The fool’s talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.
Parallel Translations
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The fool’s talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.
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In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
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In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride; but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
Cross-references (18)
Passages linked to Proverbs 14:3 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Proverbs 12:6 The words of the wicked are about lying in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.
- James 3:5-6 So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest! And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna.
- Revelation 12:11 They overcame him because of the Lamb’s blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They didn’t love their life, even to death.
- Romans 10:9-10 that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation.
- Revelation 3:10 Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
- 1 Samuel 2:3 “Don’t keep talking so exceedingly proudly. Don’t let arrogance come out of your mouth, for Yahweh is a God of knowledge. By him actions are weighed.
- Job 5:21 You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, neither will you be afraid of destruction when it comes.
- Psalms 12:3 May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts,
- Psalms 52:1-2 Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man? God’s loving kindness endures continually. Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
- Psalms 57:4 My soul is among lions. I lie among those who are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
- Proverbs 18:6 A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
- Proverbs 21:24 The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name— he works in the arrogance of pride.
- Proverbs 22:8 He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
- Proverbs 28:25 One who is greedy stirs up strife; but one who trusts in Yahweh will prosper.
- Daniel 7:20 and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows.
- 2 Peter 2:18 For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who are indeed escaping from those who live in error;
- Psalms 31:18 Let the lying lips be mute, which speak against the righteous insolently, with pride and contempt.
- Revelation 15:5-6 After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. The seven angels who had the seven plagues came out, clothed with pure, bright linen, and wearing golden sashes around their breasts.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (20 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain His proud tongue shall cause him to be punished.
His proud tongue shall cause him to be punished.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Pro 14:3 In the mouth of the foolish [is]…
Pro 14:3 In the mouth of the foolish [is] a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
Ver. 3. In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride.] Wherewith he beats others, and lays about him like a madman, or rather like a mad dog he bites all he meets, and barks against God himself; till he procure the hate of God and men, and smart for his petulance, being beaten at length with his own rod, as the lion beats himself with his own tail.
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But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.] From the aspersion of false and foolish tongues. Their good names are oiled, so that evil reports will not stick to them. Dirt will stick upon a mud wall, not so upon marble. Or if they lie under some undeserved reproach for a season, either by a real or verbal apology they wade out of it, as the eclipsed moon by keeping her motion wades out of the shadow and recovers her splendour. {Isa 54:17}
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain A rod of pride: their proud and insolent speeches,…
A rod of pride: their proud and insolent speeches, as they are like a rod, offensive and injurious to others, so they make a rod for their own hacks, by provoking God and man against them; which sense seems most probable, both from the opposite clause, and by comparing this place with Pro 10:13; 26:3. For this phrase,
the rod of pride, it may be compared with other like phrases, as the foot of pride, Psa 36:11, the scourge of the tongue, Job 5:21, and the rod of the mouth, Isa 11:4.
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Shall preserve them, from that rod.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain See here, 1. A proud fool exposing himself. Where…
See here, 1. A proud fool exposing himself. Where there is pride in the heart, and no wisdom in the head to suppress it, it commonly shows itself in the words: In the mouth there is pride, proud boasting, proud censuring, proud scorning, proud commanding and giving law; this is the rod, or branch, of pride; the word is used only here and Isa 11:1. It grows from that root of bitterness which is in the heart; it is a rod from that stem. The root must be plucked up, or we cannot conquer this branch, or it is meant of a smiting beating rod, a rod of pride which strikes others. The proud man with his tongue lays about him and deals blows at pleasure, but it will in the end be a rod to himself; the proud man shall come under an ignominious correction by the words of his own mouth, not cut as a soldier, but caned as a servant; and herein he will be beaten with his own rod, Psa 64:8. 2. A humble wise man saving himself and consulting his own good: The lips of the wise shall preserve them from doing that mischief to others which proud men do with their tongues, and from bringing that mischief on themselves which haughty scorners are often involved in.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain In the mouth of the foolish is a rod…
In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride,.... A proud tongue, or a tongue speaking proud and haughty things; with which foolish or wicked men smite others and wound and hurt their reputation and credit, and in the issue hurt themselves also; their tongue is not only a rod to others, but a scourge to themselves, or is the cause of evil coming upon them; such was the tongue of Pharaoh, as Jarchi on the place observes, Exo 5:2; and of those the psalmist speaks of, Psa 73:9; and particularly of antichrist, whose mouth is opened in blasphemies against God, and his tabernacle, and his saints, Rev 13:5;
but the lips of the wise shall preserve them; from speaking such proud and haughty things against God and men; or from being hurt by the tongues of men or their own; yea, what coaxes out of their mouth is confounding and destructive to their enemies, Rev 11:5.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain A rod - His insolent speeches as they are…
A rod - His insolent speeches as they are like a rod, offensive to others, so, they make a rod for their own backs.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 3. The mouth of the foolish is a…
Verse 3. The mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride] The reproofs of such a person are ill-judged and ill-timed, and generally are conveyed in such language as renders them not only ineffectual, but displeasing, and even irritating.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Pro 14:3. In the mouth of the foolish is…
Pro 14:3. In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride — “Fools often bring upon themselves, by their ungoverned tongues, the correction due to their crimes,” and especially to their pride and arrogance; but the lips of the wise shall preserve them — From that rod. Wise men are careful of their words, that they may not offend, much more that they may not abuse, the meanest person, and hereby they remain in safety.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain A rod of pride - i. e., The pride…
A rod of pride - i. e., The pride shown in his speech is as a rod with which he strikes down others and himself.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Charles Bridges 1846 · Public Domain How many figures does the wise man employ to…
How many figures does the wise man employ to shew the destructive evils of the tongue! Here it is a rod Eze 7:10-11 ), a rod of pride. The rod in the mouth is often sharper than the rod in the hand. (Jer 18:18 .) Sometimes it strikes against God (Exo 5:2 . Psa 12:3-4 . 2Ki 19:10 ); sometimes it is "the rod of his anger" (Isa 10:5 ) against his people; permitted (Rev 13:5 ), yet restrained. (Psa 125:3 .) Always in the end is it the rod for the fool himself. (Psa 64:8 .) Yet when the heart is humbled, and filled with wisdom, the tongue becomes the preservative from imminent dangers (Pro 12:6 ), even from the threatened scourge of the rod of pride. (Job 5:21 . Psa 31:20 .)
Were this iron rod to rule the earth, who could tolerate the abodes of men? (Psa 57:4 ; Psa 120:5 .) But adored be the grace, which converts this unruly boasting member of unrighteousness, to be "an instrument of righteousness unto God!" (Rom 6:13 .)
Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (1846) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Pride. He chastiseth with haughtiness, and is ever quarrelling.
Pride. He chastiseth with haughtiness, and is ever quarrelling.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain rod of pride--that is, the punishment of pride, which…
rod of pride--that is, the punishment of pride, which they evince by their words. The words of the wise procure good to them.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 3. A rod (sceptre) of pride — Haughtiness is…
3. A rod (sceptre) of pride — Haughtiness is put for a rod. It seems to be implied that the rod will eventually be used for their own punishment.
But the lips of the wise shall preserve them — They are careful of their words, not to offend, much less to abuse, others, and hence remain in safety. Compare Pro_11:6; Pro_12:6; Pro_13:14.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 3. a rod of pride] This may mean either…
3. a rod of pride] This may mean either that he smites with his proud words as with a rod (comp. Isa_11:4, where however the Heb. word is different); or (preserving better the antithesis between the two clauses of the verse) that his own mouth furnishes “a rod for his pride” (R.V. marg.); his own words cause his humiliation. Instead of “rod,” however, we may render “shoot” (R.V. marg.): proud words spring out of his mouth like a sucker or branch (comp. Isa_11:1, the only other place in which the same Heb. word occurs).
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (3) In the mouth of the foolish (self-willed) is…
(3) In the mouth of the foolish (self-willed) is a rod of pride.—He has to smart for his ill-judged sayings; or, he punishes others with them. But this does not agree so well with what follows.
But the lips of the wise shall preserve them (the wise) from the difficulties into which the foolish come by their rash talk.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain In the mouth of the foolish is a rod…
In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride. rfjo (choter), "rod," or "shoot," is found also in Isa_11:1. From the mouth of the arrogant fool proceeds a growth of vaunting and conceit, accompanied with insolence towards others, for which he is often chastised. So the tongue is compared to a sword. (e.g. Psa_57:4 Psa_64:3; Rev_1:16) St. Gregory ("Mor. in Job.," 24) applies this sentence to haughty preachers, who are anxious to appear superior to other people, and study more to chide and reprove than to encourage; "they know how to smite sharply, but not to sympathize with humility." Septuagint, "From the mouth of fools cometh a staff of insolence." The lips of the wise shall preserve them the wise. (Pro_13:3) These do not abuse speech to insult and injure others; and their words tend to conciliate others, and promote peace and good will. (comp. Pro_12:6, Pro_12:18)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary 1892 · Public Domain Pro_14:3. Rod, or “sceptre.” Zöckler reads, “In the mouth…
CRITICAL NOTES.—
Pro_14:3. Rod, or “sceptre.” Zöckler reads, “In the mouth of a fool is a rod for his pride.” Stuart, “Haughtiness is a rod,” etc.
