Proverbs 26:4
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like unto him.
Updated King James Version
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 fool's back.
5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Cross References
Judges 12:1And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passed you over to fight against the children of Ammon, and did not call us to go with you? we will burn yours house upon you with fire.
1 Kings 12:14And spoke to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also 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 us look one another in the face.
Proverbs 26:5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
1 Peter 2:21For even hereunto were all of you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that all of you should follow his steps:
Jude 1:9Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, 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 →