Proverbs 15:1

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

1 A ¹gentle answer turns away wrath, But a ²harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 15:1 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 15:1

A soft answer turneth away wrath
Mild words, gentle expressions, delivered with kindness and tenderness, humility and submission; these will work upon a man's passions, weaken his resentments, and break and scatter the storm of wrath raised in his breast, just breaking forth in a very boisterous and blustering manner; so high winds are sometimes laid by soft showers. Thus the Ephraimites were pacified by Gideon's mild answer; and David by Abigail's very submissive and respectful address, ( Judges 8:1-3 ) ( 1 Samuel 25:25-32 ) ; but grievous words stir up anger;
such as are rough and menacing, scornful and sneering, reproachful and reviling, proud, haughty, and overbearing; like those of Jephthah to the Ephraimites; and of the Ephraimites to the Gileadites; and of Nabal to David's servants, concerning him; and of Rehoboam, who answered the people roughly: in all which instances anger was stirred up, and either were or like to have been attended with bad consequences, ( Judges 12:1-4 ) ( 1 Samuel 25:10 1 Samuel 25:11 1 Samuel 25:21 1 Samuel 25:22 ) ( 1 Kings 12:13 1 Kings 12:14 ) . Or a "word" causing, or rather expressing, "grief" ^F18; upbraiding others with being the cause of grief to them.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 (bue rbd) "verbum vel sermo doloris", Montanus, Vatablus, Michaelis; vid. Gussetius, p. 177.

Proverbs 15:1 In-Context

1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, But the mouth of fools spouts folly.

3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Watching the evil and the good.

4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.

5 A fool rejects his father's discipline, But he who regards reproof is sensible.

Cross References

• 1. Judges 8:1-3; Proverbs 15:18; Proverbs 25:15
• 2. 1 Samuel 25:10-13

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "painful"