Proverbs 26:6

Proverbs 26:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
• New International Version (NIV)Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
• New King James Version (NKJV)He who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

Context of Proverbs 26:6

4Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are. 5Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation. Trusting a fool to convey a message is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison! 7A proverb in the mouth of a fool is as useless as a paralyzed leg. 8Honoring a fool is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.

Proverbs 26:6 word by word

מְקַצֶּ֣ה רַ֭גְלַיִם חָמָ֣ס שֹׁתֶ֑ה שֹׁלֵ֖חַ דְּבָרִ֣ים בְּיַד־כְּסִֽיל׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• He that sendethשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
• a messageדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• by the handיָדyâd · handH3027
• of a foolכְּסִילkesîyl · foolH3684
• cutteth offקָצָהqâtsâh · to cut offH7096
• the feetרֶ֫גֶלregel · footH7272
• drinkethשָׁתָהshâthâh · to drinkH8354
• damageחָמָסchâmâs · violenceH2555

Cross-references for Proverbs 26:6

• Proverbs 10:26Lazy people irritate their employers, like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes.
• Proverbs 13:17An unreliable messenger stumbles into trouble, but a reliable messenger brings healing.
• Proverbs 25:13Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer. They revive the spirit of their employer.
• Numbers 13:31But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!”

Commentaries on Proverbs 26:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Cutteth off the feet - Sending by such a person is utterly useless. My old MS. Bible translates well: Halt in feet and drinking wickednesse that sendith wordis bi a foole messager. Nothing but lameness in himself can vindicate his sending it by such hands; and, after all, the expedient will be worse than the total omission, for he is likely to drink wickedness, i.e., the mischief occasioned by the fool's misconduct. Coverdale nearly hits the sense as…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6Cutteth off the feet - Mutilates him, spoils the work which the messenger ought to fulfill. Drinketh damage - i. e., “has to drink full draughts of shame and loss” (compare Job 15:16).Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-9Verses 6-9 Fools are not fit to be trusted, nor to have any honour. Wise sayings, as a foolish man delivers and applies them, lose their usefulness.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. A fool fails by folly as surely as if he were maimed. drinketh damage--that is, gets it abundantly (Job 15:16; 34:7).Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 26:6

• Fool
• Servant

In the dictionaries

• Causeless
• Conceit
• Kindle
• Render
• Seemly
• Sport
• Talebearer
• Damage
• Hezekiah (2)
• Proverbs, the Book of

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