Proverbs 15:1

Proverbs 15:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
• New International Version (NIV)A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
• English Standard Version (ESV)A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
• New King James Version (NKJV)A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

Context of Proverbs 15:1

A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath. 2The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive, but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness. 3The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, observing the wicked and the good.

Proverbs 15:1 word by word

מַֽעֲנֶה־רַּ֭ךְ יָשִׁ֣יב חֵמָ֑ה וּדְבַר־עֶ֝֗צֶב יַעֲלֶה־אָֽף׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• A softרַךְrak · tenderH7390
• answerמַעֲנֶהma‛ăneh · answerH4617
• turnethשׁוּבshûb · to return: turn backH7725
• away wrathחֵמָהchêmâh chêmâ' · rageH2534
• but grievousעֶ֫צֶב‛etseb · toilH6089
• wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• stir upעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: establishH5927
• angerאַף'aph · face: angerH639

Cross-references for Proverbs 15:1

• Proverbs 15:18A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but one slow to anger calms strife.
• Proverbs 10:12Hatred stirs up conflicts, but love covers all offenses.
• Proverbs 28:25A greedy person stirs up conflict, but whoever trusts in the Lord will prosper.
• Proverbs 29:22An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered one increases rebellion.
• Judges 12:3When I saw that you weren’t going to deliver me, I took my life in my own hands and crossed over to the Ammonites, and the Lord handed them over to me. Why then have you come today to fight against me?”
• 1 Samuel 25:10Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is Jesse’s son? Many slaves these days are running away from their masters.
• 2 Samuel 19:43The men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king, so we have a greater claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Weren’t we the first to speak of restoring our king?” But the words of the men of Judah were harsher than those of the men of Israel.
• 1 Kings 12:13Then the king answered the people harshly. He rejected the advice the elders had given him

Commentaries on Proverbs 15:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1A soft answer - Gentleness will often disarm the most furious, where positive derangement has not taken place; one angry word will always beget another, for the disposition of one spirit always begets its own likeness in another: thus kindness produces kindness, and rage produces rage. Universal experience confirms this proverb.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Verse 1 A right cause will be better pleaded with meekness than with passion. Nothing stirs up anger like grievous words.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Controlling emotions and matching them to the situation helps others listen without reacting.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-33Pr 15:1-33. 1. soft--tender or gentle. turneth ... wrath--from any one. stir up--as a smouldering fire is excited.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 15:1

• Anger
• Meekness
• Speaking
• Tact

In the dictionaries

• Abomination
• Cheerful
• Continual
• Countenance
• Disappoint
• Disperse
• Feast
• Grievous
• Humility
• Poetry

Commentaries on Proverbs 15

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings