Proverbs 26:7

7 Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

Proverbs 26:7 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 26:7

The legs of the lame are not equal
Or as "the lifting up the legs by one that is lame" ^F13, to dance to a pipe or violin, is very unseemly, and does but the more expose his infirmity, and can give no pleasure to others, but causes derision and contempt; so [is] a parable in the mouth of fools;
an apophthegm, or sententious expression of his own, which he delivers out as a wise saying, but is lame and halts; it is not consistent with itself, but like the legs of a lame man, one higher than the other: or one of the proverbs of this book, or rather any passage of Scripture, in the mouth of a wicked man; or any religious discourse of his is very unsuitable, since his life and conversation do not agree with it; it is as disagreeable to hear such a man talk of religious affairs as it is to see a lame man dance; or whose legs imitate buckets at a well, where one goes up and another down, as Gussetius ^F14 interprets the word.

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FOOTNOTES:

F13 (hopm Myqwv wyld) "elevatio crurum a claudo facta", Gejerus, Michaelis.
F14 "Femora claudi imitantur situlas", Gussetius, p. 188. "situlas agunt crura ex claudio", Schultens; "instar binarum sitularum in puteo alternatium adscendentium ac descendentium", Gejerus.

Proverbs 26:7 In-Context

5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

7 Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

8 Like one who binds the stone in the sling is he who gives honor to a fool.

9 Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.