Proverbs 13:20One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. The royal court where King Solomon compiled wisdom sayings for his son and future leaders...
The emotion here: fatherly concern for his son's future choices
The original word
halak (הלך) — to walk, live habitually, conduct one's life in a particular pattern
Why it matters
Solomon collected 3,000 proverbs during his 40-year reign, many from international wisdom traditions
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 13:20
This isn't about occasional contact but 'walking' — your daily path and lifestyle companions
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about avoiding all imperfect people, but Solomon himself had many flawed relationships. It's about your closest daily companions who shape your character.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 13:20
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 13:20 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 13:20 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the Divided Kingdom period. The dominant emotion in this verse is growing, with a comfort power of 40% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include friendship, influence, wisdom. Notable phrases: walks with wise men; companion of fools.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same growing
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
— Proverbs 22:6
“So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
— Romans 10:17
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
— John 3:30
“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
— Galatians 6:2
“He believed in Yahweh; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.”
— Genesis 15:6
Your reflection
What does Proverbs 13:20 mean to you, today?
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