Proverbs 26:5 kjv
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Proverbs 26:5 nkjv
Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Proverbs 26:5 niv
Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
Proverbs 26:5 esv
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Proverbs 26:5 nlt
Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools,
or they will become wise in their own estimation.
Proverbs 26 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 26:4 | Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him. | Discretion: Avoid debasing yourself. |
| Prov 3:7 | Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. | Direct command against intellectual pride. |
| Prov 16:2 | All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs spirits. | God's sovereign judgment of self-assessment. |
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. | Consequence of prideful self-perception. |
| Prov 28:11 | A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding sees him through. | The delusion of the self-proclaimed wise. |
| Isa 5:21 | Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! | Prophetic condemnation of self-deceit. |
| Rom 12:16 | Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty... Never be wise in your own sight. | New Testament warning against conceit. |
| Gal 6:3 | For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. | Self-deception regarding spiritual standing. |
| Prov 9:7-8 | Whoever corrects a scoffer gets dishonor... Do not rebuke a scoffer, or he will hate you. | Wisdom in discerning who is receptive to correction. |
| Prov 15:12 | A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise. | Fools' resistance to and disdain for rebuke. |
| Mat 7:6 | Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs... | Discernment in sharing truth with unwilling hearts. |
| Luke 23:9 | Herod questioned him at length, but he gave him no answer. | Jesus' strategic silence before persistent folly. |
| 1 Pet 3:15 | ...always being prepared to make a defense... with gentleness and respect... | Manner of providing defense, with wisdom. |
| Eph 4:29 | Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up... | Speaking words that build up, even in confrontation. |
| Col 4:6 | Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. | Guiding principle for discerning and impactful speech. |
| Prov 17:10 | A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool. | Effectiveness of rebuke dependent on recipient's heart. |
| Prov 27:6 | Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. | Painful truth from a friend versus harmful flattery. |
| Ps 141:5 | Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head... | Desired response to righteous correction. |
| Job 12:2 | No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you. | Irony applied to those who claim exclusive wisdom. |
| Prov 29:9 | If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool rages and laughs, and there is no quiet. | Challenges of engaging a fool in rational debate. |
| Prov 1:7 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. | Foundation of folly: rejection of divine wisdom. |
| 2 Tim 2:24-25 | And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone... correcting his opponents with gentleness. | Guidelines for pastoral and truthful correction. |
| Tit 3:10-11 | As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him... | Recognizing when to disengage from persistent error. |
| Jam 1:5 | If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach... | Call to seek divine wisdom for all life's challenges. |
Proverbs 26 verses
Proverbs 26 5 Meaning
Proverbs 26:5 offers counsel on engaging with a "fool" (an 'ewil, someone obstinately resistant to wisdom). It advises answering such a person "according to his folly," meaning to respond in a way that directly addresses and exposes the flawed nature, absurdity, or inevitable consequences of their own foolish statements or actions. The critical purpose behind this counsel is to prevent the fool from becoming "wise in his own eyes"—a state of dangerous self-delusion, intellectual pride, and arrogance that closes them off to genuine understanding or correction. This verse is understood in conjunction with the preceding verse (26:4), highlighting the discernment required in knowing when and how to appropriately respond to folly.
Proverbs 26 5 Context
Proverbs 26 is part of a larger collection (Proverbs 25-29) ascribed to King Solomon but "copied" by "the men of Hezekiah," indicating a later redaction and preservation period during Judah's monarchy. This chapter is distinct in its repetitive and multifaceted focus on various forms of folly, featuring the characteristics and dangers posed by the "fool" ('ewil), the sluggard, and the gossip. Verses 4 and 5 specifically highlight a core dilemma in dealing with foolish individuals, presenting what appears to be a direct contradiction to challenge the reader's discernment. This deliberate paradox forces a deeper engagement with the nature of wisdom, underscoring that practical wisdom often requires flexible, context-dependent application rather than rigid rules. The broader historical context is a society where living according to divine wisdom (fearing the Lord) was paramount, and foolishness was seen as both a personal failing and a societal threat, eroding moral and social order.
