Proverbs 26:7

Proverbs 26:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
• New International Version (NIV)Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Like the legs of the lame that hang limp Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

Context of Proverbs 26:7

5Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation. 6Trusting a fool to convey a message is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison! A 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. 9A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.

Proverbs 26:7 word by word

דַּלְי֣וּ שֹׁ֭קַיִם מִפִּסֵּ֑חַ וּ֝מָשָׁ֗ל בְּפִ֣י כְסִילִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The legsשׁוֹקshôq · legH7785
• of the lameפִּסֵּחַpissêach · lameH6455
• are not equalדָּלַלdâlal · to languishH1809
• a parableמָשָׁלmâshâl · proverbH4912
• in the mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
• of foolsכְּסִילkesîyl · foolH3684

Cross-references for Proverbs 26:7

• Proverbs 26:9A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.
• Proverbs 17:7Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool; even less are lies fitting for a ruler.
• Psalms 50:16But God says to the wicked: “Why bother reciting my decrees and pretending to obey my covenant?
• Psalms 64:8Their own tongues will ruin them, and all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.
• Matthew 7:4How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?
• Luke 4:23Then he said, “You will undoubtedly quote me this proverb: ‘Physician, heal yourself’—meaning, ‘Do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in Capernaum.’

Commentaries on Proverbs 26:7

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Or, Take away the legs of the lame man, and the parable that is in the mouth of fools: both are alike useless to their possessors. Other meanings are: (1) “The legs of the lame man are feeble, so is parable in the mouth of fools.” (2) “the lifting up of the legs of a lame man, i. e., his attempts at dancing, are as the parable in the mouth of fools.”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
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7A fool might know a proverb but not use it correctly. Compare with Proverbs 26:9.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. legs ... equal--or, "take away the legs," or "the legs ... are weak." In any case the idea is that they are the occasion of an awkwardness, such as the fool shows in using a parable or proverb (see Introduction; Pr 17:7).Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 26:7

• Fool
• Speaking

In the dictionaries

• Causeless
• Conceit
• Kindle
• Render
• Seemly
• Sport
• Talebearer
• Hezekiah (2)
• Lame
• Leg

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