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 response turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath. 2The tongue of the wise treats knowledge correctly, but the mouth of the fool spouts out folly. 3The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on those who are evil and those who are good.

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 quick-tempered person stirs up dissension, but one who is slow to anger calms a quarrel.
• Proverbs 10:12Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.
• Proverbs 28:25The greedy person stirs up dissension, but the one who trusts in the Lord will prosper.
• Proverbs 29:22An angry person stirs up dissension, and a wrathful person is abounding in transgression.
• Judges 12:3When I saw that you were not going to help, I risked my life and advanced against the Ammonites, and the Lord handed them over to me. Why have you come up to fight with me today?”
• 1 Samuel 25:10But Nabal responded to David’s servants, “Who is David, and who is this son of Jesse? This is a time when many servants are breaking away from their masters!
• 2 Samuel 19:43The men of Israel replied to the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king, and we have a greater claim on David than you do! Why do you want to curse us? Weren’t we the first to suggest bringing back our king?” But the comments of the men of Judah were more severe than those of the men of Israel.
• 1 Kings 12:13The king responded to the people harshly. He rejected the advice of the older men

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