Character Traits of the Wise Son from Proverbs

March 4, 2025

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“The Wise Son” According to Proverbs

“The Wise Son According to Proverbs: An Outline – This is from the NIV Cultural Background Study Bible. I like the breakdown, and it is a great tool for referencing, so I wanted to share it here…….Bill

I. His Character

A. He Is Teachable, Not Intractable

1. He receives and loves instruction (18:15; 19:20)

2. He grows in wisdom (1:5; 9:9; 10:14)

B. He Is Righteous, Not Wicked

1. He fears the Lord (1:7; 14:16; see below under relationship to the Lord)

2. He hates what is false (13:5)

3. He shuns evil (3:7; 14:16; 16:6)

4. He does what is righteous (2:20)

5. He speaks the truth (22:21)

C. He Is Humble, Not Proud (15:33)

D. He Is Self-controlled, Not Rash

1. His temperament

a. He is self-controlled (29:11)

b. He has a calm spirit (17:27)

c. He is slow to become angry (29:8, 11)

2. His actions

a. He is cautious, not rash (19:2)

b. He thinks before he acts (13:16; 14:8)

c. He thinks before he speaks (12:23; 15:2)

E. He Is Forgiving, Not Vindictive

1. He is patient (19:11)

2. He is concerned about goodwill/peace (14:9)

3. He forgives those who wrong him (10:12; 17:9[…]”

4. He is not vindictive (20:22; 24:29)

II. His Relationships

A. To the Lord

1. He fears the Lord (9:10; 14:16; 15:33)

2. He trusts in the Lord (3:5; 16:3, 20)

3. He is ever mindful of the Lord (3:6)

4. He chooses the Lord’s way/wisdom (8:10–11; 17:24)

5. He submits to the Lord’s discipline (1:2–3; 3:11)

6. He confesses his sin to the Lord (28:13)”

B. To His Family

1. To his parents”

a. He respects them (17:6; contrast 30:17)

b. He listens to them (23:22; cf. 1:8; 4:1)

c. He seeks to bring them honor and joy

(1) By being righteous (23:24)

(2) By being diligent (10:5)

C. To his wife

a. He appreciates her

(1) As a gift from the Lord (18:22; 19:14)

(2) As his crowning glory (12:4; 31:10–31)

b. He praises her (31:28)

c. He trusts her (31:11)

d. He is faithful to her (5:15–20)

D. To his children

a. He loves them (3:12; 13:24)

b. He is concerned about them (1:8–9:18)

c. He trains them (22:6)

(1) Reasons for training them

(a) Own peace of mind and joy (29:17)

(b) Child’s honor and well-being (1:8–9; 4:9; 19:18; 23:13–14)

(2) By teaching/instructing them (1:10; chs. 5–7; 28:7; cf. 4:1–9)

(3) By disciplining them

(a) By verbal correction (13:1)

(b) By physical discipline (13:24; 23:13–14)

(c). He provides for their

(1) Physical needs (21:20; cf. 27:23–27)

(2) Spiritual heritage (14:26; 20:7)

D. To His Friends and Neighbors

1. To his friends

a. He values them (27:10)

b. He is constant to them (17:17; 18:24)

c. He gives them counsel (27:9, 17; cf. 27:6; 28:23)

2. To his neighbors

a. He fulfills his obligations to them (3:27–28)

b. He strives for peace with them (3:29–30)

c. He does not outstay his welcome (25:17)

d. He does not deceive or mislead them (16:29; 26:18–19)

III. His Words

A. The Power and Limitations of His Words

1. Their power

a. The power of life and death (12:6; 13:14; 15:4; 18:21)

b. The power to heal or to wound (11:9, 11; 12:18; 15:4, 30; 16:24)

2. Their limitations

a. Cannot substitute for deeds (14:23)

b. Cannot alter the facts (26:23–26)

c. Cannot compel response (29:19)

B. The Character of His Words

1. They are honest, not false (12:22; 16:13)

2. They are few, not many (10:19)

a. Not boastful (27:2)

b. Not argumentative (17:14)

c. Not contentious (29:9)

d. Not a slanderer

(1) Revealing secrets (11:13; 20:19)

(2) Spreading gossip (10:18; 26:20–22)

(3) They are calm, not emotional

a. Rational (15:28; 17:27)

b. Gentle and peaceful (15:1, 18)

c. Persuasive (25:15)

(4) They are apt, not untimely (15:23; 25:11)

C. The Source of His Words

1. His heart/character (compare 4:23 with Mt 12:33–35)

a. Positively, he is righteous (cf. 10:11; 13:14)

b. Negatively, he is not

(1) Proud (13:10; cf. 6:16–19)

(2) Hateful (26:24, 28)

2. His companions (13:20; 27:17)

Excerpt From

NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength. Isaiah 26:3-4 NKJV