Proverbs 26:3
A whip is for the horse, a bridle is for the donkey 1 and a rod is for the back of fools. 1
Unlocked Literal 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
4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, 1 or you will become like him. 1
Cross References
Judges 8:5He said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”
Proverbs 10:13Wisdom is found on the lips of a discerning person, 1 but a rod is for the back of the one who has no sense. 1
Proverbs 19:25Strike a mocker, and the naive person will become prudent; 1 discipline one who is discerning, and he will gain knowledge. 1
Proverbs 27:22Even if you crush a fool with the pestle—along with the grain— 1 yet his foolishness will not leave him. 1
2 Corinthians 10:6And we are getting 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 →