Proverbs 21:11

When a scorner is punished, the naive ¹  becomes wise; when a wise person is instructed, ²  he gains knowledge.

Nu 16:34; De 13:11; De 21:21; Ps 64:7-9; Pr 1:5; Pr 9:9; Pr 15:14; Pr 18:1,15; Pr 19:25; Ac 5:5,11-14; 1Co 10:6-11; Heb 2:1-3; Heb 10:28,29; Re 11:13

¹ sn The contrast here is between the simple and the wise. The simple gain wisdom when they see the scorner punished; the wise gains knowledge through instruction. The scorner does not change, but should be punished for the benefit of the simple (e.g., Prov 19:25).

² tn Heb “in the instructing of the wise.” The construction uses the Hiphil infinitive construct הַשְׂכִּיל (haskil) with a preposition to form a temporal clause (= “when”). The word “wise” (חָכָם, khakham) after it is the subjective genitive. The preposition לְ (lamed) on the form is probably dittography from the ending of the infinitive.