Proverbs 26:1 kjv
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
Proverbs 26:1 nkjv
As snow in summer and rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool.
Proverbs 26:1 niv
Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.
Proverbs 26:1 esv
Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
Proverbs 26:1 nlt
Honor is no more associated with fools
than snow with summer or rain with harvest.
Proverbs 26 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference (Note) |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 10:13 | On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense. | Fool's lack of sense, needing correction, not honor. |
| Prov 17:16 | Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no mind to learn? | Fool's inability to benefit from good things. |
| Prov 19:10 | Luxury is not fitting for a fool; much less for a servant to rule over princes. | Unsuitability of pleasant things for fools. |
| Prov 26:3 | A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools. | Means of control for fools, not elevation. |
| Prov 28:1 | The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. | Contrast between the behavior of fools (often wicked) and righteous. |
| Matt 7:6 | Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them... | Warning against misplacing what is valuable. |
| 1 Sam 2:30 | ...those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed. | Divine principle of honor based on worthiness. |
| Psa 12:8 | The wicked prowl on every side when vileness is exalted among the children of man. | Exaltation of wicked (fools) leads to societal decay. |
| Eccles 10:5-7 | There is an evil that I have seen under the sun... Folly is set in many high places... | Lament over inappropriate promotion of the foolish. |
| Isa 3:4-5 | And I will make boys their officials, and babes shall rule over them... people shall oppress one another... | Consequence of unwise leadership (often fools). |
| Rom 1:21-22 | ...though they knew God, they did not honor him as God... claiming to be wise, they became fools. | Foolishness is rejecting God, making honor inappropriate. |
| Eph 5:15-16 | Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. | Contrast between wisdom and unfitness of the unwise. |
| Tit 3:3 | For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions... | Reminder of past folly, emphasizing the contrast with maturity. |
| Jer 4:22 | "For my people are foolish; they know me not; they are stupid children; they have no understanding..." | God's assessment of Israel's spiritual folly. |
| Luke 12:16-20 | Parable of the Rich Fool: "...'Fool! This night your soul is required of you...' " | Example of God's judgment on a self-absorbed fool. |
| Prov 1:7 | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. | Fundamental definition of folly, antithetical to true honor. |
| Prov 26:12 | Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. | Even a fool might have more hope than the proud, "wise" fool. |
| 1 Cor 4:8 | Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! | Paul's rebuke to proud, "wise" Corinthians, highlighting their spiritual folly. |
| Rom 12:3 | For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought... | Instruction against inappropriate self-estimation and pride. |
| Prov 14:3 | In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise preserve them. | Fool's words lead to self-destruction, unworthy of honor. |
| Prov 15:20 | A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother. | Foolishness harms relationships and shows disrespect. |
| Prov 29:9 | If a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man, the foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest. | A fool cannot handle honor or dispute constructively. |
| Prov 10:32 | The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked speaks what is perverse. | The nature of a fool (often wicked) results in unacceptability. |
| Jer 9:23-24 | Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the mighty man in his might... but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me..." | True honor and glory come from knowing God, not human folly. |
| Psa 75:4-7 | I say to the boastful, 'Do not boast,' and to the wicked, 'Do not lift up your horn'... for promotion comes neither from the east nor from the west... God is the judge. | God grants honor based on His righteous judgment, not human folly. |
Proverbs 26 verses
Proverbs 26 1 Meaning
Proverbs 26:1 presents an observation about the inappropriateness and detrimental nature of bestowing honor upon a foolish person. It compares this act to natural anomalies: snow in summer or rain during harvest. Just as these climatic occurrences are out of season, unwelcome, and destructive to crops, so too is honor given to a fool unnatural, out of place, and ultimately harmful, not only to the fool but also to the one who gives it and the surrounding community. Such honor would be wasted, misused, and could lead to greater folly or ruin.
Proverbs 26 1 Context
Proverbs 26:1 begins a specific section (26:1-28) within the book of Proverbs, distinctively focusing on various types of fools and their behaviors. This larger section (Proverbs 25-29) is attributed to Solomon, but specifically notes that "These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied." This suggests a careful compilation and reaffirmation of these ancient wisdom sayings during a later period, possibly as a resurgence of spiritual and moral instruction. The cultural context underscores the agrarian society of ancient Israel where predictable seasons were crucial for survival. Summer was the time for ripening and harvesting; snow or rain during these periods would devastate the livelihood of the people. Honor (kavod) in the ancient Near East was a significant social commodity, often reserved for those who demonstrated wisdom, leadership, justice, or valor. Bestowing it without proper discernment would destabilize social order and reward unrighteousness.
