Proverbs 26:4
Proverbs 26:4 in Multiple Translations
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him.
Do not give to the foolish man a foolish answer, or you will be like him.
Don't answer stupid people following their stupidity, or you'll become as bad as them.
Answer not a foole according to his foolishnes, least thou also be like him.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him — even thou.
Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like him.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be made like him.
If a foolish person asks a foolish question, do not answer him, because if you answer his question, you are just as foolish as he is.
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 26:4
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Proverbs 26:4 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אַל
תַּ֣עַן
כְּ֭סִיל
כְּ/אִוַּלְתּ֑/וֹ
פֶּֽן
תִּשְׁוֶה
לּ֥/וֹ
גַם
אָֽתָּה
אַל
ʼal
H408
not
Part
תַּ֣עַן
ʻânâh
H6030
to dwell
V-Qal-Juss-2ms
כְּ֭סִיל
kᵉçîyl
H3684
fool
Adj
כְּ/אִוַּלְתּ֑/וֹ
ʼivveleth
H200
folly
Prep | N-fs | Suff
פֶּֽן
pên
H6435
lest
Conj
תִּשְׁוֶה
shâvâh
H7737
be like
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
לּ֥/וֹ
Prep | Suff
גַם
gam
H1571
also
Adv
אָֽתָּה
ʼattâh
H859
you(m.s.)
Pron
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 26:4
אַל
ʼal
H408
"not"
Part
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Definition: 1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference) 1a) do not, let not (with a verb) 1b) let there not be (with a verb understood) 1c) not, no (with substantive) 1d) nothing (as substantive) Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
Usage: Occurs in 572 OT verses. KJV: nay, neither, [phrase] never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than. See also: Genesis 13:8; Joshua 11:6; 1 Chronicles 22:13.
תַּ֣עַן
ʻânâh
H6030
"to dwell"
V-Qal-Juss-2ms
This verb means to sing or make music, but also to respond or give an answer. In the Bible, it is used to describe praising God in song or responding to a question. The KJV translates it as 'sing' or 'answer'.
Definition: (Qal) to dwell
Usage: Occurs in 316 OT verses. KJV: give account, afflict (by mistake for H6031 (עָנָה)), (cause to, give) answer, bring low (by mistake for H6031 (עָנָה)), cry, hear, Leannoth, lift up, say, [idiom] scholar, (give a) shout, sing (together by course), speak, testify, utter, (bear) witness. See also H1042 (בֵּית עֲנוֹת), H1043 (בֵּית עֲנָת). See also: Genesis 18:27; 2 Samuel 14:19; Job 40:2.
כְּ֭סִיל
kᵉçîyl
H3684
"fool"
Adj
This Hebrew word describes a fool or someone who is stupid and silly. It is often used to describe people who reject God's wisdom. The Bible uses this word to warn against foolish behavior.
Definition: fool, stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one
Usage: Occurs in 69 OT verses. KJV: fool(-ish). See also: Psalms 49:11; Proverbs 19:13; Psalms 92:7.
כְּ/אִוַּלְתּ֑/וֹ
ʼivveleth
H200
"folly"
Prep | N-fs | Suff
This Hebrew word means foolishness or silliness, describing someone's ridiculous behavior. It is used to convey a sense of absurdity or nonsense, as seen in the KJV translations of folly and foolishness.
Definition: foolishness, folly
Usage: Occurs in 24 OT verses. KJV: folly, foolishly(-ness). See also: Psalms 38:6; Proverbs 15:14; Psalms 69:6.
פֶּֽן
pên
H6435
"lest"
Conj
This word is used to express caution or warning, similar to saying 'lest' or 'beware that'. It is often used in the Bible to advise against certain actions or to warn of potential consequences.
Definition: conj 1) lest, not, beware lest adv 2) lest
Usage: Occurs in 125 OT verses. KJV: (lest) (peradventure), that...not. See also: Genesis 3:3; Judges 14:15; Psalms 2:12.
