Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Proverbs 26:5 belongs to the collection of Solomonic proverbs in chapters 25-29, brought together in Hezekiah's time, about three hundred years after Solomon. The fool is a wicked person who acts against wisdom from above and expresses folly in speech or writing.
The verse commands sometimes answering a fool in a way suited to his folly, so as to expose his folly and keep him from becoming conceited and wise in his own conceit. Such answering means correcting the fool by showing his mistake and teaching the better way. It is done by saying the right word at the right time to expose his folly and untruth to others and even possibly to himself. It uses words just within his comprehension rather than teaching beyond his reach. It is frank and thorough, so that he may see his folly, humble himself, and reform.
The answering must meet and repel the folly without imitating its manner, descending to its level, or partaking of it. It does not mean replying with the same evil temper or behaving like the fool, but responding so his folly is clear. It does not mean replying with the same evil, bantering spirit, nor bandying words with him and descending to his level of coarse anger and vile abuse. The contrary counsel in the preceding verse forbids answering in a compromising way that shares the folly instead of leading the fool to forsake it. The different reasons given show that the two instructions apply under different circumstances rather than contradicting each other. The verse warns against letting truth or justice be overrun while standing by for convenience.
Job's reply to his wife's counsel to curse God, affirming that people must receive adversity as well as good from God, illustrates this kind of answer. Christ's replies to challengers, scribes, and Pharisees that silenced and opposed their folly without becoming like them likewise illustrate it. Moses answering the Israelites' foolish complaint in anger and becoming too much like them shows the forbidden way to answer.
Humor and sharp wit can serve as timely reproof that exposes and checks foolish behavior, as when a young woman's ironic request that a profane officer swear in Hebrew made him recognize the shamefulness of his conduct and stop. A scoffer's claim that Advent preaching is recent is met on its own terms by pointing out that Enoch long ago preached the Lord's coming and judgment. The claim that it is easier to close saloons one day a week than seven days is exposed as folly by the answer that total suppression is easier than partial restriction, as with putting a conflagration entirely out rather than partly out, killing or imprisoning a wild beast rather than letting him run wild six days, a man shutting off liquor entirely rather than indulging six days, and likewise a community. A review written in a style suited to the folly it opposes fits this counsel.
Proverbs 26:5 belongs to the collection of Solomonic proverbs in chapters 25-29, brought together in Hezekiah's time, about three hundred years after Solomon. The fool is a wicked person who acts against wisdom from above and expresses folly in speech or writing.
The verse commands sometimes answering a fool in a way suited to his folly, so as to expose his folly and keep him from becoming conceited and wise in his own conceit. Such answering means correcting the fool by showing his mistake and teaching the better way. It is done by saying the right word at the right time to expose his folly and untruth to others and even possibly to himself. It uses words just within his comprehension rather than teaching beyond his reach. It is frank and thorough, so that he may see his folly, humble himself, and reform.
The answering must meet and repel the folly without imitating its manner, descending to its level, or partaking of it. It does not mean replying with the same evil temper or behaving like the fool, but responding so his folly is clear. It does not mean replying with the same evil, bantering spirit, nor bandying words with him and descending to his level of coarse anger and vile abuse. The contrary counsel in the preceding verse forbids answering in a compromising way that shares the folly instead of leading the fool to forsake it. The different reasons given show that the two instructions apply under different circumstances rather than contradicting each other. The verse warns against letting truth or justice be overrun while standing by for convenience.
Job's reply to his wife's counsel to curse God, affirming that people must receive adversity as well as good from God, illustrates this kind of answer. Christ's replies to challengers, scribes, and Pharisees that silenced and opposed their folly without becoming like them likewise illustrate it. Moses answering the Israelites' foolish complaint in anger and becoming too much like them shows the forbidden way to answer.
Humor and sharp wit can serve as timely reproof that exposes and checks foolish behavior, as when a young woman's ironic request that a profane officer swear in Hebrew made him recognize the shamefulness of his conduct and stop. A scoffer's claim that Advent preaching is recent is met on its own terms by pointing out that Enoch long ago preached the Lord's coming and judgment. The claim that it is easier to close saloons one day a week than seven days is exposed as folly by the answer that total suppression is easier than partial restriction, as with putting a conflagration entirely out rather than partly out, killing or imprisoning a wild beast rather than letting him run wild six days, a man shutting off liquor entirely rather than indulging six days, and likewise a community. A review written in a style suited to the folly it opposes fits this counsel.