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 rage, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 2The tongues of wise people give good expression to knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out a flood of stupidity. 3The eyes of the Lord are everywhere. They watch evil people and good people.

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 hothead stirs up a fight, but one who holds his temper calms disputes.
• Proverbs 10:12Hate starts quarrels, but love covers every wrong.
• Proverbs 28:25A greedy person stirs up a fight, but whoever trusts the Lord prospers.
• Proverbs 29:22An angry person stirs up a fight, and a hothead does much wrong.
• Judges 12:3When I saw that you would not rescue me, I risked my life and went to fight the people of Ammon. The Lord handed them over to me. So why did you come to fight against me today?”
• 1 Samuel 25:10“Who is David?” Nabal answered David’s servants. “Who is Jesse’s son? So many servants nowadays are leaving their masters.
• 2 Samuel 19:43The people of Israel answered the people of Judah, “We have ten times your interest in the king and a greater claim on David than you have. Why, then, do you despise us? Weren’t we the first to suggest bringing back our king?” But the people of Judah spoke ⌞even⌟ more harshly than the people of Israel.
• 1 Kings 12:13The king answered the people harshly. He ignored the advice the older leaders gave 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