Darby Bible
Proverbs 17:14
14The beginning of contention is [as] when one letteth out water; therefore leave off strife before it become vehement.
Proverbs 17:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
- New International Version (NIV)Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.
Context of Proverbs 17:14
12Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man rather than a fool in his folly. 13Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. The beginning of contention is [as] when one letteth out water; therefore leave off strife before it become vehement. 15He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are abomination to Jehovah. 16To what purpose is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he] hath no sense?
Read all of Proverbs 17Proverbs 17:14 word by word
פּ֣וֹטֵֽר מַ֭יִם רֵאשִׁ֣ית מָד֑וֹן וְלִפְנֵ֥י הִ֝תְגַּלַּ֗ע הָרִ֥יב נְטֽוֹשׁ׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Proverbs 17:14
- Proverbs 17:19He loveth transgression that loveth a quarrel; he that maketh high his gate seeketh destruction.
- Proverbs 26:21[As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
- Proverbs 29:22An angry man exciteth contention; and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
- Judges 12:1And the men of Ephraim were called together, and passed over northwards, and said to Jephthah, Why didst thou pass over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? We will burn thy house upon thee with fire.
- 2 Samuel 2:14And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise and make sport before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
- 2 Samuel 19:41And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over the Jordan?
- 2 Samuel 20:1And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjaminite; and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no portion in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, Israel.
- 2 Chronicles 10:14and spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father chastised you with whips, but I [will chastise you] with scorpions.
- 2 Chronicles 13:17And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter; and there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.
- 2 Chronicles 25:17And Amaziah king of Judah took counsel, and sent to Joash the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face.
- 2 Chronicles 28:6And Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah a hundred and twenty thousand in one day, all valiant men, because they had forsaken Jehovah the God of their fathers.
- Proverbs 13:10By pride there only cometh contention; but with the well-advised is wisdom.
- Proverbs 14:29He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
- Proverbs 15:1A soft answer turneth away fury; but a grievous word stirreth up anger.
- Proverbs 16:32He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
- Proverbs 19:11The discretion of a man maketh him slow to anger, and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
Commentaries on Proverbs 17:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water - As soon as the smallest breach is made in the dike or dam, the water begins to press from all parts towards the breach; the resistance becomes too great to be successfully opposed, so that dikes and all are speedily swept away. Such is the beginning of contentions, quarrels, lawsuits, etc. Leave off contention, before it be meddled with - As you see what an altercation must lead to, therefore do…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14The figure is taken from the great tank or reservoir upon which Eastern cities often depended for their supply of water. The beginning of strife is compared to the first crack in the mound of such a reservoir. At first a few drops ooze out, but after a time the whole mass of waters pour themselves forth with fury, and it is hard to set limits to the destruction which they cause. Before it be meddled with - literally, “before it rolls, or rushes forward.”Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14Verse 14 What danger there is in the beginning of strife! Resist its earliest display; and leave it off, if it were possible, before you begin.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14release a flood: Once a quarrel starts, stopping it is hard. Avoid disputes whenever possible (see Proverbs 10:12; 15:18; 16:28; 20:3; 22:10; 26:21).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. letteth ... water--as a breach in a dam. before ... meddled with--before strife has become sharp, or, by an explanation better suiting the figure, before it rolls on, or increases.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 17:14
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 17
- 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
Darby Bible — 1889 — Public Domain
Commentaries