Proverbs 30 32

Proverbs 30:32 kjv

If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.

Proverbs 30:32 nkjv

If you have been foolish in exalting yourself, Or if you have devised evil, put your hand on your mouth.

Proverbs 30:32 niv

"If you play the fool and exalt yourself, or if you plan evil, clap your hand over your mouth!

Proverbs 30:32 esv

If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth.

Proverbs 30:32 nlt

If you have been a fool by being proud or plotting evil,
cover your mouth in shame.

Proverbs 30 verses

Proverbs 30 32 Meaning

Proverbs 30:32 serves as a wisdom instruction, advising a humble and quiet response when one realizes they have acted foolishly, behaved pridefully, or conceived malicious intent. It is a call to self-restraint and silence rather than compounding error with more words or actions, suggesting an acknowledgement of fault and a turning away from harmful paths.

Proverbs 30 32 Context

Proverbs 30 records the words of Agur, son of Jakeh, a collection distinct from Solomon's proverbs. This chapter explores various facets of divine wisdom, human ignorance, and moral conduct, often using observational wisdom regarding categories of people or phenomena (e.g., the four things that are never satisfied, or the four that are small but wise). Verse 32 specifically follows an analogy concerning anger and strife. Proverbs 30:33 states that "as churning milk produces butter, and as twisting a nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife." Against this backdrop, verse 32 serves as a preventative measure: if one has already initiated a path toward folly, pride, or evil, the immediate and best response is silence and self-restraint to prevent the escalation that Agur illustrates in verse 33. The context underscores the dangers of pride, anger, and unchecked intentions leading to greater harm and conflict.

Proverbs 30 32 Word analysis

• If (כִּי־): This acts as a conditional particle, setting up a hypothetical situation or premise. It introduces a specific condition for the advice that follows, emphasizing that the counsel is relevant if the stated actions have occurred.
• you have acted foolishly (נָבַלְתָּ nāvalʹtā): From the Hebrew root naval (נָבַל), which implies moral senselessness, degradation, or being despicable, not just simple error. It carries a connotation of impious or contemptible behavior. This word describes an action stemming from a morally deficient or degenerate state, often related to the concept of the "fool" who denies God (Ps 14:1).
• in rising up (בְהִתְנַשֵּׂא bəhitnassē): This word is from the root nasa (נשׂא), meaning "to lift, carry, bear." The Hitpa'el stem signifies a reflexive or reciprocal action, meaning "to exalt oneself," "to be puffed up," or "to behave arrogantly/proudly." It implies an unwarranted self-exaltation or aggressive self-assertion. It could refer to someone rising up in a quarrel, in defiance, or in pride.
• or if you have planned (וְאִם־זַמּוֹתָה va’im-zammōtāh): From the Hebrew root zamam (זמם), meaning "to devise," "to plot," "to purpose," "to plan." It often carries the negative connotation of scheming evil or malicious intent. This indicates a deliberate, premeditated internal decision to do wrong, beyond an impulsive action.
• evil (רָע ra‘): A common Hebrew term referring to something bad, wicked, harmful, disastrous, or morally corrupt. Here, it explicitly defines the nature of the plotted intention.
• put (לְשׂוּם ləśûm): From the root sîm (שׂוּם), meaning "to place," "to put," "to set." It implies an intentional action.
• your hand (יָ֥ד yād): The physical hand. The phrase "hand on the mouth" is a universal gesture.
• on your mouth (לְפֶה ləp̄eh): Refers to the physical mouth, the organ of speech.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "If you have acted foolishly in rising up": This phrase captures the sin of pride leading to or manifested in foolish, morally reprehensible actions. It's not merely a blunder, but a misguided elevation of self that results in debasing behavior or taking a morally indefensible stance. This could also imply initiating an argument or a confrontation from a position of arrogance.
• "or if you have planned evil": This addresses the internal, premeditated aspect of wrongdoing. It highlights the heart's malicious intent or design, emphasizing that the verse applies not only to actions taken in the open but also to hidden, wicked plots. This points to the danger of harboring evil thoughts or intentions, which, if unchecked, can lead to disastrous outcomes.
• "put your hand on your mouth": This is an idiomatic expression across cultures and throughout Scripture, universally understood as a gesture of silence, shame, awe, or restraint. In this context, it is an imperative call to self-control and humility. It means to cease speaking, to hold one's tongue, to refrain from further escalating the foolish or evil situation with words or actions, or perhaps to simply admit one's folly in silence rather than defending it. It's an act of recognizing a wrong course and ceasing from it before further damage is done.

Proverbs 30 32 Bonus section

The phrase "put your hand on your mouth" (יָ֥ד לְפֶה לְשׂוּם) appears in other parts of the Old Testament, such as Job 21:5 ("Look at me and be appalled; lay your hand over your mouth") and Job 40:4 ("Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth"). In Job's instances, the gesture denotes humble submission, speechless awe, or acknowledgment of one's inadequacy before divine power. In Proverbs 30:32, while also indicating submission (to wisdom or to the consequences of one's actions), it carries a stronger sense of ceasing to exacerbate an already poor situation. It's a pragmatic wisdom rooted in character development, acknowledging the potential for folly or evil and preemptively mitigating its harm through humble silence and restraint.

Proverbs 30 32 Commentary

Proverbs 30:32 offers direct, pragmatic wisdom concerning self-governance in moments of folly, pride, or malicious intent. Agur urges immediate self-restraint rather than deepening the misstep. If one's actions have already been foolish—rooted in moral decay—or marked by haughty self-exaltation, the best response is not to argue or double down, but to humble oneself. Similarly, if one has merely conceived a wicked plan, the instruction is to immediately shut it down—metaphorically, "put your hand on your mouth"—to prevent its outward manifestation. This is a call for preemptive self-correction, humility, and the control of speech and action before a bad situation escalates into strife, as described in the subsequent verse. It implies taking personal responsibility for one's errors or sinful intentions and choosing silence and cessation of harmful behavior.

For practical usage, this verse means:

• When you realize you've spoken foolishly or proudly, stop talking.
• If you've started to get angry or confrontational and realize it's rooted in pride, silence yourself.
• When tempted to plan or say something hurtful, refrain immediately.