תִּשְׁוֶה
shâvâh
H7737
"be like"
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
This word means to set or place something, and it is used to describe the act of leveling or equalizing something. It can also mean to adjust or compare things, and it is used in various contexts in the Bible.
Definition: 1) to agree with, be or become like, level, resemble 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be like 1a2) equivalent (participle) 1a3) to set, place 1a4) setting (participle) 1b) (Piel) to level, smooth, still 1c) (Hiphil) to make like 1d) (Nithpael) to be alike Aramaic equivalent: she.vah (שְׁוָה "be like" H7739A)
Usage: Occurs in 21 OT verses. KJV: avail, behave, bring forth, compare, countervail, (be, make) equal, lay, be (make, a-) like, make plain, profit, reckon. See also: 2 Samuel 22:34; Psalms 131:2; Psalms 16:8.
לּ֥/וֹ
""
Prep | Suff
גַם
gam
H1571
"also"
Adv
Also means 'even' or 'too', used for emphasis or to connect ideas, like 'both...and' or 'neither...nor'. It can introduce a climax or show contrast.
Definition: 1) also, even, indeed, moreover, yea 1a) also, moreover (giving emphasis) 1b) neither, neither...nor (with negative) 1c) even (for stress) 1d) indeed, yea (introducing climax) 1e) also (of correspondence or retribution) 1f) but, yet, though (adversative) 1g) even, yea, yea though (with 'when' in hypothetical case) 2) (TWOT) again, alike
Usage: Occurs in 661 OT verses. KJV: again, alike, also, (so much) as (soon), both (so)...and, but, either...or, even, for all, (in) likewise (manner), moreover, nay...neither, one, then(-refore), though, what, with, yea. See also: Genesis 3:6; Exodus 19:9; 1 Samuel 14:21.
אָֽתָּה
ʼattâh
H859
"you(m.s.)"
Pron
You is the translation of a Hebrew word used to address someone directly, like when God says you to someone in the Bible. It can be singular or plural, and is often translated as thee, thou, or ye.
Definition: you (second pers. sing. masc.)
Usage: Occurs in 997 OT verses. KJV: thee, thou, ye, you. See also: Genesis 3:11; Exodus 23:9; Deuteronomy 14:1.
Study Notes — Proverbs 26:4
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 26:4 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 26:4
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 26:4
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 26:4
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 26:4
- Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 26:4
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 26:4
- Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 26:4
- Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 26:4
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 26:4
- Sermons on Proverbs 26:4
Context — Similitudes and Instructions
2Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes. 6Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 26:5 | Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes. |
| 2 | 1 Peter 3:9 | Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. |
| 3 | Jude 1:9 | But even the archangel Michael, when he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses, did not presume to bring a slanderous charge against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” |
| 4 | Proverbs 17:14 | To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out. |
| 5 | 1 Kings 12:14 | and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.” |
| 6 | 2 Samuel 19:41–43 | Soon all the men of Israel came to the king and asked, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, together with all of David’s men?” And all the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is our relative. Why does this anger you? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense or received anything for ourselves?” “We have ten shares in the king,” answered the men of Israel, “so we have more claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of restoring our king?” But the men of Judah pressed even harder than the men of Israel. |
| 7 | Judges 12:1–6 | Then the men of Ephraim assembled and crossed the Jordan to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why have you crossed over to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down with you inside!” But Jephthah replied, “My people and I had a serious conflict with the Ammonites, and when I called, you did not save me out of their hands. When I saw that you would not save me, I risked my life and crossed over to the Ammonites, and the LORD delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come today to fight against me?” Jephthah then gathered all the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, “You Gileadites are fugitives in Ephraim, living in the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh.” The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim, and whenever a fugitive from Ephraim would say, “Let me cross over,” the Gileadites would ask him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he answered, “No,” they told him, “Please say Shibboleth.” If he said, “Sibboleth,” because he could not pronounce it correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. So at that time 42,000 Ephraimites were killed. |
| 8 | 1 Kings 12:16 | When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So the Israelites went home, |
| 9 | 2 Kings 14:8–10 | Then Amaziah sent messengers to the king of Israel Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu. “Come, let us meet face to face,” he said. But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle. You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has become proud. Glory in that and stay at home. Why should you stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?” |
| 10 | 1 Peter 2:21–23 | For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps: “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.” When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. |
Proverbs 26:4 Summary
[This verse, Proverbs 26:4, teaches us that when someone is speaking foolishly, we should not respond in kind, lest we become like them, but instead, we should strive to respond in a wise and godly manner, as seen in Proverbs 15:1, and this requires discernment and a commitment to honoring God with our words, as taught in Colossians 4:6, and by doing so, we can avoid being drawn into foolishness and instead promote wisdom and understanding.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to answer a fool according to his folly?
