Proverbs 26:18

18 Suppose a crazy person shoots flaming arrows that can kill.

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 person who doesn't want to work is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who give careful answers.
17 Don't get mixed up in someone else's fight as you are passing by. That's like picking a dog up by its ears.
18 Suppose a crazy person shoots flaming arrows that can kill.
19 A man who lies to his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!" is just like that person.
20 If you don't have wood, your fire goes out. If you don't talk about others, arguing dies down.
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