Proverbs 26:9

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

---

FOOTNOTES:

F24 Ebr. Comment. p. 244.

Proverbs 26:9 In-Context

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.

10 Like an archer who wounds everybody is he who hires a passing fool or drunkard.

11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool that repeats his folly.