18:2
This verse contrasts what a fool does not enjoy doing with what he does enjoy doing.
2a A fool does not delight in understanding,
2b but only in airing his opinions.
Some English versions supply the verb “delights” in 18:2b, as in the New International Version. Some versions leave the verb implied, as in Hebrew and the Berean Standard Bible. For example:
2b but only in expressing personal opinion (New Revised Standard Version)
18:2a
A fool does not delight in understanding: The phrase does not delight is probably a figure of speech that emphasizes the opposite idea. It means here that a foolish person experiences no pleasure whatsoever in gaining understanding. In fact, he refuses or hates to learn. Some ways to translate this emphasis are:
Fools do not want to understand anything. (New Century Version)
-or-
A fool does not care whether he understands a thing or not (Good News Translation)
understanding: In Hebrew, this word means “good sense” or “competence” to take appropriate action. In 18:2b the fool delights “in airing his opinions.” By contrast, it is implied here in 18:2a that the fool refuses to learn ⌊from others⌋ what he ought to do.
For more information on the word “fool,” see fool 2 in the Glossary. For understanding, see understanding (good sense) in the Glossary.
18:2b
but only in airing his opinions: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “but rather in exposing his heart.” The word heart refers here to the fool’s mind or thoughts. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
but rather in displaying what he thinks (New American Bible)
-or-
but only in disclosing what is on his mind (NET Bible)
-or-
They only want to tell others what they think. (New Century Version)
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