The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
Proverbs 10:8 KJV

When I first read this, I wanted to skip it as I thought it was a repetition of this attitude until I looked up the root words used and saw that they were different. The Bible in Basic English translation also gave me another reason to ponder, as it put this verse in this way:

The wise-hearted man will let himself be ruled, but the man whose talk is foolish will have a fall.

If an attitude of the wise is to receive commandments or let himself be ruled, what do these mean?

The word translated as commandments here is mitsvâh, whose meaning is described by Strong’s as:
a command, whether human or divine (collectively the Law): – (which was) commanded (-ment), law, ordinance, precept.

Vine’s notes that the word “commandment” may be a prescription (“thou shalt do …”) or a proscription (“thou shalt not do …”), occurring 181 times in the Old Testament.

To receive means there is a source somewhere pouring out, which Strong’s clarifies to us that this could be a parental figure or God via His laws.

Therefore, the attitude of the wise that receives commandments or let himself be ruled means, in the least, to be principled; to have a set of core morals and values that guide the thoughts, choices, and decisions of the wise. This moral code comes from both parenting and the laws of God.

On researching further, I found that it was used seven times in the book of Proverbs (all references are KJV):

  1. Proverbs 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
  2. Proverbs 4:4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
  3. Proverbs 6:20 My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
  4. Proverbs 7:1-2 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
  5. Proverbs 10:8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
  6. Proverbs 13:13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
  7. Proverbs 19:16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.

Four of these verses refer to commandments given by parents, one describes it as an act of the heart, two highlight the benefits allotted to it, and the last, the dire consequences of despising it => death!

As a person growing in wisdom therefore, you have to have a personal moral code; a value system that informs your actions (prescription) and your inactions (proscriptions). With the help of God, you stick with them no matter how discomforting. They’ll eventually become easier to live by and a part of you 🤗

If you don’t know where to start, please start with Scriptures, asking the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and give you the grace to identify what constitutes your personal value system. It might take some while getting used to and might involve some drastic actions, e.g., withdrawing from some friendship circles, cutting off some subscriptions, muting some chats, etc. The end goal for you is life, and whatever is “taking away” life from you needs to be cut off.

Remember, the wise-hearted man will let himself be ruled. What is ruling you AND what should be ruling you? 😅

Stay blessed 💞

References: Vine, W.E.; Merrill F. Unger. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words: With Topical Index (Word Study) (p. 356). (Function). Kindle Edition.

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