Introduction to Proverbs 10:1: Wisdom and Folly in the Household
Proverbs 10:1 marks the beginning of a new literary section—the collected sayings of Solomon. This verse presents a stark contrast between wisdom and folly, framed within the parental relationship. The verb יְשַׂמַּח (yəsammaḥ), “he makes glad,” plays a central role, revealing the power of a child’s actions to shape the emotional world of the family.
מִשְׁלֵ֗י שְׁלֹ֫מֹ֥ה פ בֵּ֣ן חָ֭כָם יְשַׂמַּח־אָ֑ב וּבֵ֥ן כְּ֝סִ֗יל תּוּגַ֥ת אִמֹּֽו׃
Examining the Core Structure: The Parallelism of Joy and Sorrow
The two-part parallelism of this verse is clear:
בֵּ֣ן חָ֭כָם יְשַׂמַּח־אָ֑ב
- בֵּן (bēn) – “A son” (subject).
- חָכָם (ḥākām) – “Wise” (adjective, modifying the son).
- יְשַׂמַּח־אָב (yəsammaḥ-ʾāv) – “Makes a father glad” (verb + direct object).
וּבֵ֥ן כְּ֝סִ֗יל תּוּגַ֥ת אִמֹּֽו
- וּבֵן (ūbēn) – “But a son” (subject).
- כְּסִיל (kəsîl) – “Foolish” (adjective, modifying the son).
- תּוּגַ֥ת אִמֹּו (tūgat ʾimmō) – “Is grief to his mother” (noun phrase).
The verb יְשַׂמַּח stands in contrast to תּוּגַת, forming an emotional antithesis between joy and sorrow.
The Power of יְשַׂמַּח: The Act of Bringing Joy
Morphological Analysis of יְשַׂמַּח
The verb יְשַׂמַּח is derived from the root שָׂמַח (ś-m-ḥ), meaning “to rejoice, be glad.” It appears in the Piel imperfect, indicating a causative, active form of joy-bringing.
- Root: שָׂמַח (ś-m-ḥ)
- Form: Piel Imperfect, 3rd-person Masculine Singular
- Translation: “He causes to rejoice” or “He makes glad.”
The Function of the Piel Stem
The Piel stem in Hebrew often intensifies or causes an action:
- Qal: שָׂמַח (śāmaḥ) – “He was glad” (simple state of joy).
- Piel: יְשַׂמַּח (yəsammaḥ) – “He makes [someone] glad” (causative action).
This grammatical nuance shifts the meaning from “a son who is happy” to “a son who actively brings joy to his father.”
The Emotional Depth of יְשַׂמַּח
By using יְשַׂמַּח, the proverb emphasizes that wisdom is not just a personal virtue—it has social and relational impact. A wise son does not simply possess knowledge; he causes joy through his actions, decisions, and character.
Contrasting Foolishness: The Weight of תּוּגַת
In contrast, the foolish son (בֵּן כְּסִיל) brings תּוּגַת (tūgah, “grief, sorrow”) to his mother. The verb יְשַׂמַּח creates an emotional lightness, while תּוּגַת conveys a burdensome, enduring sorrow—a parallel that reinforces the lasting impact of a child’s choices.
Wisdom vs. Folly in the Household
The placement of אָב (“father”) with יְשַׂמַּח and אִמֹּו (“his mother”) with תּוּגַת reflects a common biblical pattern:
- Fathers are often associated with instruction and discipline (Proverbs 1:8).
- Mothers are linked with emotional nurturing and deep personal attachment.
This poetic balance suggests that wisdom fosters delight in the authority figure, while folly wounds the caregiver, making the consequences of one’s actions deeply personal and relational.
The Role of יְשַׂמַּח in Proverbs 10:1
The verb יְשַׂמַּח (yəsammaḥ) in Proverbs 10:1 is not merely descriptive—it is prescriptive, teaching a foundational principle of wisdom:
Key Takeaways:
- Grammatically, יְשַׂמַּח is in the Piel imperfect, meaning “to actively bring joy.”
- Theologically, wisdom is not just intellectual—it manifests in relationships.
- Poetically, the contrast between יְשַׂמַּח and תּוּגַת highlights the weight of our choices on family and society.
In the moral architecture of Proverbs, this verse serves as a blueprint for intergenerational wisdom: the wise bring joy, the foolish bring sorrow, and the choice between the two determines the emotional landscape of the home.