Proverbs 26 5 Word analysis
- Answer (עֲנֵה,
’aneh): The Hebrew verb means to respond, to reply, or to give an account. It denotes a deliberate, chosen form of verbal engagement, not a mere reaction. - a fool (אֱוִיל,
’ěwil): This is a specific type of fool in Proverbs. Unlike the 'pethi' (simple, naive), the 'ewil is characterized by stubbornness, moral perversity, defiance of wise counsel, and an intrinsic disdain for truth and instruction. They are often reckless and self-absorbed. - according to (כְּ,
kᵉ): This preposition indicates likeness, correspondence, or conformity. In this verse, the crucial nuance is that the response should correspond to the nature or essence of the fool's folly, rather than mirroring the foolishness itself. - his folly (אִוֶּלְתּוֹ,
’ivvelto): This noun denotes the inherent absurdity, moral unsoundness, or self-defeating quality that characterizes the fool's thinking and behavior. It is the outflow of their stubborn character. - lest (פֶּן,
pen): This particle conveys negative purpose, expressing a preventative action to avoid an undesirable outcome ("so that... not," or "for fear that"). It underlines the motive behind the instruction. - he be wise (וְלֹא יֶהְיֶה חָכָם,
welo yehyeh khakham): Literally "and not he should be wise." This refers to the fool's deluded self-perception of wisdom or intelligence, despite their actual foolishness. 'Khakham' (wise) here is used ironically to describe this dangerous state of intellectual pride. - in his own eyes (בְעֵינָיו,
bᵉ'enaw): This idiom signifies subjective, uncritical self-judgment. The fool evaluates himself by his own biased standards, confirming his flawed logic without external correction from reality, truth, or God's standards.
Words-group analysis:
- "Answer a fool according to his folly": This instruction requires profound discernment. It means confronting the fool on their own terms, demonstrating the irrationality or destructive nature of their own logic or actions. It is a strategic engagement intended to expose the flaw in their thinking using a method that might be comprehensible or unavoidable for them, without succumbing to their level of irrationality or rudeness.
- "lest he be wise in his own eyes": This clause provides the core motivation and objective. The aim is to shatter the fool's self-deception and arrogant self-assurance. A fool who genuinely believes in their own wisdom is utterly unreachable by truth, uncorrectable, and poses a greater threat, as their pride makes them impervious to all teaching or warning. The reply seeks to break this harmful cycle of intellectual arrogance.
Proverbs 26 5 Bonus section
The apparent contradiction between Proverbs 26:4 and 26:5 serves as a classic example of "case law" or "conditional wisdom" within biblical literature. Wisdom in the Bible is rarely about applying a universal, rigid rule but about applying a truth discerningly to specific circumstances. The paradox underscores the nuanced reality of human interaction and the dynamic nature of truth-telling. The distinction lies in the purpose and manner of the engagement. In verse 4, the purpose is self-preservation from corruption; in verse 5, it is to provide a difficult, yet potentially salvific, intervention for the fool. Understanding this couplet requires seeking God-given wisdom (Jam 1:5) to discern the fool's true character and the most effective, Christ-like method to engage, always remembering that the underlying sin for the fool of Prov 26:5 is pride and an unwillingness to accept truth or correction from anyone but themselves.
Proverbs 26 5 Commentary
Proverbs 26:5 offers critical insight into dealing with individuals deeply entrenched in their own folly. Far from contradicting Proverbs 26:4, which warns against mimicking a fool's behavior, this verse advises a purposeful response designed to challenge their dangerous self-perception. "Answering according to his folly" implies demonstrating to the fool, using their own logic or the inevitable consequences of their actions, how their stance is unsound, contradictory, or ultimately self-defeating. The intent is not to win an argument or to engage in futile debate, but to strategically puncture their bubble of arrogance and self-delusion, thus preventing them from further entrenching themselves in pride and thinking their foolishness is wisdom. This requires the wisdom to speak truth directly and incisively, discerning that such an intervention, while potentially difficult or even confrontational, is necessary for their sake or the sake of others they might influence. It is a calculated and often challenging act of corrective truth, born from discernment.