Introduction
Before getting into the meaning of Proverbs 15:7, here’s different Bible translations:
King James Version
The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
American Standard Version
The lips of the wise disperse knowledge; But the heart of the foolish [doeth] not so.
World English Bible version
The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so with the heart of fools.
Proverbs 15:7 Meaning & Commentary
The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools. – Proverbs 15:7 (ESV)
Wisdom is something that we are encouraged to seek after in the book of Proverbs: Proverbs 4:5 – Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Furthermore, in the new testament, we are encouraged to specifically pray for it, with a promise that God will answer our prayers for wisdom: James 1:5 – If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
The Bible tells us that “the lips of the wise spread knowledge.” What we have inside of us can be released out of us and into the lives of others. Paul the Apostle understood this truth and said that God would use him and his fellow workers in the gospel to spread the knowledge of Him to others – wherever they went:
2 Corinthians 2:14 – But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. When God wants to reach others, as a rule – he uses our words. There are extreme exceptions. However, the knowledge of God, or even His ways and how He works, is spread when we open our mouths and speak.
The book of Romans asks the following question: Romans 10:14 – How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? In his letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul the Apostle prayed that God would give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation – in the knowledge of God:
Ephesians 1: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him. Those with the spirit of wisdom are more effectively equipped to share the knowledge of God with others!
Application
How can we apply Proverbs 15:7 to our lives?
We need to make a conscious choice to do a few things as believers in Jesus Christ. Firstly, we need to make our relationship with God a priority. This is how we get to really know God – not only learn about Him.
Paul the Apostle wrote that He was longing to “know” God: Philippians 3:10 -that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. The word “know” that Paul uses here is the Hebrew word “Ginosko,” which can perhaps be better translated as knowing someone personally, intimately, and experientially. If Paul was writing the new testament, we might think it strange that he says he longs to “know” God.
However, he was illustrating that there is always a greater and deeper level of intimacy and closeness that we can experience with God. However, growing in our walk with God takes a concerted effort. As Paul prayed in Ephesians 1, when we pray for the spirit of wisdom and revelation, we can better comprehend who we truly are in Christ and what He has done for us:
Ephesians 1:18-19 – having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might.
With the knowledge of God, coupled with wisdom – we can fully comprehend what Christ has done for us and, in so doing, spread the knowledge of Him to others – just as Paul the Apostle said. We, too, can spread “the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.” However, we need to open our mouths and speak and allow God to work through us, spreading the knowledge of Him through our lips!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me prioritize my walk with You more than ever. I ask right now for the spirit of wisdom and revelation as Paul prayed in Ephesians. I desire to diffuse the knowledge of You wherever I go. I ask this right now in Jesus’ name. Amen!
