Proverbs 17:21 (GNV)

Passage

He that begetteth a foole, getteth himselfe sorow, and the father of a foole can haue no ioy.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 17:19 He loueth transgression, that loueth strife: and he that exalteth his gate, seeketh destruction.

Proverbs 17:20 The froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a naughtie tongue, shall fall into euill.

Proverbs 17:21 He that begetteth a foole, getteth himselfe sorow, and the father of a foole can haue no ioy.

Proverbs 17:22 A ioyfull heart causeth good health: but a sorowfull minde dryeth the bones.

Proverbs 17:23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosome to wrest the wayes of iudgement.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "begetteth", "foole", "himselfe", "sorow", "father", and "haue". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "begetteth" and "foole", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 20's "The froward heart findeth no good and..." into verse 22's "A ioyfull heart causeth good health but...", so "begetteth" and "foole" 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 "begetteth" and "foole" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.