Proverbs 26:4

¶ Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

Answer {H6030} not a fool {H3684} according to his folly {H200}, lest thou also be like {H7737} unto him.

Don't answer a fool in terms of his folly, or you will be descending to his level;

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.

Proverbs 26:4 offers profound, counter-intuitive counsel on how to interact with those who lack wisdom and sound judgment. It's a vital piece of wisdom literature that guides our responses in challenging social and conversational situations.

Context

This verse is part of the Book of Proverbs, a collection of wise sayings attributed largely to King Solomon. The book emphasizes practical wisdom for daily living, contrasting the paths of the wise and the foolish. In Proverbs, a "fool" (Hebrew: kesil) is not merely someone unintelligent, but often one who is morally perverse, obstinate, and resistant to correction, frequently displaying arrogance and a rejection of God's ways. These verses (Proverbs 26:4-5) stand in unique juxtaposition, offering what appears to be contradictory advice, thus demanding careful discernment.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Avoiding Contamination: The primary warning is against allowing the fool's irrationality, malice, or absurd arguments to dictate your own behavior. Engaging with foolishness on its own terms means descending to their level, adopting their flawed tactics, and becoming entangled in their senselessness.
  • Preserving Your Character: To "be like unto him" suggests a loss of one's own integrity, wisdom, and composure. The wise person is called to maintain their dignity, principles, and self-control, even when provoked. Reacting in kind to foolishness can diminish your own standing and effectiveness.
  • Discerning Engagement: This proverb highlights the need for strategic silence or a different mode of response. It sets the stage for the seemingly contradictory advice in the very next verse, Proverbs 26:5, which advises *answering* a fool. The wisdom lies in knowing when to apply which principle.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for 'fool' here is kesil (כְּסִיל), which depicts a dull-witted, obstinate, or thick-headed person who is resistant to correction and wisdom. Their 'folly' ('ivveleth - אִוֶּלֶת) refers to their senseless, often morally perverse, behavior or speech, characterized by a lack of sound judgment.

Practical Application

In contemporary contexts, this proverb speaks powerfully to interactions in various spheres, from personal relationships to online discussions. It encourages us to exercise self-control and discernment, recognizing that not every challenge, foolish statement, or irrational argument deserves a direct, mirroring response. Sometimes, the wisest action is to withhold a reply that would only descend into futility, escalate conflict, and diminish one's own character. It teaches us to choose our battles wisely and protect our peace and integrity, understanding that true wisdom, which begins with the fear of the Lord, often involves knowing when not to speak.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Proverbs 26:5

    Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

  • 1 Peter 3:9

    Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

  • 1 Kings 12:14

    And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father [also] chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

  • 1 Kings 12:16

    ¶ So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither [have we] inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.

  • Judges 12:1

    ¶ And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thine house upon thee with fire.

  • Judges 12:6

    Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce [it] right. Then they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand.

  • Proverbs 17:14

    ¶ The beginning of strife [is as] when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
← Back