Proverbs 26:8

Proverbs 26:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
• New International Version (NIV)Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Like one who binds a stone in a sling Is he who gives honor to a fool.

Context of Proverbs 26:8

6He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh in damage. 7The legs of the lame hang loose: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. As a bag of gems in a heap of stones, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. 9As a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the month of fools. 10As an archer that woundeth all, so is he that hireth the fool and he that hireth them that pass by.

Proverbs 26:8 word by word

כִּצְר֣וֹר אֶ֭בֶן בְּמַרְגֵּמָ֑ה כֵּן־נוֹתֵ֖ן לִכְסִ֣יל כָּבֽוֹד׃Read the interlinear

• gemsאֶ֫בֶן'eben · stoneH68
• heapנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• stonesאֶ֫בֶן'eben · stoneH68
• soכֵּןkên · soH3651
• foolכְּסִילkesîyl · foolH3684

Cross-references for Proverbs 26:8

• Proverbs 26:1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
• Proverbs 19:10Delicate living is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
• Proverbs 30:22For a servant when he is king; and a fool when he is filled with meat;

Commentaries on Proverbs 26:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honor to a fool - It is entirely thrown away. This, however, is a difficult proverb; and the versions give but little light on the subject. The Hebrew may be translated, "As a piece of precious stone among a heap of stones, so is he that giveth honor to a fool." Or, As he that putteth a precious stone in a heap of stones. See Parkhurst: but on this interpretation the meaning would rather be, "It…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8i. e., “To give honor to the fool is like binding a stone in a sling; you cannot throw it.” In each case you misapply and so waste. Others render in the sense of the margin: To use a precious stone where a pebble would be sufficient, is not less foolish than to give honor to a fool.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. 88. A stone, bound in a sling, is useless; so honor, conferred on a fool, is thrown away.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 26:8

• Fool
• Sling

In the dictionaries

• Causeless
• Conceit
• Kindle
• Render
• Seemly
• Sling
• Sport
• Talebearer
• Gem
• Heap

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