Proverbs 17:28

“Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise, etc.] Not only one that is sparing of his words, and is really a man of knowledge and understanding; but even a feel, if he is but silent, and does not betray his folly by his words, will be reckoned a wise man by those that do not know him; and, whatever fool he may be in other respects, yet in this he acts the wise part, that he holds his peace and says nothing; [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding; and keeps them shut, lest he should say anything rashly and hastily; a man that has so much command of himself as not to speak unadvisedly, through the heat of his own passions, and through the provocations…”

“Is esteemed - Or, “is” (simply). The maxim would imply that silence is in any case good. return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliographical Information Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on Proverbs 17". "Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnb/proverbs-17.html. 1870. StudyLight.org © 2001-2026 Powered by Lightspeed Technology”

“Pro 15:2; Job 13:5; Ecc 5:3, Ecc 10:3, Ecc 10:14 Next: Proverbs Chapter 18”

“Ver. 28 continues the same theme, the value of silence: Even a fool, when he keeps silence, is counted wise; When he shutteth his mouth, discreet. The subj. as well as the pred. of the first line avail for the second. אטם, obturare, occludere, usually of the closing the ear, is here transferred to the mouth. The Hiph. החרישׁ means mutum agere (cf. Arab. khrs, mutum esse), from חרשׁ, which, like κωφός, passes from the meaning surdus to that of mutus (Fl.). The words of Job 13:5, and also those of Alexander: si tacuisses sapiens mansisses, are applicable to fools. An Arab. proverb says, "silence is the covering of the stupid." In the epigrammatical hexameter, πᾶς τις ἀπαίδευτος…”