Proverbs 26:6 kjv

He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.

Proverbs 26:6 nkjv

He who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

Proverbs 26:6 niv

Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one's feet or drinking poison.

Proverbs 26:6 esv

Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

Proverbs 26:6 nlt

Trusting a fool to convey a message
is like cutting off one's feet or drinking poison!

Proverbs 26 verses

Proverbs 26 6 Meaning

Proverbs 26:6 declares that whoever entrusts a message or task to a foolish person inflicts severe harm upon themselves. It implies that poor judgment in delegation results in self-sabotage, incapacitation, and the enduring of damaging consequences. The act of commissioning a fool leads inevitably to failure and personal suffering for the one who sent them.

Proverbs 26 6 Context

Proverbs chapter 26 deals extensively with the character and consequences associated with various types of fools, sluggards, and busybodies, contrasting them with wisdom and prudent action. This specific proverb highlights the significant detriment one brings upon oneself by unwisely delegating authority or important tasks to a "fool." The "fool" (Hebrew: kesil) in Proverbs is not merely unintelligent, but morally stubborn, resistant to instruction, and prone to making foolish decisions that lead to harm. The chapter portrays the fool as an object of caution and distance, as any close involvement, particularly entrusting responsibilities, proves perilous. Historically, messengers played crucial roles in communication, diplomacy, and trade, making the integrity and competence of such an envoy paramount in ancient Near Eastern societies. Therefore, sending a fool was not just an inconvenience but a grave operational and reputational risk.

Proverbs 26 6 Word analysis

• Whoever sends (Sholēakh - שֹׁלֵחַ): This is an active participle, meaning "the one who is sending" or "he who sends." It implies intentional action and responsibility. The sender is the agent initiating the communication or task, highlighting their ultimate accountability for the chosen messenger.
• A message (Literally "by/with a word" - דָּבָר, dāḇār): Refers not just to a verbal communication, but often signifies a matter, affair, or task. This means the principle applies broadly to any significant assignment, not only verbal messages.
• By the hand of (Bəyad - בְּיַד): This is an idiom indicating instrumentality or agency. The "hand" signifies the means by which the message or task is executed. It emphasizes that the fool acts as the sender's representative, with their actions reflecting back on the one who commissioned them.
• A fool (Kəsiyl - כְסִיל): A crucial term in Proverbs. This is not simply a mentally deficient person, but someone who is stubborn, conceited, resistant to instruction, and lacks moral wisdom. The kesil is characterized by habitual wrong judgment and folly. Entrusting anything important to a kesil is a profound error in judgment.
• Cuts off his own feet (Qōtsēh raglayim - קֹצֶה רַגְלַיִם): A vivid and jarring metaphor. Qotzeh implies to "cut short," "cut off," or "maim." "Feet" (raglayim) symbolize movement, progress, and the ability to act or advance. By entrusting a task to a fool, the sender effectively disables themselves, hindering their own progress and incapacitating their ability to move forward or achieve their goals. It denotes self-inflicted harm that renders one helpless or immobile.
• And drinks violence (Wəshotēh khāmās - וְשֹׁתֶה חָמָס): Another powerful and dark image. Shoteh means "drinks." Khamas refers to violence, wrong, oppression, or harm. To "drink violence" suggests not just experiencing it externally, but internalizing or fully imbibing its destructive effects. It implies enduring deep suffering, receiving grievous harm, or suffering profound consequences due to the fool's actions or negligence, experiencing betrayal or loss. This consequence is not merely external, but one that is taken into one's very being.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool": This phrase establishes the act of poor judgment in delegation. It underlines the initiator's responsibility for choosing an inappropriate agent for a significant task. The "hand of a fool" makes it clear that the instrument of execution is inherently flawed due to the chosen person's character and disposition.
• "cuts off his own feet": This consequence highlights the immediate and direct self-sabotage involved. The harm is not merely indirect but self-inflicted and crippling, symbolizing loss of capability, inability to advance, and rendering oneself unable to escape the negative ramifications of the fool's actions. It means hampering one's own success.
• "and drinks violence": This phrase details the profound and bitter outcome. "Drinking" implies internalizing or fully suffering the repercussions, making the negative experience deeply personal and unavoidable. "Violence" encompasses not only physical harm but also general trouble, ruin, oppression, or pervasive distress brought about by the fool's characteristic behavior or destructive choices. This part of the proverb emphasizes the suffering of negative consequences to the point of absorption.

Proverbs 26 6 Bonus section

The imagery in Proverbs 26:6 is deliberately grotesque and impactful to convey the severity of the consequences. The actions of "cutting off feet" and "drinking violence" are unnatural and painful, underscoring that the detriment incurred is severe, self-imposed, and goes against natural desire for well-being. This proverb underscores a principle of accountability: though a fool is responsible for their own folly, the one who employs them shares in the ensuing chaos. It contrasts sharply with the positive outcome promised to those who send a faithful messenger (Prov 13:17, 25:13), making the choice of messenger a pivotal determinant of success or failure. The proverb implicitly advises caution and discernment in all forms of delegation and trusting others with important matters, a timeless lesson applicable to personal, communal, and leadership contexts.

Proverbs 26 6 Commentary

Proverbs 26:6 serves as a stern warning against the profound foolishness of entrusting vital responsibilities to an untrustworthy or unwise individual. The proverb highlights that the negative consequences of a fool's actions fall directly back upon the one who authorized them. By choosing such a messenger, one actively participates in one's own downfall, becoming metaphorically crippled and enduring significant internal suffering or profound harm. This verse emphasizes the critical importance of discernment in delegating and highlights that poor judgment in such matters inevitably leads to self-inflicted damage and dire results, often greater than anticipated.

Examples:

• A manager assigning a crucial project to an employee known for irresponsibility.
• Someone giving valuable personal information to a gossiping acquaintance to share.
• A leader sending an unteachable, morally flawed individual to represent them in delicate negotiations.