or to cynically dismiss spiritual disciplines and biblical principles?**
* **What particular "knowledge" (whether biblical, spiritual, or moral) might I be actively resisting or even "hating" because it challenges my comfort zone, personal desires, or established worldview?**
* **How can I intentionally cultivate a more humble, teachable, and receptive spirit that actively seeks, embraces, and applies divine wisdom in my daily life?**

### FAQ

**What is the difference between "simple ones," "scorners," and "fools" in Proverbs?**

Answer: Proverbs carefully distinguishes between these three archetypes to describe varying degrees and forms of resistance to wisdom, illustrating a progression of spiritual hardening. The "simple ones" (Hebrew: *pᵉthîy*) are characterized by naivety, gullibility, and a dangerous lack of discernment. They are not inherently malicious but are dangerously open to both good and bad influences, often out of complacency or immaturity, failing to choose wisdom. The "scorners" (Hebrew: *lûwts*) are more hardened; they are arrogant mockers who actively disdain and ridicule wisdom, righteousness, and those who pursue them. Their attitude is one of cynical contempt and active opposition. The "fools" (Hebrew: *kᵉçîyl*) represent the most obstinate and morally obtuse. They are not merely unintelligent but are actively resistant to instruction and often hate knowledge itself, preferring their own destructive ways. While the simple are naive and the scorners are cynical, the fools are stubbornly rebellious against truth and divine instruction.

**Why does Wisdom ask "How long...?" in this verse?**

Answer: The rhetorical question "How long...?" expresses Wisdom's profound lament, exasperation, and urgent plea at the persistent folly of humanity. It is not seeking a literal answer but rather serving as a passionate call to repentance and a solemn warning. It powerfully implies that there is a limit to divine patience and a finite window of opportunity for individuals to turn from their destructive paths and embrace wisdom. This question foreshadows the impending consequences for those who continue to reject wisdom's urgent call, as vividly detailed in [Proverbs 1:24-32](/proverbs/1-24-32 "Proverbs 1:24-32 - Wisdom's Rejection and Its Consequences"), where Wisdom declares she will mock their calamity when it comes, because they refused her call when she extended it. It underscores the critical urgency of choosing wisdom now, before the opportunity is lost.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Proverbs 1:22, with its poignant lament from personified Wisdom over those who reject her, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and ministry of Jesus Christ, who is revealed in the New Testament as the very embodiment of divine wisdom. Just as Wisdom cried out in the streets, so Jesus, the [Word made flesh](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh"), publicly proclaimed the truth of God's kingdom, inviting all to come to Him for rest and life ([Matthew 11:28-30](/matthew/11-28-30 "Matthew 11:28-30 - Come to Me, All Who Labor")). His earthly ministry was characterized by a persistent and gracious call to repentance and faith, yet He, like personified Wisdom, encountered profound and often bitter rejection from those who loved their simplicity, delighted in scorning, and actively hated knowledge. The religious leaders of His day, much like the scorners, mocked His claims, ridiculed His miracles, and scorned His divine authority ([Matthew 27:41-43](/matthew/27-41-43 "Matthew 27:41-43 - The Chief Priests Mock Jesus")). Many others, akin to the simple, remained spiritually dull and complacent, failing to grasp the profound implications of His teachings and identity. Most tragically, many, like the fools, actively hated the light He brought, preferring their spiritual darkness and self-serving ways ([John 3:19-20](/john/3-19-20 "John 3:19-20 - Men Loved Darkness Rather Than Light")). Jesus' own lament over Jerusalem, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... How often would I have gathered thy children together... and ye would not!" ([Matthew 23:37](/matthew/23-37 "Matthew 23:37 - Jesus' Lament Over Jerusalem")), echoes the very heart of Wisdom's sorrowful cry in Proverbs 1:22, revealing the divine anguish over humanity's persistent refusal to embrace life. Ultimately, Christ, as the [wisdom of God](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ the Power and Wisdom of God"), offers Himself as the perfect and complete solution to humanity's pervasive folly, inviting all to turn from their destructive paths and embrace Him, in whom are hidden [all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - In Christ Are Hidden All Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Proverbs 1:29

For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

Proverbs 5:12

And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

Psalms 1:1

¶ Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

John 3:20

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

Matthew 11:29

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Matthew 11:30

For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.

2 Peter 3:3

¶ Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,