The five characters of Proverbs — and which one you are

From a Sunday school class · Proverbs

Proverbs is populated by a small cast of characters who show up over and over. Learn to recognize them and the book opens up — and you'll start recognizing them in real life, including in the mirror.

The fool

He shows up about sixty times under one Hebrew word — a stupid fellow, a dullard, an arrogant one — and twenty more under another: one who despises wisdom, who mocks when he's guilty, who's perverse. Proverbs 17 and 26 are full of him. His attributes: failure, slander, delight in mischief, arrogance, contempt for counsel, stubbornness. He causes problems for others and disgrace for his family. He's obnoxious and loud. He hates understanding, disdains wisdom, and abhors correction. He repeats his mistakes. And "a fool gives full vent to his anger" — he speaks his whole mind (Proverbs 29:11).

The scorner

The scorner is inflated — a scoffer, a mocker. What makes him dangerous is that he draws other people into foolishness. "He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame... Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee" (Proverbs 9:7–8). He hates reproof, and he makes fun of the people who offer it.

The wise

Wisdom is skill, prudence, sound ethics — being circumspect. The wise man listens. He seeks counsel. He takes a rebuke and is thankful for it. He learns from instruction, pleases his parents, stores up knowledge, restrains his lips, and wins souls. He keeps company with wise people, departs from evil, and is humble. He knows when to keep his mouth shut, and he isn't deceived by alcohol.

The prudent

The prudent person is sensible, cautious, shrewd in the good sense — and just as the scorner pulls people toward foolishness, the prudent pulls them toward wisdom. He has knowledge and reasons through things. He regards reproof. He keeps seeking more knowledge. And "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself" (Proverbs 22:3) — he foresees trouble and avoids it.

The simple

The simple is naive. Not wicked — just undecided, unformed. He lacks knowledge, is easily persuaded, and doesn't pay attention to his surroundings. He's the one wisdom and folly are both calling to in the street (Proverbs 9), and which voice he follows will decide which of the other four he becomes.

Notice the proportions

There's far more warning in Proverbs about not being a fool than about all the other characters combined. God seems to think that's the one we're most in danger of becoming.

Self-evaluation

So do some honest work. Who are you most like?

The fool — do you see those attributes in yourself? How do you take counsel or reproof? The scorner — do you mock and scoff at people? Do you pull others into foolishness with you? The wise — are you seeking knowledge and understanding? Do you have people in your life you actually allow to counsel you, and how do you receive it? The prudent — are you applying what you know? Do you pay attention to what's around you? The simple — are you naive, easily persuaded, still not choosing a path?

The good news is that Proverbs was written to move people from one column to another. That's what it's for.

You just went down the list. Fool, scorner, wise, prudent, simple. Here's a sixth category the book never names: lost. You can be the sharpest man in the room, prudent as anything, careful with money and careful with words, and still die in your sin. Wisdom isn't salvation. Jesus is. He died for what you've done, He came up out of that tomb, and He saves everyone who asks Him to. The simple in Proverbs 9 stands in the street with two voices calling him. One of those voices is Christ's. Answer that one now, today, because by supper you'll have talked yourself out of it.

For the rest of us, take the column you actually landed in and do one thing about it this week. Scorner — go apologize to the person you mocked. Simple — choose. Wise — ask somebody for counsel and then take it, out loud, where they can see you take it. Proverbs was written to move people from one column to another. It doesn't move you while you're reading it. It moves you when you obey it.

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Proverbs: ← What the book is for · Characters · A father's advice →