Proverbs 14:3

3 By the mouth of a fool comes ¹a rod for his back,^{[a] 2}but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

Proverbs 14:3 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 14:3

In the mouth of the foolish [is] a rod of pride
A proud tongue, or a tongue speaking proud and haughty things; with which foolish or wicked men smite others and wound and hurt their reputation and credit, and in the issue hurt themselves also; their tongue is not only a rod to others, but a scourge to themselves, or is the cause of evil coming upon them; such was the tongue of Pharaoh, as Jarchi on the place observes, ( Exodus 5:2 ) ; and of those the psalmist speaks of, ( Psalms 73:9 ) ; and particularly of antichrist, whose mouth is opened in blasphemies against God, and his tabernacle, and his saints, ( Revelation 13:5 Revelation 13:6 ) ; but the lips of the wise shall preserve them;
from speaking such proud and haughty things against God and men; or from being hurt by the tongues of men or their own; yea, what coaxes out of their mouth is confounding and destructive to their enemies, ( Revelation 11:5 ) .

Proverbs 14:3 In-Context

1 The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.

2 Whoever walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is devious in his ways despises him.

3 By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.

5 A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.

Cross References

• 1. [Jeremiah 18:18]
• 2. Proverbs 12:6

Footnotes

• [a]. Or In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride