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 treats knowledge correctly, but the mouth of fools spouts folly. 3The eyes of Adonai are everywhere, observing the wicked and the 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 hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but one who is slow to anger calms a quarrel.
• Proverbs 10:12Hatred stirs up strife but love covers up all transgressions.
• Proverbs 28:25A greedy soul stirs up strife, but one who trusts in Adonai prospers.
• Proverbs 29:22An angry man stirs up dissention, and a hotheaded one commits many transgressions.
• Judges 12:3So when I saw that you weren’t going to deliver, I put my life in my hand and crossed over against the children of Ammon, and Adonai gave them into my hand. So why have you come up to me today, to fight me?”
• 1 Samuel 25:10But Nabal answered David’s servants by saying, “Who is David? And who is Jesse’s son? Nowadays there are many slaves each running away from his master.
• 2 Samuel 19:43Then all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is our close relative. So why are you angry over this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s cost? Or has he given us any gifts?”
• 1 Kings 12:13The king answered the people harshly. He rejected the counsel the elders 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