The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

PROVERBS 26:10KJV
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Proverbs 26:10 (KJV)

What does Proverbs 26:10 mean?

Proverbs 26:10 describes how the great God who created everything gives consequences to both fools and those who do wrong. The verse points out that God is involved in the lives of all people, whether they act foolishly or break the rules.

In the book of Proverbs, these sayings are collected as wisdom for everyday life, often from a teacher or parent to a listener seeking understanding. This verse highlights that God’s oversight and justice are not limited to the wise or righteous—He deals with everyone, including those who act unwisely or cross moral boundaries.

The Hebrew behind Proverbs 26:10

  • "great" (רַב, rav): This word often means "many" or "great," and here it emphasizes God’s greatness or authority as the one who formed everything.
  • "formed" (חול, chul): This verb means "to form" or "to bring forth," underscoring God as the creator of all things.
  • "rewardeth" (שָׂכַר, sakar): This word means "to give wages" or "to recompense," showing that God gives out consequences or results for actions, not just rewards in a positive sense.
  • "fool" (כְּסִיל, kesil): This term refers to someone who is morally or spiritually dull, not just lacking intelligence.
  • "transgressors" (עָבַר, avar): This word means "those who cross over," describing people who go beyond what is right or lawful.

Why Proverbs 26:10 matters

  • Proverbs 26:10 clears up the idea that only the wise or good receive God’s attention; it shows that God’s justice applies to everyone, including those who act foolishly or wrongly.
  • The verse connects to the surrounding proverbs about fools, reinforcing the message that foolishness and wrongdoing have real consequences.
  • Understanding the original words helps clarify that the "reward" here is not necessarily positive—it can mean any outcome, good or bad, that fits a person’s actions.

Where else these words appear

“rewardeth” Hebrew H7936 · used in 18 verses

  • Genesis 30:16 And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.
  • 2 Samuel 10:6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.
  • Ezra 4:5 And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

“formed” Hebrew H2342 · used in 58 verses

  • Genesis 8:10 And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;
  • Psalms 29:8 The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.
  • Isaiah 51:2 Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.

“fool” Hebrew H3684 · used in 69 verses

  • Psalms 49:10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
  • Proverbs 15:20 A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
  • Proverbs 26:9 As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.