Proverbs 18:6

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Proverbs 18:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “A fool`s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for stripes.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

A fool`s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for stripes.
Proverbs 18:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Proverbs 18

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
6A fool`s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for stripes.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“A fool’s lips enter into contention, etc.] That is, between others, when he has nothing to do with it; but he must be meddling, and make himself a party in the contention, which is an argument of his folly; he says things which occasion disputes, raise contentions among men, and provoke to wrath and anger. The Septuagint version is, “the lips of a fool lead him to evils”: for, as they lead him to contention and strife, the issue of that is confusion and every evil work; and his mouth calleth for strokes: as he stirs up and encourages contention, so he proceeds to blows, and excites others to them; from words he goes to blows, and, by the ill and provoking language of his mouth, gets many a…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The quarrelsome bring trouble on themselves. Their rash language ensnares them (Pro 6:2).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The first verse speaks of the immediate, the others of the remote, results of the “fool’s” temper. First, “contention,” then “strokes” or blows, then “destruction,” and last, “wounds.” Proverbs 18:8 Wounds - The word so rendered occurs here and in Proverbs 26:22 only. Others render it “dainties,” and take the verse to describe the avidity with which people swallow in tales of scandal. They find their way to the innermost recesses of man’s nature. return to 'Top of Page'”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“fool's: Pro 12:16, Pro 13:10, Pro 14:16, Pro 16:27, Pro 16:28, Pro 17:14, Pro 20:3, Pro 27:3 his: Pro 14:3, Pro 19:19, Pro 22:24, Pro 22:25, Pro 25:24, Pro 29:9 Proverbs 18:7”
Read attributed excerpt →
Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“6 The lips of the fool engage in strife, And his mouth calleth for stripes. We may translate: the lips of the fool cause strife, for בּוא ב, to come with anything, e.g., Psa 66:13, is equivalent to bring it (to bring forward), as also: they engage in strife; as one says בּוא בדמים: to be engaged in bloodshed, Sa1 25:26. We prefer this intrant (ingerunt se), with Schultens and Fleischer. יבאוּ for תּבאנה, a synallage generis, to which, by means of a "self-deception of the language" (Fl.), the apparent masculine ending of such duals may have contributed. The stripes which the fool calleth for (קרא ל, like Pro 2:3) are such as he himself carries off, for it comes a verbis ad verbera. The lxx:…”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Sources and verification