Sometimes You Must Hide Knowledge
Proverbs 12:23 HCSB A shrewd person conceals knowledge, but a foolish heart publicizes
stupidity.
Proverbs 12:23a A shrewd person conceals knowledge…
The word “shrewd” here is the Hebrew word arum. It can also mean subtle, crafty, sly,
sensible. This is meant in a good sense; it speaks of a person who is wise and clever.
The word ‘knowledge” here is the Hebrew word da’at. It can also be translated perception,
skill, discernment, understanding, or wisdom. Notice that the shrewd person
actually possesses knowledge. The shrewd person is clever… and he has discernment and
understanding. He has a lot of insight…
Perhaps the conversation is about computers… or on the issue of Bible translations… or
maybe the conversation switches over to gardening…The subject matter is not the point.
Solomon is simply describing a man who has understanding – in any realm. Solomon’s point
is that shrewd people – clever people – have insight in various realms of knowledge but it
isn’t the fact that they possess the information that makes them prudent or shrewd. Solomon
states here that a shrewd person isn’t constantly blurting out whatever he knows. There are
times when he wisely keeps it to himself.
The prudent man sometimes conceals his knowledge. This does not mean that he plays
dumb nor does it mean that he always conceals his knowledge. Solomon’s point is that the
prudent man is not like the fool, who constantly blurts out everything he knows. The prudent
man refuses to dominate the conversation and dazzle people with his knowledge. He
conceals knowledge when it will only puff him up.
 1 Corinthians 8:1-2 HCSB …We know that "we all have knowledge." Knowledge
inflates with pride, but love builds up. 2 If anyone thinks he knows anything, he does
not yet know it as he ought to know it.
A wise and prudent man knows when to be quiet and when to speak up. Therein lays his
shrewdness… his craftiness… his wisdom. He is sensible to the whole situation going on
around him. He conceals knowledge when it means he is only being fault-finding or picky. He
is careful to distinguish between adding knowledge which might be helpful and he knows
when it would simply be being picky.
Imagine having a conversation with your old English teacher. This woman has lots of
knowledge about the proper use of the English language. A foolish English teacher would be
constantly correcting everyone’s English – and being obnoxious about it. By doing so, she
would actually turn people away from wanting to learn about English. No one would want to
be like her. They might even associate bad English with friendly, down-to-earth people! A
prudent English teacher would conceal her knowledge; and perhaps in a helpful way – in a
private setting – give you a pointer that would be beneficial.
As pastor, I sometimes hear folks in conversations say things about the Bible that are not
correct. I recognize that there is
 Ecclesiastes 3:7 HCSB …a time to be silent and a time to speak;
A foolish believer would be constantly pointing out the error in everyone’s speech. There
are also times to be quiet, to keep your knowledge concealed. One needs wisdom in knowing
when and why to speak up.
Further, one needs wisdom in realizing that not everyone is at the same level of maturity.
A high school English teacher would be quite foolish indeed to keep interrupting a four-yearold toddler and correcting their English!
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Wisdom and prudence demand that we are not to continually blurt out everything we
know.
 It can become obnoxious… irritating…
 It tends to dominate a conversation… and thus selfishly leave others out of the
conversation…
 It is usually an expression of pride – the love of hearing oneself speak… and the love
of bragging about one’s superior knowledge…
The truly prudent man or woman will conceal knowledge…because he or she considers
this knowledge to be precious. If you have something that is of little value, then you can throw
it to the wind if you like. It’s no great loss. If you have something that is precious and
valuable, then you use it sparingly. Knowledge and wisdom are precious – like rubies.
 Proverbs 20:15 HCSB There is gold and a multitude of jewels, but knowledgeable lips
are a rare treasure.
You don’t just scatter rubies all over the place or toss them about as if they were
worthless rocks. When the value of knowledge is appreciated, then that knowledge will be
dispersed with great care… slowly… wisely… helpfully… constructively… humbly…
judiciously… graciously… When the value of knowledge is not appreciated, then that
knowledge is to be concealed.
 Matthew 7:6 HCSB Don't give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or
they will trample them with their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces.
In that situation, keep your pearls to yourself.
This proverb also speaks of another truth mentioned several times in this book: wisdom
often requires us to be quiet.
a.) The prudent man is not a blabbermouth.
 Proverbs 10:19 HCSB When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one
who controls his lips is wise.
b.) Solomon says that a prudent man is not a know-it-all!
 Proverbs 17:27 HCSB The intelligent person restrains his words, and one who keeps
a cool head is a man of understanding.
c.) Nor will he be a gossip. He conceals knowledge… especially if that knowledge could
harm someone.
 Proverbs 11:13 HCSB A gossip goes around revealing a secret, but the trustworthy
keeps a confidence.