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Pro_14:5. Miller here translates, “He who witnesses things correctly, does not lie; but of a deceived witness the very breath is lies” (See his comments on the verse).
Pro_14:6. Rather, “The scorner has sought wisdom,” etc.
Pro_14:7. Stuart translates the latter clause, “for thou hast not discerned,” etc.; Miller, “and thou shalt not know,” etc.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF Pro_14:3
SPEECH A ROD
I. Speech is a rod because it is emblematic of power. A rod is an emblem of position and authority. It represents more than it is. Speech is a sign of man’s superiority to the animal creation. Words in themselves are not much, but they are mighty because of what they represent, viz., the soul of man. The sceptre of a king may not in itself be of much value, but it is of worth because of what it signifies.
II. Speech will be a man’s destruction or salvation according to his character. The mouth of the fool represents the soul of the fool. We have before noted the unwisdom and danger of him who is too proud to receive instruction (see chap. Pro_11:1, page 192; Pro_13:18, etc.) His proud boasting speech will by-and-by become the cause of his chastisement—a rod for his own back. And the godly wise speech of the wise will be the means of his preservation and honour (See on chap. Pro_12:5-8, page 255, Pro_14:17-19, page 274).
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
The fool’s rod of pride is his tongue, wherewith he assails and strikes others. But it recoils on himself. The instrument of punishment is called a rod, not a sword, to denote the contumely with which the proud shall be visited.—Fausset.
The rod in the mouth is often sharper than the rod in the hand (Jer_18:18). Sometimes it strikes against God (Exo_5:2; Psa_12:3-4; 2Ki_19:10); sometimes it is “the rod of His anger against His people” (Isa_10:5) permitted (Rev_13:5) yet restrained (Psa_125:3). Always in the end it is the rod for the fool himself (Psa_64:8).—Bridges.
The “mouth” is the great word in the Proverbs for our whole earthly agency. The word translated “rod” is the favourite emblem of sovereignty. A fool’s life-work or energy is his sovereignty, by which he would carve his way. But it is a “sceptre of pride.” His kingship is a notion of pride. But the “lips of the wise” do really win, and do really govern. They have a true sceptre which shall really guard them.—Miller.
The lips of the wise preserve them.
1. From doing wrong to others, in their loving mildness.
2. From suffering wrong from others, by a wary heedfulness.
3. From the rod of God’s anger, in a humble craving pardon for their errors. The former part of this verse St. Gregory applieth unto arrogant preachers, who desire more sharply to reprove their afflicted hearers, than sweetly to comfort them, for they study more how they may condemn evil things by blaming of them, than how they may commend good things by praising them. They always desire those things which, by fierce chiding, they may beat upon.—Jermin.
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary (gen. ed. Joseph S. Exell; Funk & Wagnalls, c. 1892) — public domain (pre-1929). A full-Bible homiletical/sermon-outline anthology covering 65 of 66 books (2 John is absent from the source module). Text from a community e-Sword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain v. 3. In the mouth of the foolish is…
v. 3. In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride, that is, he bears with himself the rod which will punish his pride, or his pride shows itself in speeches which hurt and injure others; but the lips of the wise shall preserve them, so that no word of folly is spoken by them to the injury of others, 10:13-14.
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 the mouth of ... the lips of
the mouth of ... the lips of
The mouth and the lips both refer to what a person says. (See: Metonymy)
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an offshoot of his pride
An offshoot is something that grows out of something else. AT: "what his pride produces" (See: Metaphor)
the wise
This word is actually a plural. "the wise men" or "wise people"
will preserve them
"will keep them from harm" or "will keep them safe"
the feeding trough
A "trough" is a container in which you put the food for animals.
an abundant crop
"a good harvest"
by the strength of an ox
"Strength" represents the strong work an ox can do. AT: "because of the work an ox does" (See: Metonymy)
translationWords
fool
proud
wise
clean
cow
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 14:3 A fool’s word can be used against him.
14:3 A fool’s word can be used against him.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.