Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
28. he that shutteth &c.] Or, with R.V. text, when he (i.e. the fool of the former clause of the verse) shutteth he is esteemed as prudent. Mr Horton ( Book of Proverbs, p. 177) quotes the old Norse proverb,
“An unwise man when he comes among the people
Had best be silent: no one knows
That he nothing knows, unless he talks too much.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Is esteemed – Or, is (simply). The maxim would imply that silence is in any case good.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 28. Even a fool] He is counted wise as to that particular. He may know that he cannot speak well, and he has sense enough to keep from speaking. He is, as to that particular, a wise fool.
A man may be golden-mouthed and silver-tongued in eloquence; but to know when and where to speak and to be silent, is better than diamonds. But who that thinks he can speak well can refrain from speaking? His tongue has no rest.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Is counted wise, because he is sensible of his own folly, and therefore forbears to speak, lest he should discover it; which is a great point of true wisdom.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise,…. Not only one that is sparing of his words, and is really a man of knowledge and understanding; but even a feel, if he is but silent, and does not betray his folly by his words, will be reckoned a wise man by those that do not know him; and, whatever fool he may be in other respects, yet in this he acts the wise part, that he holds his peace and says nothing;
[and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding; and keeps them shut, lest he should say anything rashly and hastily; a man that has so much command of himself as not to speak unadvisedly, through the heat of his own passions, and through the provocations of others, will pass for a man that understands himself, and knows how to behave well before others.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Ver. 28 continues the same theme, the value of silence:
Even a fool, when he keeps silence, is counted wise;
When he shutteth his mouth, discreet.
The subj. as well as the pred. of the first line avail for the second. , obturare, occludere , usually of the closing the ear, is here transferred to the mouth. The Hiph. means mutum agere (cf. Arab. khrs , mutum esse ), from , which, like , passes from the meaning surdus to that of mutus (Fl.). The words of Job 13:5, and also those of Alexander: si tacuisses sapiens mansisses , are applicable to fools. An Arab. proverb says, “silence is the covering of the stupid.” In the epigrammatical hexameter,
,
the word has the very same syntactical position as these two participles.
(Note: Cf. C. Schultze’s Die bibl. Sprichwrter (1860), p. 60f.)
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Verse 28 suggests that even a fool can profit from this counsel.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
28. Is esteemed a man of understanding Of discernment, discreetness. Miller renders freely, but neatly, “Even a fool is counted wise if he hold his peace; a man of discernment if he shut his lips.” Compare Job 13:5; Pro 10:19. It is observable that through this book a prudent restraint in speaking is highly commended. How often, in deliberative bodies, do men forfeit all respect, and loose all influence, by too much talking. The overweening vanity of some men prompts them to speak on every subject, as though nothing could be rightly done without the light of their wisdom.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
v. 28. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise, and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
REFLECTIONS.
I PASS by, for the Reader’s own improvement, the consideration of every other passage contained in this chapter, to dwell upon that heavenly character of Jesus suggested in this view of him, the friend that loveth at all times, and the brother born for adversity. Jesus was indeed peculiarly born for adversity. For had not our ruined circumstances been what they are, never surely had the Son of God any need to have been born in our nature, or have come into such an alliance with us, as a brother. But it was because our situation was desperate, because we were exposed, justly exposed to the wrath of Almighty God, as helpless as we were miserable, and beyond all the possibility, in ourselves, of doing anything towards our own recovery; it was on these accounts that Jesus stood forth as our helper. So that he was indeed born for adversity. And if he will engage for us in this high character of a Redeemer; he must (justice so requiring) put himself in our very place and circumstances; and as such he must become our brother. This therefore he hath done. And Reader! do observe how all along he hath shewn himself to be the brother eminently born for adversity. He stood in our stead, paid our whole debt, crossed the book which was full of our outstanding debts, with marks to intimate the complete payment in the red letters of his own blood; and not only purchased our lost inheritance but purchased our persons, and hath put his poor indigent brethren, of whom he is not ashamed, into such a state of affluence in his fulness, by giving them a right to all he hath, and commanding them to draw upon him for all they need. And what is it now? – but the brother and the friend still. Having loved his own that are in the world, he loveth them unto the end. Though to heaven he is returned, to take possession of his kingdom; yet he saith himself, that this is also but for them and in their name. He will come again and receive them to himself, that where he is there they shall be also. In the mean time he assures them of his spiritual presence, his watching over them for good, with his whole heart and his whole soul. Lo! (he saith) I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Hail! thou almighty friend at all times, thou brother born for adversity. Never, blessed Jesus, let my soul for a moment lose sight of thee under those endearing characters. Though I have slighted thee, forgotten thee days without number; and requited all thy love with baseness and ingratitude; still compassionate brother! do thou continue thy grace and tenderness, and overcome my unworthiness with thy love. Thou knowest my frame, thou rememberest that I am but dust. And do thou cause me by thy sweet Spirit amidst all my undeservings to be still hanging upon thee, and cleaving to thee and, like another Peter, under the siftings of Satan, and the deceitfulness of my poor sinful heart, still may I always like him be enabled to appeal to thy knowledge in testimony of my adherence to Jesus, and say as he did; Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Pro 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
Ver. 28. Even a fool when he holdeth his peace, &c. ]
“ .”
“Oh that you would altogether hold your peace, and it should be your wisdom,” saith Job to his friends that spake much, but said little Job 13:5
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
fool. Hebrew. ‘evil, as in verses: Pro 17:16, Pro 17:22. See note on Pro 1:7.
understandings = wisdom (i.e. a wise man).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Pro 15:2, Job 13:5, Ecc 5:3, Ecc 10:3, Ecc 10:14
Reciprocal: Job 32:16 – General Pro 10:19 – but Pro 21:23 – General Pro 30:32 – lay