God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 26:4
4Do not answer a fool with his own stupidity, or you will be like him.
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, like a darting swallow, so a hastily spoken curse does not come to rest. 3A whip is for the horse, a bridle is for the donkey, and a rod is for the backs of fools. Do not answer a fool with his own stupidity, or you will be like him. 5Answer a fool with his own stupidity, or he will think he is wise. 6Whoever uses a fool to send a message cuts off his own feet and brings violence upon himself.
Read all of Proverbs 26Proverbs 26:4 word by word
אַל־תַּ֣עַן כְּ֭סִיל כְּאִוַּלְתּ֑וֹ פֶּֽן־תִּשְׁוֶה־לּ֥וֹ גַם־אָֽתָּה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 26:4
- Proverbs 17:14Starting a quarrel is ⌞like⌟ opening a floodgate, so stop before the argument gets out of control.
- Judges 12:1The men of Ephraim were summoned to fight. They crossed ⌞the Jordan River⌟ to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why did you fight against Ammon without inviting us to go with you? Now we’re going to burn your house down with you in it.”
- 2 Samuel 19:41Then all the people of Israel kept coming to the king. They asked, “Why did our cousins, the people of Judah, kidnap you and bring Your Majesty and your family and men across the Jordan River?”
- 1 Kings 12:14He spoke to them as the young men advised. He said, “If my father made your burden heavy, I will add to it. If my father punished you with whips, I will punish you with scorpions.”
- 2 Kings 14:8Then Amaziah sent messengers to King Jehoash, son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu of Israel, to declare war on Israel.
- 1 Peter 2:21God called you to endure suffering because Christ suffered for you. He left you an example so that you could follow in his footsteps.
- 1 Peter 3:9Don’t pay people back with evil for the evil they do to you, or ridicule those who ridicule you. Instead, bless them, because you were called to inherit a blessing.
- Jude 1:9When the archangel Michael argued with the devil, they were arguing over the body of Moses. But Michael didn’t dare to hand down a judgment against the devil. Instead, Michael said, “May the Lord reprimand 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
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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