God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 26:5
5Answer a fool with his own stupidity, or he will think he is wise.
Proverbs 26:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
- New International Version (NIV)Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Context of Proverbs 26:5
3A whip is for the horse, a bridle is for the donkey, and a rod is for the backs of fools. 4Do not answer a fool with his own stupidity, or you will be like him. Answer 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. 7⌞Like⌟ a lame person’s limp legs, so is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
Read all of Proverbs 26Proverbs 26:5 word by word
עֲנֵ֣ה כְ֭סִיל כְּאִוַּלְתּ֑וֹ פֶּן־יִהְיֶ֖ה חָכָ֣ם בְּעֵינָֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 26:5
- 1 Kings 22:24Then Zedekiah, son of Chenaanah, went to Micaiah and struck him on the cheek. “How did the Lord’s Spirit leave me to talk to you?” he asked.
- Jeremiah 36:17Then they asked Baruch, “Please tell us how you wrote all this. Did Jeremiah dictate it to you?”
- Matthew 15:1Then some Pharisees and experts in Moses’ Teachings came from Jerusalem to Jesus. They asked,
- Matthew 16:1The Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus. So they asked him to show them a miraculous sign from heaven.
- Matthew 21:23Then Jesus went into the temple courtyard and began to teach. The chief priests and the leaders of the people came to him. They asked, “What gives you the right to do these things? Who told you that you could do this?”
- Matthew 22:15Then the Pharisees went away and planned to trap Jesus into saying the wrong thing.
- Luke 12:31Rather, be concerned about his kingdom. Then these things will be provided for you.
- Luke 13:23Someone asked him, “Sir, are only a few people going to be saved?” He answered,
- John 8:7When they persisted in asking him questions, he straightened up and said, “The person who is sinless should be the first to throw a stone at her.”
- John 9:26The Jews asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he give you sight?”
- Proverbs 26:12Have you met a person who thinks he is wise? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
- Proverbs 28:11A rich person is wise in his own eyes, but a poor person with understanding sees right through him.
- Romans 11:25Brothers and sisters, I want you to understand this mystery so that you won’t become arrogant. The minds of some Israelites have become closed until all of God’s non-Jewish people are included.
- Isaiah 5:21How horrible it will be for those who think they are wise and consider themselves to be clever.
- Romans 12:16Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be arrogant, but be friendly to humble people. Don’t think that you are smarter than you really are.
Commentaries on Proverbs 26:5
- 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 26:5
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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