Proverbs 17:10 (DBY)

Passage

A reproof entereth more deeply into him that hath understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 17:8 A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of the possessor: whithersoever it turneth it prospereth.

Proverbs 17:9 He that covereth transgression seeketh love; but he that bringeth a matter up again separateth very friends.

Proverbs 17:10 A reproof entereth more deeply into him that hath understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.

Proverbs 17:11 An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion; but a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

Proverbs 17:12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man rather than a fool in his folly.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "stripes", "reproof", "entereth", "deeply", "hath", "understanding", "than", and "hundred". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "stripes" and "reproof", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 9's "He that covereth transgression seeketh love but..." into verse 11's "An evil man seeketh only rebellion but...", so "stripes" and "reproof" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "stripes" and "reproof" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.