Proverbs 15:18 kjv
A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
Proverbs 15:18 nkjv
A wrathful man stirs up strife, But he who is slow to anger allays contention.
Proverbs 15:18 niv
A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.
Proverbs 15:18 esv
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
Proverbs 15:18 nlt
A hot-tempered person starts fights;
a cool-tempered person stops them.
Proverbs 15 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 29:22 | An angry man stirs up strife, and a furious man abounds in transgression. | Links anger to strife and sin. |
| Prov 26:21 | As charcoal is to burning coals and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. | Illustrates how contentious people ignite conflict. |
| Prov 14:17 | A quick-tempered man acts foolishly... | Connects quick anger to foolish actions. |
| Prov 16:32 | He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. | Elevates self-control over physical strength/conquest. |
| Prov 19:11 | Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. | Links wisdom to patience and forgiveness. |
| Eccl 7:9 | Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools. | Advises against quick anger, associating it with foolishness. |
| Eph 4:31-32 | Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you... Be kind to one another... | Exhorts believers to put away anger and pursue kindness. |
| Col 3:8 | But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander... | Command to renounce anger as part of the old self. |
| Jam 1:19-20 | ...let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. | Directly connects slowness to anger with producing righteousness. |
| Titus 1:7 | For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach, not self-willed, not quick-tempered... | Requires church leaders to be patient, not quick-tempered. |
| Gal 5:22-23 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness... self-control... | Patience and self-control listed as Spirit's fruit. |
| Rom 12:18 | If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. | Exhortation to pursue peace with others. |
| Matt 5:9 | "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." | Jesus' blessing on those who create peace. |
| Heb 12:14 | Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. | Emphasizes pursuing peace and holiness. |
| 2 Tim 2:24 | And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil. | Connects patience and non-quarrelsomeness with Christian service. |
| Exod 34:6 | The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness... | God's own character is "slow to anger." |
| Neh 9:17 | But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love... | Echoes God's character as patient and loving. |
| Ps 103:8 | The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. | Further confirms God's attribute of patience. |
| Joel 2:13 | ...for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. | Appeals to God's character for repentance. |
| Jonah 4:2 | ...I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. | Jonah's description of God's character, used in plea. |
Proverbs 15 verses
Proverbs 15 18 Meaning
Proverbs 15:18 clearly contrasts two types of individuals based on their emotional response and its social consequence. A person who gives in to anger easily and frequently incites conflict, disturbance, and dispute in their surroundings. In sharp opposition, an individual who exercises patience and is slow to wrath acts as a pacifier, bringing tranquility and ending quarrels. The verse highlights the profound impact of one's temperament on the relational atmosphere and calls for self-control as a means to foster peace.
Proverbs 15 18 Context
Proverbs 15 is a chapter rich in antithetical proverbs, setting wisdom against foolishness, righteousness against wickedness, and the wise individual's conduct against the fool's. This verse is part of a series contrasting virtues like soft speech and righteousness with vices like anger and crookedness, showcasing the impact of these traits on personal well-being and social harmony. Historically, proverbs served as practical guidelines for daily life in ancient Israel, instructing individuals in moral and social wisdom. The cultural context valued social peace and communal cohesion, making unchecked anger a significant disruptive force. This proverb directly advises on cultivating emotional self-control as a cornerstone of wise and harmonious living, implying a subtle polemic against impulsive and uncontrolled reactions which lead to communal unrest, contrasting it with a godly character.
Proverbs 15 18 Word analysis
A wrathful man (Hebrew:
ʾîš ḥēmâ- literally "man of heat/wrath").ʾîš(ish): Man, male, person. Signifies the individual in question.ḥēmâ(chem-aw'): Heat, anger, rage, fury, venom. Conveys an intense, often destructive, form of wrath. It is more than fleeting irritation; it implies an explosive or simmering, vengeful temper.
stirs up strife (Hebrew:
yəʿōrîr māḏôn).yəʿōrîr: From the verbʿûr(oor), meaning to awaken, rouse, stir up, incite. It depicts an active, intentional, or inevitable consequence of the person's nature. Like stirring a fire, their presence or words ignite conflict.māḏôn(maw-done'): Strife, contention, discord, dispute. Refers to quarrels, arguments, or persistent hostility between people.
but he who is slow to anger (Hebrew:
ʾereḵ ʾappayim- literally "long of nose/face").ʾereḵ(eh-rek): Long, length. Signifies extension or duration.ʾappayim(ap-pah'-yim): Dual form ofʾap(af), meaning nose, nostril, face, sometimes also wrath or anger (because intense anger causes the nostrils to flare). "Long of nose/face" is an ancient idiom across Semitic languages for patience and forbearance. It contrasts sharply with "short of nose/face" or "quick-tempered," where anger flares quickly. This is a common divine attribute describing God's patience towards humanity.
quiets contention (Hebrew:
yašqîṭ rîḇ).yašqîṭ: From the verbšāqaṭ(shaw-kat), meaning to be quiet, be at peace, be at rest, pacify, calm. It indicates a deliberate or inherent ability to bring serenity and order where there was disturbance.rîḇ(reeb): Contention, dispute, quarrel, lawsuit, controversy. Similar tomāḏôn, it denotes a state of dispute, butrîḇoften has connotations of a formal or legal dispute. Here, it signifies the cessation of such conflict.
Words-group analysis:
- "A wrathful man stirs up strife": This phrase highlights the destructive causality between unmanaged anger and societal breakdown. A quick temper doesn't just impact the individual; it actively generates friction and hostility, disrupting communal peace and order. It's not passive, but an active incitement of conflict.
- "but he who is slow to anger quiets contention": This contrasts with the previous clause, offering an antidote to relational chaos. Patience and self-control act as a pacifying force. Such a person does not add fuel to the fire; rather, they diffuse tension and restore tranquility, fostering harmonious interactions. This is presented as a wisdom principle leading to peace.
Proverbs 15 18 Bonus section
The concept of being "slow to anger" (Hebrew: ʾereḵ ʾappayim) is a critical theological term, frequently used in the Old Testament to describe God's own nature. This elevates the virtue beyond mere human self-help; it suggests that cultivating such patience is a reflection of divine character. The wise person strives to embody this attribute, thereby walking in God's ways. In the New Testament, this patience (often translated as "longsuffering" or "patience") is listed as a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22). This implies that achieving such self-control is not solely a matter of human effort or resolve, but requires reliance on God's indwelling Spirit. The "wrathful man" may be reacting from an unregenerate nature, while the "slow to anger" man exemplifies a life transformed by divine wisdom and grace, aligning his heart with the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.
Proverbs 15 18 Commentary
Proverbs 15:18 delivers a concise yet profound insight into the power of emotional self-regulation to shape social dynamics. The "wrathful man" is portrayed not merely as someone prone to anger, but as an active instigator of trouble, their very nature a catalyst for disputes. Their impatience and quick temper translate directly into a ripple effect of conflict in relationships, homes, and communities. In contrast, the one who is "slow to anger"—a profound quality also attributed to God (Exod 34:6)—possesses the opposite effect. This individual, marked by patience and emotional stability, acts as a peacemaker. Their controlled response defuses tension and settles disagreements, bringing calm where there might have been turmoil. The proverb, therefore, teaches that managing one's temper is not just a personal virtue but a powerful social grace, fundamental for maintaining peace and order in human interaction. It's a call to wisdom: to choose the path of calm forbearance that fosters reconciliation over the destructive path of impulsive rage that breeds discord. Practically, this implies taking a moment to breathe before responding in anger, or consciously choosing gentle words rather than explosive ones to resolve a misunderstanding.