Proverbs 17:28 BSB — MannaFest

Proverbs 17:28

Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent.

KJV

Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

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Commentary

3 voices

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

Even a fool - He is counted wise as to that particular. He may know that he cannot speak well, and he has sense enough to keep from speaking. He is, as to that particular, a wise fool. A man may be golden-mouthed and silver-tongued in eloquence; but to know when and where to speak and to be silent, is better than diamonds. But who that thinks he can speak well can refrain from speaking? His tongue has no rest.

Desert Fathers

The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks (500)

They said of Agatho that for three years he kept a stone in his mouth in order to teach himself silence.

The record, by era

The Medieval Church1 voice

Gregory the Dialogist

Morals on the Book of Job 11.35 (604)

As in a house, when the door is shut, it is not known what members there are hidden within, so, generally speaking, if a fool hold his peace, it is hidden whether he be wise or foolish, only, however, if no other works come to light, which may speak the mind even of one that is silent. For this reason the holy man, seeing that his friends were anxious to appear what they were not, charged them to hold their peace, that they might not appear what they were.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

8 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
גַּ֤ם	gam	also	H1571 →
אֱוִ֣יל	'e.Vil	a fool	H191 →
מַ֭חֲרִישׁ	Ma.cha.rish	[who] keeps silent	H2790 →
חָכָ֣ם	cha.Kham	wise	H2450 →
יֵחָשֵׁ֑ב	ye.cha.Shev	he is considered	H2803 →
אֹטֵ֖ם	'o.Tem	[who] shuts	H331 →
שְׂפָתָ֣יו	se.fa.Tav	lips his	H8193 →
נָבֽוֹן׃	na.Von	discerning	H995 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Ecclesiastes 5:3
As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words.
leads to
- Proverbs 15:2
  The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- Proverbs 10:19
  When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
- Ecclesiastes 10:12–14
  The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
Through
Ecclesiastes 10:14
Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
leads to
- Ecclesiastes 5:3
  As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words.
  Reached by 3 independent paths from here.
Through
Proverbs 15:2
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.
leads to
- Proverbs 13:16
  Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- Proverbs 12:23
  A shrewd man keeps his knowledge to himself, but a foolish heart proclaims its folly.
- Proverbs 15:28
  The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil.
Through
Ecclesiastes 10:3
Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
leads to
- Proverbs 18:2
  A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.