You might know some dirt on another person but prudence and wisdom demand that you
conceal it. There are often good reasons to conceal things you know.
Now you need to realize that this is a proverb. Proverbs are offered as general rules of
thumb. They paint humanity in broad, non-specific strokes. They offer true, practical,
applicable rules, but the rules interact and create different scenarios depending on the details
of the situation. So, there are exceptions to proverbs. If you know someone is about to blow
up an airplane, don’t conceal that knowledge! On the other hand, if you and your spouse are
having difficulties, you don’t air your dirty laundry in public. You conceal it… you bury it…If it
gets intolerable, then you still don’t publish the issue on Facebook – you go to a trusted elder
and seek counseling!
One of the things I regret most that America has lost is the sense of shame and of
innocence. We are no longer shamed about our failings. We are proud of them! We publish
them for all to see as though somehow this will allow us to be perceived as strong or as
survivors or something. Some things you know are to be proclaimed. Other things you know
are to be concealed. The shrewd person is prudent enough to know the difference. The fool
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doesn’t know the difference. So be prudent lest you identify yourself as a fool to all the
world’s wise people.
The wise man sometimes conceals and sometimes reveals knowledge depending on
what makes truth attractive.
 Proverbs 15:2 HCSB The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive, but the
mouth of fools blurts out foolishness.
This means he knows how, when, and where to use it. He is careful in what he says; in
the information he gives out. Be careful about what you write in emails – especially if it might
be gossip. Once it is out in cyberspace – who knows where it could end up! You may end up
with egg on your face!
The shrewd man doesn’t reveal what may threaten others. It means knowing in whose
company to say what. It sometimes means withholding information. For instance, as a
prepper, I don’t talk about all my preparations for difficult times, lest wicked people hear what
I say and come to steal what I have in those times, leaving my family destitute. If I am facing
a fight, I don’t tell the other person I have decades of practice in Jiu-jitsu, or that I taught
hand-to-hand, served in the Marines, or fought professionally. I just let him assume I’m some
short, inoffensive dude that he can cream in a split second. After watching the government
come in and disarm all the law abiding people of New Orleans who had openly acknowledged
their weapons, leaving them subject to the looting and raping that occurred after Hurricane
Katrina, if someone asks me what I have to defend my family at home, I’m not going to
answer that question.
 Proverbs 15:28 HCSB The mind of the righteous person thinks before answering, but
the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil things.
He is careful with his words. He chooses them carefully… cautiously…He thinks before he
speaks, and usually, when we think before we speak, our words will be FEWER.
Proverbs 12:23b But the foolish heart publicizes stupidity.
The word “publicizes” here is the Hebrew word qara which means: to call, call out, recite,
read, cry out, utter a loud sound. Solomon speaks of the fool as one who does not conceal,
but does just the opposite. The fool makes loud proclamations for all to hear. He isn’t trying to
hold anything back. He cries out like a megaphone blurting out its message.
The fool behaves in the opposite way of the wise or prudent man. Where the prudent man
conceals critical knowledge or considers whether it’s useful or appropriate, the fool conceals
nothing, but blurts out whatever is on his mind…which is usually foolishness.
This proverb implies that foolish people don’t actually possess the knowledge they
profess. They only think they do. All they have in its place is “foolishness.” They, who are full
of folly and ignorance of all people, ought to be quiet! But alas, the fool proclaims all of his
ignorant foolishness.
This demonstrates a threefold problem on the part of the fool:
a.) Folly is in his heart… (the fact that it is there)
b.) He has no self-control… (the fact that it all comes out)
 Proverbs 12:16 HCSB A fool's displeasure is known at once, but whoever ignores an
insult is sensible.
A prudent also covers up shameful wrath and anger! He doesn’t blurt it all out.
c.) He has no discernment to recognize it as folly or to see the need for timeliness.
We have all experienced this phenomenon. The person with the least amount
of worthwhile things to say usually dominates the conversation and says the most. Let’s go
back for a moment to:
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
Proverbs 15:2 HCSB The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive, but the
mouth of fools blurts out foolishness.
The word “blurts out” here is the Hebrew word naba which means: Cause to bubble,
ferment; flow; to pour forth, emit, or belch forth. The fool’s mouth is a constantly flowing river,
fomenting foolishness.
 Proverbs 29:11 HCSB A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man holds it in
check.
The wise man has self-control over his thoughts. The fool does not. The wise man knows
when to keep his thoughts to himself. The fool does not. The wise man sometimes
temporarily conceals knowledge and only sometimes (afterwards - later) he might utter it at a
more appropriate occasion…
 Proverbs 17:28 HCSB Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent,
discerning, when he seals his lips.
One of the best and wisest things a fool can do is to keep quiet… and refuse to display
his ignorance! Actually, that is probably the fool’s first step towards wisdom!
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