Proverbs 17:27

“He that hath knowledge spareth his words, etc.] Or, “he that knows knowledge”f509; one that is very knowing, has a fund of knowledge in him, “spareth his words”; is generally a man of few words, he thinks much and says little; and though he may be communicative of his knowledge to proper persons, and at proper times, yet never speaks of it in a boasting and ostentatious way: or, he “restrains his words”f510; he puts a bridle on them; and suffers not himself to speak hastily and angrily, and in a reproachful manner, when he is provoked to it; [and] a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit; here is a various reading; the “Cetib” is rqw, “of a cool spirit”f511; in opposition to a warm…”

“Prudence of speech is commended as is an excellent or calm spirit, not excited to vain conversation. Next: Proverbs Chapter 18”

“Better, A man of calm (or noble) spirit is a man of understanding. return to 'Top of Page'”

“spareth: Pro 10:19, Pro 15:28; Jam 1:19, Jam 3:2 an excellent spirit: or, a cool spirit, Pro 16:32; Ecc 9:17; Jam 3:18 Proverbs 17:28”

“27 He that keepeth his words to himself hath knowledge, And the cool of temper is a man of understanding. The first line here is a variation of Pro 10:19. The phrase ידע דּעת (here and at Dan 1:4) means to possess knowledge (novisse); more frequently it is בּינה ידע, e.g., Pro 4:1, where ידע has the inchoative sense of noscere. In 27b the Kerı̂ is יקר־רוח. Jerome translates it pretiosi spiritus, the Venet. τίμιος τὸ πνεῦμα. Rashi glosses יקר here, as at Sa1 3:1, by מנוע (thus to be read after codd.), retentus spiritu; most interpreters remark that the spirit here comes into view as expressing itself in words. It is scarcely correct to say that יקר דּברים could designate one who is sparing…”