Proverbs 26:9

9 Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools.

Proverbs 26:9 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 26:9

[As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard
And he perceives it not; or being in his hand he makes an ill use of it, and hurts himself and others with it; so [is] a parable in the mouth of fools,
a proverbial sentence respecting religious matters; or a passage of holy Scripture which either he understands not, and has no spiritual perception of, any more than the drunkard has of the thorn in his hand; or which being used as a pun, or by way of jest, as it is the manner of some to pun upon or jest with the Scripture, hurts himself and others, wounds his own conscience, and ruins the souls of others; for it is dangerous meddling with edge tools, and hard to kick against the pricks; so to do is like a drunken man's handling thorns, which he does without judgment, and to his own prejudice and others. Gussetius ^F24 understands this of a fish hook coming up into the hand of a drunkard empty, without taking any thing by it, and so alike useless is what is said by a fool.

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FOOTNOTES:

F24 Ebr. Comment. p. 244.

Proverbs 26:9 In-Context

7 take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools.

8 He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory to a fool.

9 Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools.

10 All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nought.

11 As when a dog goes to his own vomit, and becomes abominable, so is fool who returns in his wickedness to his own sin. [There is a shame that brings sin: and there is a shame glory and grace.]

Footnotes

• [a]. Compare Heb.