Proverbs 26:4
Do not answer a dullard, according to his folly, lest, even thou thyself, become like him;
The Emphasised Bible by J. B. Rotherham
In The King James Version
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
In Context
3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of dullards.
5Answer a dullard according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
Cross References
Judges 12:1And the men of Ephraim were called together, and passed over northward,—and said unto Jephthah—Wherefore didst thou pass over to do battle with the sons of Ammon, and, for us, didst not call, to go with thee? Thy house, will we consume over thee with fire.
1 Kings 12:14and spake unto them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father, made your yoke heavy, but, I, will add unto your yoke,—My father, chastised you, with whips, but, I, will chastise you, with scorpions.
2 Kings 14:8Then, sent Amaziah messengers unto Jehoash son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying,—Come now, let us look one another in the face.
Proverbs 26:5Answer a dullard according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
1 Peter 2:21For, hereunto, have ye been called; because, Christ also, suffered in your behalf, unto you, leaving behind a pattern, that ye might follow in his steps:
Jude 1:9Whereas, Michael, the chief-messenger, when, with the adversary, disputing, he was reasoning about the body of Moses, durst not impose on him a defamatory sentence, but said—The Lord rebuke thee!
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 →