Proverbs 25:15 kjv

By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

Proverbs 25:15 nkjv

By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, And a gentle tongue breaks a bone.

Proverbs 25:15 niv

Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

Proverbs 25:15 esv

With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.

Proverbs 25:15 nlt

Patience can persuade a prince,
and soft speech can break bones.

Proverbs 25 verses

Proverbs 25 15 Meaning

Proverbs 25:15 teaches that sustained patience and gentle, persuasive speech possess immense power, capable of overcoming even the most stubborn resistance or rigid opposition, personified as a prince or a bone. It conveys that persistent meekness and articulate diplomacy are more effective than force, harshness, or sudden anger in influencing strong-willed individuals or breaking down seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Proverbs 25 15 Context

Proverbs chapter 25 continues the collection of "Proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied" (Prov 25:1). This chapter emphasizes wisdom concerning interactions with kings, leaders, and peers, offering guidance on proper conduct, self-control, and the wise use of speech. Verses immediately preceding (Prov 25:6-10) speak about humility and discretion in the king's presence, while subsequent verses (Prov 25:16-17) deal with moderation. Verse 15 specifically highlights the power of patience and gentle persuasion as a practical tool for effective communication and conflict resolution, particularly when dealing with authority figures or highly resistant individuals, fitting within the broader theme of skillful living. Historically, in a hierarchical society, influencing a "prince" would have been a significant and delicate task.

Proverbs 25 15 Word analysis

• By long forbearance:

  • Original Hebrew: בְּאֹרֶךְ אַפַּיִם (be'orek appayim)
  • Literally means "with length of nostrils/face." The nose or face was associated with anger, as angry breathing or a reddened face signifies rage. "Long" in this context signifies slowness to anger, endurance, and patience.
  • Significance: This term is notably used to describe a primary attribute of God (e.g., Exod 34:6, Neh 9:17), underscoring patience as a divine and powerful quality. It implies persistent, unwearying, and long-suffering endurance. It contrasts with hasty action or immediate demands.

• a prince:

  • Original Hebrew: נָגִיד (nagid)
  • Meaning: leader, ruler, captain, official, noble, chief. It refers to someone in authority, often a king's appointee or a prominent figure with a strong will or unyielding stance.
  • Significance: This is not just anyone, but a powerful, perhaps unapproachable or stubborn, individual. The target of persuasion is specifically a figure of power, making the effectiveness of forbearance even more profound.

• is persuaded:

  • Original Hebrew: יְפֻתֶּה (yeputtah) from the root פתה (patah)
  • Meaning: to be persuaded, enticed, convinced, lured. While "patah" can sometimes have a negative connotation (to deceive, mislead), in this context, it is clearly positive, meaning to be genuinely convinced or won over by reasoned argument and patience.
  • Significance: It signifies a change of mind, a yielding that comes from within, not by force. The external patience and soft speech lead to an internal shift.

• and a soft tongue:

  • Original Hebrew: וְלָשׁוֹן רַכָּה (u'lashon rakka)
  • "Tongue" (לָשׁוֹן - lashon) represents speech, communication, discourse.
  • "Soft" (רַכָּה - rakka) means tender, gentle, mild, smooth, agreeable, compassionate. It contrasts with harsh, arrogant, or demanding speech.
  • Significance: This refers to the manner and content of speech. It is not weak or indecisive, but rather considerate, humble, understanding, and persuasive without being aggressive or coercive. It can involve careful choice of words, empathetic tone, and respectful delivery.

• breaks a bone:

  • Original Hebrew: תִּשְׁבֹּר גָּרֶם (tishbor gerem)
  • "Breaks" (תִּשְׁבֹּר - tishbor) from שׁבר (shavar), meaning to break, shatter, crush, burst.
  • "Bone" (גָּרֶם - gerem) meaning bone, skeleton, essential part.
  • Significance: This is a powerful metaphor for overcoming something extremely hard, strong, or unyielding. A bone is typically one of the hardest parts of the body. The "bone" here symbolizes stubbornness, deep-seated resistance, rigidity, or an unchangeable will. It is an image of profound difficulty and strong opposition. The "breaking" implies penetrating and overcoming what seems unbreakable without resorting to physical force, but through patient persuasion.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "By long forbearance a prince is persuaded": This phrase establishes the power of sustained patience over authority. It means that even the most stubborn or powerful leader can be influenced if approached with persistent, gentle, and slow-to-anger composure. This process is not instant but requires endurance.
  • "and a soft tongue breaks a bone": This parallelism reinforces and intensifies the initial statement. It uses a vivid hyperbole to illustrate the immense power of gentle, kind, and persuasive speech. The "soft tongue" represents non-aggressive, thoughtful communication, which is surprisingly capable of overcoming what is most rigid and resistant ("breaks a bone"), emphasizing that spiritual and rhetorical force far exceeds brute physical force.

Proverbs 25 15 Bonus section

The proverb offers a kingdom principle: the "weak" (patience and gentle speech) overcome the "strong" (a prince, a bone). This resonates with New Testament teachings on meekness and the power of love. It suggests that while human strength often seeks to dominate, the wisdom of God operates through less obvious, more profound means. This approach avoids needless confrontation, disarms potential adversaries, and allows truth and wisdom to gradually prevail. It reflects the character of God, who is patient and longsuffering with humanity, and highlights how believers are to manifest that same spirit in their interactions, even with those in opposition.

Proverbs 25 15 Commentary

Proverbs 25:15 conveys a profound truth about human influence: true power often lies not in strength or aggression, but in patience and gentleness. The verse uses two parallel images to make its point. First, it asserts that "long forbearance" – a deep and sustained patience – can move a "prince," symbolizing an unyielding authority or a person of great stubbornness. This patience wears down resistance over time, fostering trust and opening a path for communication that force or anger would immediately shut down. Second, it states that "a soft tongue breaks a bone." This powerful metaphor highlights the unexpected effectiveness of gentle, persuasive speech. A soft word, spoken with grace and wisdom, can achieve what harsh words or physical might never could: penetrate the hardest resolve and overcome seemingly insurmountable opposition. This proverb teaches us to cultivate meekness, perseverance, and considerate communication, recognizing that these virtues are highly effective tools for influencing others, especially in challenging situations or when facing rigid viewpoints. It calls for wisdom that chooses soft power over brute force, understanding that lasting change comes through conviction, not coercion.