Proverbs 26:4

Proverbs 26:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
• New International Version (NIV)Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him.

Context of Proverbs 26:4

2Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. 3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him. 5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes. 6Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.

Proverbs 26:4 word by word

אַל־תַּ֣עַן כְּ֭סִיל כְּאִוַּלְתּ֑וֹ פֶּֽן־תִּשְׁוֶה־לּ֥וֹ גַם־אָֽתָּה׃Read the interlinear

• Do notאַל'al · notH408
• answerעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
• a foolכְּסִילkesîyl · foolH3684
• according to his follyאִוֶּ֫לֶת'ivveleth · follyH200
• orפֶּן־pên · lestH6435
• you yourselfאַתָּ֫ה'attâh 'attâ 'ath 'attîy 'attem 'atten 'attênâh 'attênnâh · you(m.s.)H859
• will be like himשָׁוָהshâvâh · be likeH7737
• will be like himגַּםgam · alsoH1571

Cross-references for Proverbs 26:4

• Proverbs 17:14To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
• Judges 12:1Then the men of Ephraim assembled and crossed the Jordan to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why have you crossed over to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down with you inside!”
• 2 Samuel 19:41Soon all the men of Israel came to the king and asked, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, together with all of David’s men?”
• 1 Kings 12:14and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”
• 2 Kings 14:8Then Amaziah sent messengers to the king of Israel Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu. “Come, let us meet face to face,” he said.
• 1 Peter 2:21For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:
• 1 Peter 3:9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
• Jude 1:9But even the archangel Michael, when he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses, did not presume to bring a slanderous charge against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

Commentaries on Proverbs 26:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Answer not a fool - On this and the following verse Bishop Warburton, who has written well on many things, and very indifferently on the doctrine of grace, has written with force and perspicuity: "Had this advice been given simply, and without circumstance, to answer the fool, and not to answer him, one who had reverence for the text would satisfy himself in supposing that the different directions referred to the doing a thing in and out of season; The…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Two sides of a truth. To “answer a fool according to his folly” is in Proverbs 26:4 to bandy words with him, to descend to his level of coarse anger and vile abuse; in Proverbs 26:5 it is to say the right word at the right time, to expose his unwisdom and untruth to others and to himself, not by a teaching beyond his reach, but by words that he is just able to apprehend. The apparent contradiction between the two verses led some of the rabbis to question…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-5Verses 4-5 We are to fit our remarks to the man, and address them to his conscience, so as may best end the debate.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-5Proverbs often depend on the situation. Deciding whether to respond to foolish arguments depends on the type of fool and the situation.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4-54-5. Answer not--that is, approvingly by like folly.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 26:4

• Fool
• Prudence
• Speaking

In the dictionaries

• Causeless
• Conceit
• Kindle
• Render
• Seemly
• Sport
• Talebearer
• Canon of the Old Testament
• Discrepancies, Biblical
• Hezekiah (2)

Commentaries on Proverbs 26

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings