Proverbs 26:18

18 Like a madman who shoots flaming arrows, arrows, and death,

Proverbs 26:18 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 26:18

As a mad [man], who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death.
] Or the instruments of death, as Aben Ezra; or the sharp arrows of death, as the Targum and Syriac version; who casts firebrands into the houses and barns of his neighbours, to consume them; or arrows at their persons and cattle, to destroy them; or any other instruments of death, which none but a mad man, or one wickedly mad, would do. Or, "as one that makes himself mad" ^F5; that feigns himself mad, and, under colour of this, does mischief to his neighbour's person and property: or, "as one that hides himself" ^F6; that casts firebrands, arrows, and other deadly things, in a private way, so as not to be seen, and that it may not be known from whence they come: or, "as one that wearies himself" {g}, so Jarchi; in doing mischief in such a way. The word in the Arabic language signifies to play and be in sport; and so it means one that does these things in sport, as it is a sport to a fool to do mischief; which sense agrees with what follows.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F5 (hlhltmk) "ut se habet qui iunsanum ne simulat", Piscator; "ut qui se insanire fingit", Cocceius.
F6 "Sicut abscondit se", Pagninus, Mercerus, Gejerus.
F7 "Ut sese fatigat", Tigurine version.

Proverbs 26:18 In-Context

16 A lazy person thinks he is wiser than seven people who give a sensible answer.

17 [Like] grabbing a dog by the ears, [so] is a bystander who gets involved in someone else's quarrel.

18 Like a madman who shoots flaming arrows, arrows, and death,

19 so is the person who tricks his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!"

20 Without wood a fire goes out, and without gossip a quarrel dies down.