Proverbs 26:5
Answer a kesil (fool) according to his folly, 1 lest he be chacham in his own eyes. 1
Orthodox Jewish Bible
In The King James Version
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
In Context
4Answer not a kesil (fool) according to his folly, 1 lest thou also be like unto him. 1
Cross References
Proverbs 3:7Be not chacham in thine own eyes; 1 fear Hashem, and depart from rah. 1
Proverbs 26:12Seest thou an ish chacham in his own eyes? 1 There is more tikvah (hope) for a kesil (fool) than for him. 1
Isaiah 5:21Hoy unto them that are chachamim in their own eyes, 1 and clever in their own sight! 1
Matthew 15:1Then Perushim and Sofrim (rabbonim) from Yerushalayim approach Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, saying,
Matthew 21:23And after Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach had gone into the Beis Hamikdash, while he was bringing forth his torah, the Rashei Hakohanim and the Zekenim of the people approached him, saying, By what samchut (authority) do you do these things? And who granted you this samchut?
Luke 12:13And someone out of the multitude said to him, Rabbi, speak to my ach to share with me the yerushah (inheritance).
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 26:5-6
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. See here the noble security of the scripture-style, which seems to contradict itself, but really does not. Wise men have need to be directed how to deal with fools; and they have never more need of wisdom than in dealing with such, to know when to keep silence and when to speak, for there may be a time for both. 1. In some cases a wise man will not set his wit to… Read the whole commentary →