To answer a fool according to his folly means to engage with someone who is speaking foolishly in a way that is equally foolish, which can lead to being drawn into their level of thinking, as warned in Proverbs 26:4, and becoming like them, rather than responding in a wise and godly manner, as seen in Proverbs 15:1.
How can I know when to answer a fool and when not to?
The Bible provides guidance on this in Proverbs 26:4 and Proverbs 26:5, which seem to give conflicting advice, but together they teach us to discern when to respond to a fool and when to refrain, taking into account the context and the potential impact of our response, as also seen in Ecclesiastes 3:7.
Is it ever right to ignore someone who is speaking foolishly?
Yes, according to Proverbs 26:4, there are times when it is wise to ignore a fool, lest we become like them, but this must be balanced with the need to sometimes answer a fool, as in Proverbs 26:5, to prevent them from becoming wise in their own eyes, and this decision should be guided by wisdom and a desire to glorify God, as taught in Colossians 4:6.
What is the danger of answering a fool according to his folly?
The danger, as stated in Proverbs 26:4, is that we will become like the fool, adopting their mindset and behavior, which can lead us away from godly wisdom and into foolishness, as warned in Proverbs 13:20, and therefore, we must be careful how we engage with those who speak foolishly, and instead, strive to respond in a way that honors God, as seen in Proverbs 31:26.
Reflection Questions
- What are some situations in my life where I have been tempted to answer a fool according to their folly, and how can I respond differently in the future?
- How can I balance the need to sometimes answer a fool with the warning not to become like them, and what role does discernment play in this?
- What are some characteristics of a fool, as described in Proverbs, and how can I avoid exhibiting these traits in my own life?
- How can I use my words to build others up and promote wisdom, rather than tearing them down and perpetuating foolishness, as taught in Ephesians 4:29-32?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 26:4
Answer not a fool according to his folly,.... Sometimes a fool, or wicked man, is not to be answered at all; as the ministers of Hezekiah answered not a word to Rabshakeh; nor Jeremiah the prophet to
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 26:4
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him - by answering taunt with taunt, angry sneer with sneer, folly with folly.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 26:4
How can these contrary rules be reconciled, answer him not, and answer him? Answ. Easily, by considering the difference of persons, and times, and places, and other circumstances, and of the manner of answering. And such seemingly contradictory precepts are not only used by, but are esteemed elegant in, other authors. Answer him not, when he is incorrigible, or when he is inflamed with passion or wine, &c., or when it is not necessary, nor likely to do him good. Answer him, when he is capable of receiving good by it, or when it is necessary for the glory of God, or for the discharge of a man’ s duty, or for the good of others. According to his folly; so as to imitate his folly, by such passionate, or reproachful, or foolish speeches as he useth to thee. Be like unto him; show thyself to be as great a fool as he.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 26:4
Proverbs 26:4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.Ver. 4. Answer not a fool according to his folly.] When either he curseth thee, or cryeth out upon thee for giving him due correction - for every public person had need to carry a spare handkerchief, to wipe off the dirt of disgrace and obloquy cast upon him for doing his duty, - pass such a one by in silence, as not worthy the answering. Sile, et funestam dedisti plagam, say nothing, and you play him to purpose. Hezekiah would not answer Rabshakeh, nor Jeremiah Hananiah; nor our Saviour his adversaries. He reviled not his revilers, he threatened not his open opposites. Lest thou also be like unto him.] As hot and as headlong as he; for a little thing kindles us, and we are apt to think that we have reason to be mad, if evil entreated; to talk as fast for ourselves as he doth against us, and to give him as good as he brings; so that at length there will be never a wiser of the two, and people will say so. Chrysost.
Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 26:4
(4) Answer not a fool.—Comp. Proverbs 1:22. According to his folly.—Do not lower yourself by disputing or arguing with him; he will not take in your meaning, and will think he has got the better of you, perhaps will insult you. It is noticeable that our Lord never answered a question which should not have been asked Him, but always put it by (e.g., Matthew 21:23, sqq.; Luke 13:23-24; Luke 23:9; John 21:21-22; Acts 1:6, sqq.).
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 26:4
Verse 4. Answer not a fool] On this and the following verse Bishop Warburton, who has written well on many things, and very indifferently on the doctrine of grace, has written with force and perspicuity: "Had this advice been given simply, and without circumstance, to answer the fool, and not to answer him, one who had reverence for the text would satisfy himself in supposing that the different directions referred to the doing a thing in and out of season; 1. The reasons given why a fool should not be answered according to his folly, is, "lest he (the answerer) should be like unto him." 2. The reason given why the fool should be answered according to his folly, is, "lest he (the fool) should be wise in his own conceit." "1. The cause assigned for forbidding to answer, therefore, plainly insinuates that the defender of religion should not imitate the insulter of it in his modes of disputation, which may be comprised in sophistry, buffoonery, and scurrility. "2. The cause assigned for directing to answer, as plainly intimates that the sage should address himself to confute the fool upon his own false principles, by showing that they lead to conclusions very wide from, very opposite to, those impieties he would deduce from them. If any thing can allay the fool's vanity, and prevent his being wise in his own conceit, it must be the dishonour of having his own principles turned against himself, and shown to be destructive of his own conclusions."-Treatise on Grace. Preface.
Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 26:4
4, 5. according to] Let not your answer be according to his folly in foolishness; but let it be according to it in appositeness.
Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 26:4
Two sides of a truth. To “answer a fool according to his folly” is in Proverbs 26:4 to bandy words with him, to descend to his level of coarse anger and vile abuse; in Proverbs 26:5 it is to say the
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 26:4
4, 5. Answer not a fool… answer a fool — The point in these two proverbs, which are the complement of each other, is found in the play upon a single letter, the ë, (kaph,) used as a sign of
Sermons on Proverbs 26:4
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Life of the Mind and the Love of God by John Piper | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of loving God with all our minds. He lists seven or eight things that we should avoid in order to cultivate a love for God. Th |
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(Proverbs) ch.10:12 - 11:12 by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes that riches will not help anyone on judgment day, only righteousness will matter. It is not about Bible knowledge or religious activities, bu |
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The Discipline of Disdain - 23 by Jack Hibbs | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of listening and being slow to speak and anger. He highlights the need to trust in God during times of shaking and suffering. |
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A House of Prayer by Bill McLeod | In this sermon, the preacher shares various anecdotes and experiences to emphasize the importance of committing our causes to God. He tells a story about a preacher from Argentina |
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The Surprising Ways of God by Otto Koning | In this sermon transcript, the speaker shares his personal testimony of searching for God and finding hope in Jesus Christ. He reflects on his experiences during World War II and t |
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(Depressed Disciples) the Manifold Testings by Willie Mullan | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of having the same mindset as Christ and enduring suffering for the sake of the Gospel. He highlights the contrast between th |
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1 Peter 1 by Robert F. Adcock | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of living a life committed to God, even in the face of trials and conflicts with the world. He encourages believers to trust |