Proverbs 26:4
Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.
World English Bible British
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 for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!
5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Cross References
Judges 12:1The men of Ephraim were gathered together, and passed northward; and they said to Jephthah, “Why did you pass over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didn’t call us to go with you? We will burn your house around you with fire!”
1 Kings 12:14and spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.”
2 Kings 14:8Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let’s look one another in the face.”
Proverbs 26:5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
1 Peter 2:21For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps,
Jude 1:9But Michael, the archangel, when contending with the devil and arguing about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him an abusive condemnation, but 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 →