Proverbs 15:31The ear that listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. A father instructs his son in the family courtyard, teaching him to receive correction gracefully, in Jerusalem, Israel.
The emotion here: fatherly concern for character development
The original word
tōkachat (תּוֹכַחַת) — correction that exposes truth, like light revealing hidden things
Why it matters
Hebrew education was primarily oral, with correction happening through public dialogue where learning to receive reproof was essential for advancement
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 15:31
The phrase 'at home among the wise' means you'll be welcomed into their inner circle — wisdom isn't just about knowing, but about how you handle being wrong
Common misconceptionPeople think this means accepting all criticism, but 'reproof' specifically means correction that reveals truth. The wise person learns to distinguish between helpful correction and mere criticism.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 15:31
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 15:31 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 15:31 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the United Kingdom period. The dominant emotion in this verse is growing, with a comfort power of 50% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include wisdom, correction. Notable phrases: ear that listens to reproof; at home among the wise. This verse contains a promise of God.
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 15:31 mean to you, today?
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