Proverbs 29:11

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Proverbs 29:11 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “A fool uttereth all his anger; But a wise man keepeth it back and stilleth it.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

A fool uttereth all his anger; But a wise man keepeth it back and stilleth it.
Proverbs 29:11 — American Standard Version

Context — Proverbs 29

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
11A fool uttereth all his anger; But a wise man keepeth it back and stilleth it.

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 uttereth all his mind, etc.] At once; tells all he knows, all that is in his breast; whatever he thinks, and all that he intends to do; what or whom he loves or hates. Or, “a fool brings out all his wrath”; so the Targum, Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions: he cannot restrain it, nor hide it; it breaks out at once, even all of it, and is soon known, as in (<201216>Proverbs 12:16); but a wise [man] keepeth it in till afterwards; reserves his mind, and thoughts, and designs, to himself; and does not discover them until a proper opportunity offers, when to disclose them is most to advantage; or he restrains his wrath and anger, defers showing it to a proper time, when it may answer…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“(Compare Pro 12:16; Pro 16:32). mind--or, "spirit," for anger or any ill passion which the righteous restrain.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Mind - The Hebrew word is used sometimes for “mind” or “reason,” sometimes for “passion,” or “wrath.” The reticence commended would include both; but the verb “keepeth it in” (rendered “stilleth,” in Psalms 65:7) is slightly in favor of the second of the two senses. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“29:11 Wise people learn to control their emotions; they remain calm even under stress.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Pro 12:16, Pro 12:23, Pro 14:33; Jdg 16:17; Amo 5:13; Mic 7:5 Proverbs 29:12”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“11 All his wrath the fool poureth out; But the wise man husheth it up in the background. That רוּחו is not meant here of his spirit (Luther) in the sense of quaecunque in mente habet (thus e.g., Fleischer) the contrast shows, for ישׁבּחנּה does not signify cohibet, for which יחשׁכנּה (lxx ταμιεύεται) would be the proper word: רוּח thus is not here used of passionate emotion, such as at Pro 16:31; Isa 25:4; Isa 33:11. שׁבּח is not here equivalent to Arab. sabbah, αἰνεῖν (Imman., Venet., and Heidenheim), which does not supply an admissible sense, but is equivalent to Arab. sabbakh, to quiet (Ahron b. Josef: קטפיאון = καταπαύειν), the former going back to the root-idea of extending…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification