Proverbs 26:7

7 A fool can use a proverb about as well as crippled people can use their legs.

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 Give a silly answer to a silly question, and the one who asked it will realize that he's not as smart as he thinks.

6 If you let a fool deliver a message, you might as well cut off your own feet; you are asking for trouble.

7 A fool can use a proverb about as well as crippled people can use their legs.

8 Praising someone who is stupid makes as much sense as tying a stone in a sling.

9 A fool quoting a wise saying reminds you of a drunk trying to pick a thorn out of his hand.