Proverbs 26:3
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
Berean Standard Bible
In The King James Version
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.
In Context
2Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
Cross References
Judges 8:5So Gideon said to the men of Succoth, “Please give my troops some bread, for they are exhausted, and I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”
Proverbs 10:13Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.
Proverbs 19:25Strike a mocker, and the simple will beware; rebuke the discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.
Proverbs 27:22Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle, yet his folly will not depart from him.
2 Corinthians 10:6And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, as soon as your obedience is complete.
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 26:3
2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. Here is, 1. The folly of passion. It makes men scatter causeless curses, wishing ill to others upon presumption that they are bad and have done ill, when either they mistake the person or misunderstand the fact, or they call evil good and good evil. Give honour to a fool, and he thunders out his anathemas against all that he is disgusted with, right or wrong. Great men, when wicked, think they have a privilege to keep… Read the whole commentary →