Proverbs 25:15
in Proverbs 25Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
KJV
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
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This verse in Proverbs 25
Commentary
5 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone pairs patience with gentleness against a ruler's resistance, and the bone image is the proverb's surprise, the softest instrument breaking what force could not. Bridges reads the verse alongside 15:1's soft answer turning away wrath, both proverbs teaching that persistence and gentleness together move even hard, powerful men.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
By patience, a ruler shall be pacified, etc. Although you have offended the Lord by sinning, yet you can merit his clemency if you bear adversities imposed on you for your sins with patience, and with humble satisfaction render the hardness of your former stubbornness.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A soft tongue breaketh the bone - This is similar to another proverb on the same subject: “A soft answer turneth away wrath.” An angry word does nothing but mischief.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
A soft tongue - Winning and gentle speech does what it seems at first least capable of doing; it overcomes obstacles which are as bones that the strongest jaws would fail to crush.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
Clouds and wind, etc. When there is a false hope—when the heavens thicken with clouds and the wind blows—people hope that it will rain. Now if it does not rain, they are troubled and their eyes languish.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| בְּאֹ֣רֶךְ | beorekh | by length of | H753 → | 95 times |
| אַ֭פַּיִם | ʾapayim | anger<s> | H639 → | 276 times |
| יְפֻתֶּ֣ה | yefuteh | he will be persuaded | H6601 → | 28 times |
| קָצִ֑ין | katzin | a ruler | H7101 → | |
| וְלָשׁ֥וֹן | velashon | and a tongue | H3956 → | 117 times |
| רַ֝כָּ֗ה | rakah | soft | H7390 → | 16 times |
| תִּשְׁבָּר־ | tishbor- | it will break | H7665 → | 147 times |
| גָּֽרֶם׃ | garem | bone | H1634 → |
בְּאֹ֣רֶךְby length of
beorekhH753 →95 times
אַ֭פַּיִםanger<s>
ʾapayimH639 →276 times
יְפֻתֶּ֣הhe will be persuaded
yefutehH6601 →28 times
קָצִ֑יןa ruler
katzinH7101 →
וְלָשׁ֥וֹןand a tongue
velashonH3956 →117 times
רַ֝כָּ֗הsoft
rakahH7390 →16 times
תִּשְׁבָּר־it will break
tishbor-H7665 →147 times
גָּֽרֶם׃bone
garemH1634 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 15:1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
it leads to
- Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.
- Proverbs 15:18
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.
- Proverbs 29:22
An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.
- Proverbs 28:25
A greedy man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.
- Judges 8:1–3
Then the men of Ephraim said to Gideon, “Why have you done this to us? Why did you fail to call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they contended with him…
- Proverbs 10:12
Through
Ecclesiastes 10:4If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
it leads to
- Ecclesiastes 8:3
Do not hasten to leave his presence, and do not persist in a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases.
- 1 Samuel 25:24–44
She fell at his feet and said, “My lord, may the blame be on me alone, but please let your servant speak to you; hear the words of your servant.
- Ecclesiastes 8:3
Through
Proverbs 16:14The wrath of a king is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
it leads to
- Proverbs 20:2
The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.
- Proverbs 20:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.