Proverbs 18:13

13 He who returns a word before he will hear, folly itself [belongs] to him as well as shame.

Proverbs 18:13 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 18:13

He that answereth a matter before he heareth [it]
Who is impatient, and cannot wait to hear it out, but breaks in upon the speaker before he has finished what he has to say; or is rash and precipitate, and returns an answer at once, without weighing and considering, and thoroughly understanding, what is said: it [is] folly and shame unto him;
his answer must be a foolish one, and bring shame and confusion upon him; men should be "swift to hear", and "slow to speak", ( James 1:9 ) .

Proverbs 18:13 In-Context

11 The wealth of the rich [is] {his strong city}, and like a wall, it is high in his imagination.

12 In the presence of destruction, the heart of a man will be haughty, but in the presence of honor, humble.

13 He who returns a word before he will hear, folly itself [belongs] to him as well as shame.

14 The spirit of a man will endure his sickness, but a broken spirit, who may bear it?

15 An intelligent {mind} will acquire knowledge, and the ear of the wise will seek knowledge.

Footnotes

• [a] Hebrew "and"