Proverbs 26:3

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. A WHIP FOR THE HORSE, A BRIDLE FOR THE ASS. So the Vulgate: but the Chaldaic, Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic translate, 'a spur for the ass.' The Hebrew ( meteg (H4964)) commonly means a bridle; and though we should say ordinarily, 'A whip for the donkey; a bridle for the horse,' yet in the style of Proverbs one clause is to be supplied from the other, A whip and a bridle for the horse and the donkey. As they need at one time the whip, at another the bridle; so the "fool" needs "a rod for his back," to keep him from rushing into sinful folly. The ungodly are like "brute beasts" (Psalms 32:9; Jude 1:10;...

Verse Proverbs 26:3. _A WHIP FOR THE HORSE_] Correction is as suitable to a fool, as a _whip_ is for a horse, or a _bridle_ for an ass....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 26:1 Certain proverbs concerning the fool (_kesil_),_ _with the exception, perhaps, of Proverbs 26:2 (see on Proverbs 1:22). PROVERBS 26:1 AS SNOW IN SUMMER, AND AS RAIN IN HARVEST. Snow in summer would be quite unnatural and unheard of (see on Proverbs 25:13). Rain falls in the usual course of things only at stated times; whence arose the phrase of "the early and of latter rains" (see on...

A WHIP FOR THE HORSE,.... One that is dull of going, or refractory and wants breaking; A BRIDLE FOR THE ASS; not to curb and restrain it from going too fist, asses being generally dull; but to direct its way and turn it when necessary, it being stiffnecked and obstinate; though the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, render it a "spear" or "goad", something to prick with, and excite it to motion; and so the Targum; or otherwise one would have thought the whip was fitter for the ass and the bridle for the horse; AND A ROD FOR THE FOOL'S BACK; suggesting that the fool, or wicked man, is like the horse or the mule; though not without understanding of things natural, yet of things divine and moral; and as stupid as the ass, however wise he may conceit himself to be, being born like a wild ass's colt; and instead of honour being given him, stripes should be laid upon him; he should be...

CHAPTER 26 CONCERNING THE FOOL AND THE SLUGGARD Eleven times we meet the word fool in this chapter. Three different words are used in the Hebrew for fool. The first is “avil” which signifies weakness. The second word “kesil” occurs nearly fifty times, means fat or dense. The third word is the Hebrew “nabal,” which is derived from the verb to fade, or to wither; it means a vulgar, bad man who has given himself over to wickedness. The natural man in his condition, his darkened mind, his sinfulness answers to much that is said about the fool in this book. As snow in summer and rain at harvest time are quiteimpossible in Palestine, so is honor for a fool. A fool may utter a curse, as they often do, and wish something evil, but being causeless, it will not be fulfilled. The fool needs correction, the stripes for his back, he deserves no answer, and if he is answered it must be according to hi...

THE BOOK OF FOOLS. A section containing a series of synthetic couplets dealing with folly (except Proverbs 26:2). The text is unusually corrupt and defective. PROVERBS 26:1. For the opposite use of snow in harvest _cf._ Proverbs 25:13 *. Proverbs 26:2. Directed against the superstitious belief in the magical value of a curse. The simile refers to the aimless wandering of a bird, and is not to be compared with the flying roll of curses in Zechariah 5:1....

THE FOOL'S BACK. the back of fools....

CHAPTER 26 TEXT Proverbs 26:1-9 1. As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor is not seemly for a fool. 2. As a sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the curse that is causeless alighteth not. 3. A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of fools. 4. Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him. 5. Answer a fool according to his folly. Lest he be wise in his own conceit. 6. He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool Cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh in damage. 7. The legs of the lame hang loose; So is a parable in the mouth of fools. 8. As one that bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth honor to a fool. 9. As a thorn that goet

FOOLS. SLUGGARDS. TALKERS 1-12. The vv. refer chiefly to fools....

LESSONS ABOUT WISDOM PROVERBS _KEITH SIMONS_ CHAPTER 26 V1 Snow should not fall in summer. Rain should not fall during the harvest. And a fool should not receive honour. V2 A bird does not stop as it flies. And the effects of an insult do not pause. Instead, the insult continues to cause trouble....