Proverbs 15:23
in Proverbs 15A man takes joy in a fitting reply—and how good is a timely word!
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
A man hath joy in the answer of his mouth; And a word in due season, how good is it!
KJV
A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
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This verse in Proverbs 15
Commentary
5 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Probably, a special reference to debates in council Pro 15:22. They bring before us the special characteristic of the East, the delight in ready, improvised answers, solving difficulties, turning aside anger. Compare the effect on the scribe Mar 12:28.
This site's exposition
Plans fail for lack of counsel
on Proverbs 15:22-23
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed,” a proverb about planning whose advisers are valued for their honesty. “A man takes joy in a fitting reply,” and “how good is a timely word,” named good, its timing counted as part of its worth.
This site's exposition
A man takes joy in a fitting reply
Albert Barnes links the verse to the counsel of verse 22, where a fitting reply could settle a question among advisers. He points to the scribe of Mark 12:28, who saw that Jesus had answered well. A timely word turns away anger.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
A man rejoices in his mouth's sentence, etc. It is indeed human for each to rejoice in his sentence as though prudently uttered; but a true wise man carefully investigates not only the matters he speaks, but also the opportunity of place or time or …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth,....
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| שִׂמְחָ֣ה | simchah | joy | H8057 → | 94 times |
| לָ֭אִישׁ | laish | [belongs] to <the> person | H376 → | 1663 times |
| בְּמַעֲנֵה־ | bemaaneh- | in [the] answer of | H4617 → | 7 times |
| פִ֑יו | fiv | mouth his | H6310 → | 498 times |
| וְדָבָ֖ר | vedavar | and [is] a word | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| בְּעִתּ֣וֹ | beito | at appropriate time its | H6256 → | 296 times |
| מַה־ | mah- | how! | H4100 → | 752 times |
| טּֽוֹב׃ | tov | good | H2896 → | 538 times |
שִׂמְחָ֣הjoy
simchahH8057 →94 times
לָ֭אִישׁ[belongs] to <the> person
laishH376 →1663 times
בְּמַעֲנֵה־in [the] answer of
bemaaneh-H4617 →7 times
פִ֑יוmouth his
fivH6310 →498 times
וְדָבָ֖רand [is] a word
vedavarH1697 →1440 times
בְּעִתּ֣וֹat appropriate time its
beitoH6256 →296 times
מַה־how!
mah-H4100 →752 times
טּֽוֹב׃good
tovH2896 →538 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
Ephesians 4:29Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
it leads to
- Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
- Ecclesiastes 10:12
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
- Proverbs 15:7
The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the hearts of fools.
- Colossians 3:8–9
But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
- Colossians 4:6
Through
Isaiah 50:4The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of discipleship, to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
it leads to
- Luke 21:15
For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
- Jeremiah 1:9
Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
- John 7:15–17
The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man attain such learning without having studied?”
- Luke 21:15
Where this verse is studied
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; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.