Bible/Proverbs/26

Proverbs 26:5

26:4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. conceit: Heb. eyes

KJV

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Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

26:6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. damage: or, violence

What does Proverbs 26:5 mean?

Proverbs 26:5 is a verse in the book of Proverbs, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include עָנָה (ʻânâh), כְּסִיל (kᵉçîyl), אִוֶּלֶת (ʼivveleth). It connects to 14 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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Answerעָנָהʻânâh/aw-naw'/H6030properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announce
a
foolכְּסִילkᵉçîyl/kes-eel'/H3684properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or silly
according
to
his
folly,אִוֶּלֶתʼivveleth/iv-veh'-leth/H200silliness
lest
he
be
wiseחָכָםchâkâm/khaw-kawm'/H2450wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful)
in
his
own
conceit.עַיִןʻayin/ah'-yin/H5869an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
conceit:
Heb.
eyes

Commentary on Proverbs 26:5

HENRY_FULL · Proverbs 26:4–5
ct itself, but really does not. Wise men have need to be directed how to deal with fools; and they have never more need of wisdom than in dealing with such, to know when to keep silence and when to speak, for there may be a time for both. 1. In some cases a wise man will not set his wit to that of a fool so far as to answer him according to his folly "If he boast of himself, do not answer him by boasting of thyself. If he rail and talk passionately, do not thou rail and talk passionately too. If he tell one great lie, do not thou tell another to match it. If he calumniate thy friends, do not thou calumniate his. If he banter, do not answer him in his own language, lest thou be like him, even thou, who knowest better things, who hast more sense, and hast been better taught." 2. Yet, in other cases, a wise man will use his wisdom for the conviction of a fool, when, by taking notice of what he says, there may be hopes of doing good, or at least preventing further, mischief, either to himself or others. "If thou have reason to think that thy silence will be deemed an evidence of the weakness of thy cause, or of thy own weakness, in such a case answer him, and let it be an answer ad hominem—to the man, beat him at his own weapons, and that will be an answer ad rem—to the point, or as good as one. If he offer any thing that looks like an argument, an answer that, and suit thy answer to his case. If he think, because thou dost not answer him, that what he says is unanswerable, then give him an answer, lest he be wise in his own conceit and boast of a victory." For ( Luke vii. 35 ) Wisdom's children must justify her. 6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. 7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. 8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Exodus 34:6

And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

Exodus 34:7

Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

Numbers 14:18

The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

Deuteronomy 5:10

And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

Nehemiah 9:17

And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not. a God: Heb. a God of pardons

Isaiah 55:7

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. the unrighteous: Heb. the man of iniquity abundantly: Heb. multiply to pardon

Jeremiah 32:18

Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name,

Joel 2:13

And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

Jonah 4:2

And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.

Nahum 1:3

The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Romans 5:20

Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Romans 5:21

That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ephesians 1:7

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Ephesians 1:8

Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

Topics

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Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Proverbs 26:5.

Proverbs 12:23

A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.

Proverbs 13:16

Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly. layeth: Heb. spreadeth

Proverbs 14:24

The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.

Proverbs 14:8

The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

Proverbs 15:14

The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

Proverbs 15:2

The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. poureth: Heb. belcheth, or, bubbleth

Proverbs 17:12

Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

Frequently asked questions

What does Proverbs 26:5 say?

Proverbs 26:5 (King James Version) reads: "Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. conceit: Heb. eyes"

Is Proverbs 26:5 in the Old or New Testament?

Proverbs 26:5 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Proverbs.

Reflect

As you read Proverbs 26:5, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Proverbs 26:5
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