Proverbs 29:20
in Proverbs 29Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
KJV
Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
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This verse in Proverbs 29
Commentary
5 notes on this verseIn all things be "quick to listen and slow to speak" lest the remark of Solomon be fulfilled in you: "If you see a man too ready of speech, know that a fool has more hope than he." And never dare to teach someone what you have not practiced yourself.
This site's exposition
A servant cannot be corrected by words alone
on Proverbs 29:19-21
"A servant cannot be corrected by words alone; though he understands, he will not respond," so the resistance is willful. Verse 20 ranks reckless speech below plain foolishness, since a fool may yet be taught while a hasty tongue outruns correction. Verse 21 closes with a warning against indulgence.
This site's exposition
a man who speaks in haste
Cassian joins the verse to the counsel to be quick to listen and slow to speak. He adds that a man should never teach what he has not practiced. There is more hope for a fool.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
Do you see a man quick to speak, etc. Indeed, stupidity is a grave vice, but verbosity is not lighter. For it often happens that a dull person, even one ignorant of letters, more quickly accepts the words of salutary reproof than one who, endowed …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words,....
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| חָזִ֗יתָ | chazita | do you see? | H2372 → | 55 times |
| אִ֭ישׁ | ʾish | anyone | H376 → | 1663 times |
| אָ֣ץ | ʾatz | hasty | H213 → | 10 times |
| בִּדְבָרָ֑יו | bidvarav | in words his | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| תִּקְוָ֖ה | tikvah | hope | H8615 → | 34 times |
| לִכְסִ֣יל | likhsil | [belongs] to a fool | H3684 → | 70 times |
| מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ | mimenu | more than him | H4480 → | 1188 times |
חָזִ֗יתָdo you see?
chazitaH2372 →55 times
אִ֭ישׁanyone
ʾishH376 →1663 times
אָ֣ץhasty
ʾatzH213 →10 times
בִּדְבָרָ֑יוin words his
bidvaravH1697 →1440 times
תִּקְוָ֖הhope
tikvahH8615 →34 times
לִכְסִ֣יל[belongs] to a fool
likhsilH3684 →70 times
מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃more than him
mimenuH4480 →1188 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 10:19
When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 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 18:13
He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.
- Proverbs 10:19
Through
Proverbs 29:11A fool vents all his anger, but a wise man holds it back.
it leads to
- Proverbs 19:11
A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 19:11
Through
Ecclesiastes 5:2Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God. After all, God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your…
it leads to
- Matthew 6:7
And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard.
- Matthew 6:7
Through
Proverbs 14:29A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
it leads to
- James 1:19
My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
- James 1:19
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; John Cassian, CONFERENCE 14:9; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.