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 wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. 2The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, But the mouth of fools spouts folly. 3The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Watching the evil and the good.

Proverbs 15:1 word by word

מַֽעֲנֶה־רַּ֭ךְ יָשִׁ֣יב חֵמָ֑ה וּדְבַר־עֶ֝֗צֶב יַעֲלֶה־אָֽף׃Read the interlinear

• gentleרַךְrak · tenderH7390
• answerמַעֲנֶהma‛ăneh · answerH4617
• turnsשׁוּבshûb · to return: turn backH7725
• awayשׁוּבshûb · to return: turn backH7725
• wrathחֵמָהchêmâh chêmâ' · rageH2534
• harshעֶ֫צֶב‛etseb · toilH6089
• wordדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• stirsעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: establishH5927
• up angerאַף'aph · face: angerH639

Cross-references for Proverbs 15:1

• Proverbs 15:18A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, But the slow to anger calms a dispute.
• Proverbs 10:12Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions.
• Proverbs 28:25An arrogant man stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the Lord will prosper.
• Proverbs 29:22An angry man stirs up strife, And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.
• Judges 12:3When I saw that you would not deliver me, I took my life in my hands and crossed over against the sons of Ammon, and the Lord gave them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?”
• 1 Samuel 25:10But Nabal answered David’s servants and said, “Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants today who are each breaking away from his master.
• 2 Samuel 19:43But the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, “We have ten parts in the king, therefore we also have more claim on David than you. Why then did you treat us with contempt? Was it not our advice first to bring back our king?” Yet the words of the men of Judah were harsher than the words of the men of Israel.
• 1 Kings 12:13The king answered the people harshly, for he forsook the advice of the elders which they had given 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