Proverbs 26:5

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own opinion.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

עֲנֵ֣ה כְ֭סִיל כְּאִוַּלְתּ֑וֹ פֶּן־יִהְיֶ֖ה חָכָ֣ם בְּעֵינָֽיו׃

Transliteration

Aneh kesil according-to-ivvalto, pen-yihyeh ḥakham in-einav.

Grammar Details

• *aneh*: verb, Qal imperative, masculine singular - answer
• *kesil*: noun, masculine, singular - fool
• *ke*: preposition - according to
• *ivvalto*: noun, feminine, singular construct with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his folly
• *pen*: conjunction - lest
• *yihyeh*: verb, Qal imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - he will be
• *ḥakham*: adjective, masculine, singular - wise
• *be*: preposition - in
• *einav*: noun, feminine, dual construct with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his eyes

Word Meanings

• *aneh*: answer/respond to
• *kesil*: fool/stupid person
• *ivvalto*: his folly/his stupidity
• *pen*: lest/otherwise
• *yihyeh*: he will be/he will become
• *ḥakham*: wise/skillful/clever
• *einav*: his eyes/his sight/his opinion

Referenced Verses

• Prov 28:11 : 11 A rich person is wise in his own opinion, but a discerning poor person can evaluate him properly.
• Matt 16:1-4 : 1 The Demand for a Sign Now when the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He said,“When evening comes you say,‘It will be fair weather, because the sky is red,’ 3 and in the morning,‘It will be stormy today, because the sky is red and darkening.’ You know how to judge correctly the appearance of the sky, but you cannot evaluate the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” Then he left them and went away.
• Rom 12:16 : 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited.
• Titus 1:13 : 13 Such testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply that they may be healthy in the faith
• Matt 21:23-27 : 23 The Authority of Jesus Now after Jesus entered the temple courts, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching and said,“By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus answered them,“I will also ask you one question. If you answer me then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 Where did John’s baptism come from? From heaven or from people?” They discussed this among themselves, saying,“If we say,‘From heaven,’ he will say,‘Then why did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say,‘From people,’ we fear the crowd, for they all consider John to be a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus,“We don’t know.” Then he said to them,“Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
• Matt 22:15-32 : 15 Paying Taxes to Caesar Then the Pharisees went out and planned together to entrap him with his own words. 16 They sent to him their disciples along with the Herodians, saying,“Teacher, we know that you are truthful, and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You do not court anyone’s favor because you show no partiality. 17 Tell us then, what do you think? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” 18 But Jesus realized their evil intentions and said,“Hypocrites! Why are you testing me? 19 Show me the coin used for the tax.” So they brought him a denarius. 20 Jesus said to them,“Whose image is this, and whose inscription?” 21 They replied,“Caesar’s.” He said to them,“Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 Now when they heard this they were stunned, and they left him and went away. 23 Marriage and the Resurrection The same day Sadducees(who say there is no resurrection) came to him and asked him, 24 “Teacher, Moses said,‘If a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and father children for his brother.’ 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children he left his wife to his brother. 26 The second did the same, and the third, down to the seventh. 27 Last of all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her.” 29 Jesus answered them,“You are deceived, because you don’t know the scriptures or the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 Now as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living!”
• Luke 12:13-21 : 13 The Parable of the Rich Landowner Then someone from the crowd said to him,“Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But Jesus said to him,“Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator between you two?” 15 Then he said to them,“Watch out and guard yourself from all types of greed, because one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 He then told them a parable:“The land of a certain rich man produced an abundant crop, 17 so he thought to himself,‘What should I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said,‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to myself,“You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!”’ 20 But God said to him,‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 So it is with the one who stores up riches for himself, but is not rich toward God.”
• Luke 13:23-30 : 23 Someone asked him,“Lord, will only a few be saved?” So he said to them, 24 “Exert every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, then you will stand outside and start to knock on the door and beg him,‘Lord, let us in!’ But he will answer you,‘I don’t know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say,‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will reply,‘I don’t know where you come from! Go away from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves thrown out. 29 Then people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and take their places at the banquet table in the kingdom of God. 30 But indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
• John 8:7 : 7 When they persisted in asking him, he stood up straight and replied,“Whoever among you is guiltless may be the first to throw a stone at her.”
• John 9:26-33 : 26 Then they said to him,“What did he do to you? How did he cause you to see?” 27 He answered,“I told you already and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You people don’t want to become his disciples too, do you?” 28 They heaped insults on him, saying,“You are his disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses! We do not know where this man comes from!” 30 The man replied,“This is a remarkable thing, that you don’t know where he comes from, and yet he caused me to see! 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is devout and does his will, God listens to him. 32 Never before has anyone heard of someone causing a man born blind to see. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
• Rom 11:25 : 25 For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.
• Isa 5:21 : 21 Beware, those who think they are wise, those who think they possess understanding.
• Jer 36:17-18 : 17 Then they asked Baruch,“How did you come to write all these words? Do they actually come from Jeremiah’s mouth?” 18 Baruch answered,“Yes, they came from his own mouth. He dictated all these words to me and I wrote them down in ink on this scroll.”
• Matt 15:1-3 : 1 Breaking Human Traditions Then Pharisees and experts in the law came from Jerusalem to Jesus and said, 2 “Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat.” 3 He answered them,“And why do you disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition?
• 1 Kgs 22:24-28 : 24 Zedekiah son of Kenaanah approached, hit Micaiah on the jaw, and said,“Which way did the LORD’s spirit go when he went from me to speak to you?” 25 Micaiah replied,“Look, you will see in the day when you go into an inner room to hide.” 26 Then the king of Israel said,“Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the city official and Joash the king’s son. 27 Say,‘This is what the king says,“Put this man in prison. Give him only a little bread and water until I safely return.”’” 28 Micaiah said,“If you really do safely return, then the LORD has not spoken through me.” Then he added,“Take note, all you people.”
• Prov 3:7 : 7 Do not be wise in your own estimation; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
• Prov 26:4 : 4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you yourself also be like him.
• Prov 26:12 : 12 You have seen a man wise in his own opinion– there is more hope for a fool than for him.