Proverbs 12:16
in Proverbs 12A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
A fool’s vexation is presently known; But a prudent man concealeth shame.
KJV
A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
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This verse in Proverbs 12
Commentary
7 notes on this verseThe fool immediately shows his anger, etc. He who desires to avenge himself in the present is a fool; but he who disregards an injury for the sake of the Lord is wise. Another translation of this verse says, the fool immediately pronounces his anger, …
This site's exposition
An evil man is trapped by his rebellious speech
on Proverbs 12:13-16
“An evil man is trapped by his rebellious speech,” but the righteous escapes, and in verse 14 speech fills a man with good. The fool's way is “right in his own eyes,” but “a wise man listens to counsel,” wise for his willingness to be corrected.
This site's exposition
A fool’s anger is known at once
The fool shows his anger the moment he feels it. Adam Clarke sets beside it the English proverb, a fool's bolt is soon shot. The prudent man overlooks the insult, and the Hebrew says he covers it.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
A commentator
Desert FathersThe Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks · Written before 500.
proposed
The monks praised a brother to Antony. Antony went to him and tested him to see if he could endure being insulted. When he saw that he could not bear it, he said to him, 'You are like a house with a highly decorated outside, …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
A fool's wrath is presently known,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A fool’s wrath is presently known - We have a proverb very like this, and it will serve for illustration: - A fool’s bolt is soon shot. A weak-minded man has no self-government; he is easily angered, and generally speaks whatever comes first to his mind.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The “fool” cannot restrain his wrath; it rushes on “presently” (as in the margin, on the same day, however, uselessly. The prudent man knows that to utter his indignation at reproach and shame will but lead to a fresh attack, and takes refuge in reticence.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
A fool’s anger is known within the day On the day he is angry, on that very day he lets his anger be known, for he starts a quarrel and berates his fellow in public, and his anger has no restraint.
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. 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אֱוִ֗יל | ʾevil | a fool | H191 → | 26 times |
| בַּ֭יּוֹם | baiyom | on the day | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| יִוָּדַ֣ע | yivada' | it is known | H3045 → | 945 times |
| כַּעְס֑וֹ | ka'so | anger his | H3708 → | 25 times |
| וְכֹסֶ֖ה | vekhoseh | and [one who] conceals | H3680 → | 152 times |
| קָל֣וֹן | kalon | shame | H7036 → | 17 times |
| עָרֽוּם׃ | ʾarum | [is] sensible | H6175 → | 11 times |
אֱוִ֗ילa fool
ʾevilH191 →26 times
בַּ֭יּוֹםon the day
baiyomH3117 →2304 times
יִוָּדַ֣עit is known
yivada'H3045 →945 times
כַּעְס֑וֹanger his
ka'soH3708 →25 times
וְכֹסֶ֖הand [one who] conceals
vekhosehH3680 →152 times
קָל֣וֹןshame
kalonH7036 →17 times
עָרֽוּם׃[is] sensible
ʾarumH6175 →11 times
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
James 1:19My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
it leads to
- Proverbs 17:27
A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
- Proverbs 21:23
He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
- Proverbs 14:29
A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
- Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
- Proverbs 18:13
He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.
- Proverbs 17:27
Through
Proverbs 10:12Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 4:8
Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 13:4–7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
- Proverbs 17:9
Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
- 1 Peter 4:8
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
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; Desert Fathers, The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.