Proverbs 17:25A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. Solomon reflecting on family dynamics he witnessed in royal and common households. Parents investing everything in children only to watch them choose destructive paths.
The emotion here: heartbroken watching families torn apart by children's foolish choices
The original word
ka'as (כַּעַס) — vexation or grief that includes anger, disappointment, and deep emotional pain
Why it matters
In ancient Israel, a son's reputation directly affected the family's social standing and economic prospects
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 17:25
Both parents are mentioned - father gets grief, mother gets bitterness, showing how rebellion affects parents differently
Common misconceptionParents blame themselves for every bad choice their children make, but Solomon presents this as a sad reality of life, not necessarily a parenting failure - even good parents can have foolish children.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 17:25
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 17:25 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 17:25 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the United Kingdom period. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include parenting, consequences. Notable phrases: foolish son brings grief.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grieving
“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you…”
— Genesis 3:19
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?”
— Psalms 22:1
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
— Psalms 22:18
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23
Your reflection
What does Proverbs 17:25 mean to you, today?
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