KJV ORIGINAL
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the mother who gave birth to him.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse is saying that when children make foolish choices, it causes deep pain and heartbreak to both their parents.
📚 Historical Context
This proverb comes from ancient Israel's wisdom literature, likely written during Solomon's reign around 950 BC. In Hebrew culture, family honor and the behavior of children directly reflected on the parents and their legacy. Children were expected to bring honor to their family name, and foolish behavior was seen as a serious failure that affected the entire household's reputation in the community.
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