Proverbs 29:11
in Proverbs 29A fool vents all his anger, but a wise man holds it back.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
A fool uttereth all his anger; But a wise man keepeth it back and stilleth it.
KJV
A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
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This verse in Proverbs 29
Commentary
8 notes on this verseLet the impatient hear what is said again through Solomon; A fool uttereth all his mind, but a wise man putteth it off, and reserves it until afterwards. For one is so driven by the impulse of impatience as to utter forth the whole mind, which the perturbation within throws out the more quickly for this reason, that no discipline of wisdom fences it round. But the wise man puts it off, and reserves it till afterwards.
This site's exposition
A fool vents all his anger
on Proverbs 29:11-13
"A fool vents all his anger, but a wise man holds it back" contrasts the man who pours out everything with the one who restrains. Verse 12 states a principle of leadership: "If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials will be wicked."
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
A commentator
John CassianThe First Conference of Abbot Joseph, Chapter 27 · Written before 435.
proposed
We ought then to restrain every movement of anger and moderate it under the direction of discretion, that we may not by blind rage be hurried into that which is condemned by Solomon: "The wicked man expends all his anger, but the wise man dispenses it bit by bit," i.e., a fool is inflamed by the passion of his anger to avenge himself; but a wise man, by the ripeness of his counsel and moderation little by little diminishes it, and gets rid of it.
The Medieval Church2 voices
But the wise man defers and reserves it for the future. For when harmed, he does not desire to avenge himself at present, because even while suffering, he chooses to endure, yet he does not ignore that everything will be avenged in the final judgment. …
The fool utters all his spirit. Driven by impatience, the whole spirit is uttered outwardly. It is thus more quickly expelled by disturbance because no inner discipline of wisdom restrains it.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
A fool uttereth all his mind,.... At once; tells all he knows, all that is in his breast; whatever he thinks, and all that he intends to do; what or whom he loves or hates.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Mind - The Hebrew word is used sometimes for “mind” or “reason,” sometimes for “passion,” or “wrath.” The reticence commended would include both; but the verb “keepeth it in” (rendered “stilleth,” in Psa 65:7) is slightly in favor of the second of the two senses.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A fool uttereth all his mind - A man should be careful to keep his own secret, and never tell his whole mind upon any subject, while there are other opinions yet to be delivered; else, if he speak again, he must go over his old ground; and as he brings out nothing new, he injures his former argument.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
seek his soul [This is] an expression of love, and it appears that it is so, as David said to Abiathar (I Sam.:23): “for he who seeks my soul seeks your soul.” He who will deal kindly with me will deal kindly with you.
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. 4 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
7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| ר֭וּחוֹ | rucho | spirit his | H7307 → | 378 times |
| יוֹצִ֣יא | yotzi' | he sends forth | H3318 → | 1067 times |
| כְסִ֑יל | khesil | a fool | H3684 → | 70 times |
| וְ֝חָכָ֗ם | vechakham | and a wise [person] | H2450 → | 138 times |
| בְּאָח֥וֹר | beachor | in backwards | H268 → | |
| יְשַׁבְּחֶֽנָּה׃ | yeshabbechenah | he calms it | H7623 → |
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
ר֭וּחוֹspirit his
ruchoH7307 →378 times
יוֹצִ֣יאhe sends forth
yotzi'H3318 →1067 times
כְסִ֑ילa fool
khesilH3684 →70 times
וְ֝חָכָ֗םand a wise [person]
vechakhamH2450 →138 times
בְּאָח֥וֹרin backwards
beachorH268 →
יְשַׁבְּחֶֽנָּה׃he calms it
yeshabbechenahH7623 →
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 19:11A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
it leads to
- James 1:19
My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 16:32
He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.
- Proverbs 14:29
A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
- Colossians 3:12–13
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
- Proverbs 15:18
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.
- James 1:19
Through
Micah 7:5Do not rely on a friend; do not trust in a companion. Seal the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 9:4
“Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not trust any brother, for every brother deals craftily, and every friend spreads slander.
- Psalms 118:8–9
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.
- Matthew 10:16
Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
- Jeremiah 9:4
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; Gregory the Dialogist, Pastoral Rule, Part 3, Chapter 9; John Cassian, The First Conference of Abbot Joseph, Chapter 27; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.