Proverbs 26 1 Word analysis
- Like snow (כַּשֶּׁלֶג, kaššeleg): A simile, comparing two seemingly disparate things. Snow (šeleg) is cold, wet, and out of place in warm summer. Its unexpected presence implies ruin or disruption. In the dry climate of the Near East, snow in summer would destroy crops.
- in summer (בַּקַּיִץ, bāqqayiṣ): The season of heat, ripening, and dry conditions essential for harvesting and preserving grains. Its conjunction with snow signifies profound incongruity.
- or rain (וְכַמָּטָר, vəkhammāṭār): Another destructive climatic comparison. Rain (māṭār) is normally a blessing (during the winter planting season) but harmful during the crucial, dry harvest period.
- in harvest (בַּקָּצִיר, bāqāṣîr): The time for gathering mature crops (primarily barley in late spring, wheat in early summer). Rain causes grains to mildew, sprout, or makes harvesting impossible.
- so honor (כֵּן כָּבוֹד, kēn kāḇoḏ): "So" (kēn) reinforces the direct parallel to the previous comparisons. "Honor" (kavod - from a root meaning 'heavy, weighty') implies respect, glory, high standing, authority, or reputation. It signifies something substantial and valuable, normally attributed to worthy individuals.
- is not fitting (לֹא נָאוֶה, lōʾ nāʾweh): "Not" (lōʾ) is a direct negation. "Fitting" (nāʾweh) means to be seemly, appropriate, beautiful, comely, or suitable. The negation stresses the utter unsuitability; it doesn't align with what is proper or right.
- for a fool (לְאֱוִיל, ləʾĕwîl): Refers to the 'evil' type of fool. The ’ěwîl is not merely lacking intelligence, but rather morally obtuse, scornful of wisdom, defiant against instruction, arrogant, and self-sufficient in his foolishness, often leading to destructive behavior. This is distinct from kesîl (dense, sluggish) or natsa (scoffer).
Word Groups analysis
- Like snow in summer or rain in harvest: This vivid parallelism serves as a concrete, relatable metaphor for profound incongruity. Both scenarios represent natural phenomena occurring at the wrong time, with destructive consequences. They emphasize that some things, though inherently natural or even good in their proper context, become harmful when misplaced. The imagery speaks to agricultural life, highlighting the essential need for proper order and timing for prosperity and survival.
- so honor is not fitting for a fool: This phrase directly applies the preceding natural metaphor to a moral and social principle. The "so" bridges the two halves, making the connection explicit. Honor, in itself a good and desirable social good, becomes a damaging anomaly when given to an "’ěwîl" – a fool who rejects wisdom and is morally senseless. This signifies that the misplaced honor will not yield good fruit; instead, it will bring disorder, undermine values, and possibly empower the fool to cause greater harm, just as ill-timed weather ruins crops.
Proverbs 26 1 Bonus section
The Proverbs often distinguish between various types of "fools." The ’ěwîl in this verse is one who is willfully ignorant, resistant to correction, and characterized by a lack of moral discernment. Such a person is unlikely to learn from honor, but rather might be puffed up, becoming even more arrogant and reckless. This concept extends beyond personal honor to positions of power and influence. Placing fools in leadership roles (whether in the home, community, or government) is likened to a societal "natural disaster," where the consequences are not merely unfortunate but deeply destructive. The proverb therefore implicitly calls for wise judgment in leadership and societal structures. True honor is ultimately rooted in a fear of the Lord and pursuit of wisdom, making any other basis for honor illegitimate in God's economy.
Proverbs 26 1 Commentary
Proverbs 26:1 acts as a powerful warning against the unwise allocation of status and respect. By drawing an analogy to weather patterns that defy natural order, the proverb vividly illustrates the disruption and destructiveness caused when a fool is elevated. Snow in summer or rain during harvest are not just inconveniences; they spell disaster for agricultural societies, symbolizing things fundamentally out of place and destructive. Similarly, giving honor, esteem, or authority to a fool—an individual characterized not just by ignorance, but by a moral defiance of wisdom and instruction—is not merely wasted; it actively undermines good order and can exacerbate the fool’s destructive tendencies. A fool would likely misuse honor for selfish gain, to perpetrate injustice, or to justify continued folly, bringing disgrace upon the honor itself and upon those who bestowed it. This wisdom teaches discernment, urging believers to consider carefully whom they commend, promote, or praise, ensuring that such recognition is always aligned with genuine wisdom, righteousness, and humility, reflecting God’s own principle of honoring those who honor Him.