Chapter Text
More Proverbs of Solomon
Summary
As snow in summer and rain in harvest, so honour is not fitting for a fool. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men who can give a reason. Proverbs address the meddler, the deceiver who says he is only jesting, and the talebearing tongue that fuels strife.
Meaning
The seemingly contradictory pair of proverbs about answering a fool reveals profound situational wisdom. Sometimes silence is best; other times a fool must be confronted. Discerning which response fits the moment is itself a mark of wisdom.
The observation that a sluggard considers himself wiser than seven reasonable men exposes the self-delusion at the heart of laziness. The sluggard always has a reason not to act and considers his excuses more persuasive than any counsel.
Background
Snow in summer was virtually unheard of in Israel's climate, making it a vivid image of something completely out of place, just as honour bestowed on a fool is grotesquely inappropriate.
The number seven in the phrase "seven men who can give a reason" signifies completeness, suggesting that no amount of wise counsel can penetrate the sluggard's self-satisfied delusion.
Chapter Outline
- vv. 1Hezekiah's Editors Preserve Solomon's Proverbs
- vv. 2-7The Glory and Conduct of Kings
- vv. 8-10Wisdom in Disputes and Confidences
- vv. 11-15The Power of Fitly Spoken Words
- vv. 16-20Restraint in Friendship and Speech
- vv. 21-22Kindness Toward Enemies
- vv. 23-28Self-Control and the Governed Spirit
Key Verses
“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.”— 25:2
A foundational proverb on the complementary roles of divine mystery and human inquiry, often cited in discussions of wisdom, science, and royal responsibility.
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”— 25:11
One of Scripture's most beloved images for the beauty and power of timely speech, frequently quoted in teachings on the tongue.
“If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:”— 25:21
Quoted directly by Paul in Romans 12:20, this verse establishes the Old Testament root of Jesus' command to love one's enemies.
“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”— 25:28
A vivid warning about the necessity of self-control, picturing the undisciplined soul as defenseless against every assault.
People & Places
People
- Solomon — The wise king of Israel credited as the author of these proverbs.
- Hezekiah — King of Judah whose scribes preserved and copied this second collection of Solomon's sayings.
Places
- Judah — The southern kingdom of Israel where Hezekiah reigned and these proverbs were transmitted.
Prophecy & Fulfillment
Verses 21-22 are explicitly cited by the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:20 as the ethical foundation for the Christian command to bless rather than curse one's enemies. The proverb anticipates the radical love-of-enemies teaching given by Jesus in Matthew 5:44, showing the seamless continuity between Old Testament wisdom and the gospel ethic. Solomon's image of 'coals of fire upon his head' foreshadows the convicting kindness that the New Testament identifies as God's own redemptive method (Romans 2:4).
Devotional
Proverbs 25 teaches that wisdom shows itself in small, daily restraints — knowing when to speak, when to withdraw, when to eat, when to forbear. A timely word becomes treasure; an unguarded spirit leaves the soul defenseless as a broken-down city.
Consider the relationships you carry today. Is there an enemy you could feed rather than fight? A neighbor whose house you visit too often? A complaint better debated face-to-face than broadcast?
True strength is not the absence of provocation but the presence of self-rule. Ask God for the patience that persuades princes and the soft tongue that breaks bone.
Literary Style
Hebrew wisdom poetry, structured as a collection of independent two-line proverbs employing parallelism, vivid simile ('like apples of gold,' 'as cold waters'), and 'better-than' comparative sayings. This second Solomonic collection favors extended metaphor drawn from court life, weather, and household experience.