Proverbs 26:4
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, 1 or you will become like him. 1
Unlocked Literal Bible
In The King James Version
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
In Context
3A whip is for the horse, a bridle is for the donkey 1 and a rod is for the back of fools. 1
5Answer a fool and join in on his folly, 1 so he will not become wise in his own eyes. 1
Cross References
Judges 12:1A call went out to the men of Ephraim; they passed through Zaphon and said to Jephthah, “Why did you pass through to fight against the people of Ammon and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house down over you.”
1 Kings 12:14He spoke to them following the advice of the young men; he said, “My father burdened you with a heavy yoke, but I will add to your yoke. My father punished you with whips, but I will punish you with scorpions.”
2 Kings 14:8Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us meet each other face to face in battle.”
Proverbs 26:5Answer a fool and join in on his folly, 1 so he will not become wise in his own eyes. 1
1 Peter 2:21For it is to this that you were called, because Christ also suffered for you. He left an example for you to follow in his steps. 1
Jude 1:9But even Michael the archangel, when he was arguing with the devil and disputing with him about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous judgment against him. Instead he said, “May the Lord rebuke you!”
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 26:4
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. Here, 1. Wicked men are compared to the horse and the ass, so brutish are they, so unreasonable, so unruly, and not to be governed but by force or fear, so low has sin sunk men, so much below themselves. Man indeed is born like the wild ass's colt, but as some by the grace of God are changed, and become rational, so others by custom in sin are hardened, and become more and more sottish, as the horse and the mule, Ps. xxxii. 9 . 2.… Read the whole commentary →