17:25

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

25a A foolish son brings grief to his father

25b and bitterness to her who bore him.

This proverb is similar to other proverbs that deal with the effect of a child on his parents. No contrast is intended between the “father” and “her who bore” the fool (his mother). The two terms function as a single unit. They refer to the fool’s parents. For similar proverbs, see 10:1, 15:20, and 17:21.

17:25a

A foolish son brings grief to his father: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as grief has a slightly different meaning from the word that is used in 17:21a and 10:1c. In those two verses, the word means “sorrow,” “grief,” or “sadness.” Here the word includes the meaning “grief,” but it refers more to vexation, irritation, or anger. Some ways to express this meaning are:

A stupid son exasperates his father (Revised English Bible)
-or-
A stupid son is vexation for his father (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

For the word foolish, see fool 2 in the Glossary.

17:25b

and bitterness to her who bore him: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as bitterness occurs only here in the OT. It indicates that the foolish child causes his mother intense grief and distress. It probably does not imply “resentment.”

her who bore him: The phrase her who bore him is a literal translation of the Hebrew. It refers to the mother of the fool. In some languages, it may be appropriate to use a term that has to do with giving birth. In other languages, it may be more natural to use a word such as “mother.”

Some ways to translate this line are:

and bitterness to the one who gave them birth (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
and bitter grief to his mother (God’s Word)

General Comment on 17:25a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to translate this verse in terms of (plural) children and parents. For example:

Foolish children bring grief to their fathers and bitter regrets to their mothers. (Good News Translation)

In some languages, it may be clearer to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. For example:

A foolish child exasperates his parents and brings them much grief.

See also 17:25a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display.

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