Christian Standard Bible
Proverbs 16:32
32Patience is better than power, and controlling one’s emotions, than capturing a city.
Proverbs 16:32 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
- New International Version (NIV)Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
Context of Proverbs 16:32
30The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions; the one who compresses his lips brings about evil. 31Gray hair is a glorious crown; it is found in the ways of righteousness. Patience is better than power, and controlling one’s emotions, than capturing a city. 33The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.
Read all of Proverbs 16Proverbs 16:32 word by word
ט֤וֹב אֶ֣רֶךְ אַ֭פַּיִם מִגִּבּ֑וֹר וּמֹשֵׁ֥ל בְּ֝רוּח֗וֹ מִלֹּכֵ֥ד עִֽיר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- slowאָרֵךְ'ârêk · slowH750
- to angerאַף'aph · face: angerH639
- betterטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
- than the mightyגִּבּוֹרgibbôr gibbôr · mighty manH1368
- and he that rulethמָשַׁלmâshal · to ruleH4910
- his spiritרוּחַrûach · spiritH7307
- than he that takethלָכַדlâkad · to captureH3920
- a cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
Cross-references for Proverbs 16:32
- Proverbs 14:29A patient person shows great understanding, but a quick-tempered one promotes foolishness.
- Proverbs 15:18A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but one slow to anger calms strife.
- Proverbs 19:11A person’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
- Psalms 103:8The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.
- Ephesians 5:1Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children,
- James 1:19My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
- Proverbs 16:19Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble than to divide plunder with the proud.
- Proverbs 25:28A person who does not control his temper is like a city whose wall is broken down.
- Romans 12:21Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
- Revelation 3:21“To the one who conquers I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
Commentaries on Proverbs 16:32
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 32He that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city - It is much easier to subdue an enemy without than one within. There have been many kings who had conquered nations, and yet were slaves to their own passions. Alexander, who conquered the world, was a slave to intemperate anger, and in a fit of it slew Clytus, the best and most intimate of all his friends, and one whom he loved beyond all others. The spirit of this maxim is so self-evident, that most…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 32Verse 32 To overcome our own passions, requires more steady management, than obtaining victory over an enemy.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 32Patience and self-control are more valuable than using force.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3232. (Compare Pr 14:29). taketh a city--that is, by fighting.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 16:32
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 16
- 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
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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