Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 29:11
A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise [man] keepeth it in till afterwards.
11. mind ] Lit. spirit; i.e. passion, or anger, R.V., , LXX. keepeth it in till afterwards ] Rather, keepeth it back and stilleth it, R.V.; , LXX.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Mind – The Hebrew word is used sometimes for mind or reason, sometimes for passion, or wrath. The reticence commended would include both; but the verb keepeth it in (rendered stilleth, in Psa 65:7) is slightly in favor of the second of the two senses.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 11. A fool uttereth all his mind] A man should be careful to keep his own secret, and never tell his whole mind upon any subject, while there are other opinions yet to be delivered; else, if he speak again, he must go over his old ground; and as he brings out nothing new, he injures his former argument.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
All his mind; all at once, unnecessarily and unseasonably, without reservation or caution.
Till afterwards; till he have fit occasion to express it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11. (Compare Pro 12:16;Pro 16:32).
mindor, “spirit,”for anger or any ill passion which the righteous restrain.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
A fool uttereth all his mind,…. At once; tells all he knows, all that is in his breast; whatever he thinks, and all that he intends to do; what or whom he loves or hates. Or, “a fool brings out all his wrath”; so the Targum, Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions: he cannot restrain it, nor hide it; it breaks out at once, even all of it, and is soon known, as in Pr 12:16;
but a wise [man] keepeth it in till afterwards; reserves his mind, and thoughts, and designs, to himself; and does not discover them until a proper opportunity offers, when to disclose them is most to advantage; or he restrains his wrath and anger, defers showing it to a proper time, when it may answer a better purpose, and he may do it without sin.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
11 All his wrath the fool poureth out;
But the wise man husheth it up in the background.
That is not meant here of his spirit (Luther) in the sense of quaecunque in mente habet (thus e.g., Fleischer) the contrast shows, for does not signify cohibet , for which (lxx ) would be the proper word: thus is not here used of passionate emotion, such as at Pro 16:31; Isa 25:4; Isa 33:11. is not here equivalent to Arab. sabbah , (Imman., Venet., and Heidenheim), which does not supply an admissible sense, but is equivalent to Arab. sabbakh , to quiet (Ahron b. Josef: = ), the former going back to the root-idea of extending ( amplificare ), the latter to that of going to a distance, putting away: sabbakh , procul recessit, distitit , hence , Psa 89:10, and here properly to drive off into the background, synon. (Fleischer). But (only here with ) is ambiguous. One might with Rashi explain: but the wise man finally, or afterwards (Symmachus, ; Venet. = ), appeaseth the anger which the fool lets loose; i.e., if the latter gives vent to his anger, the former appeases, subdues, mitigates it (cf. , , Isa 42:23). But it lies still nearer to refer the antithesis to the anger of the wise man himself; he does not give to it unbridled course, but husheth it in the background, viz., in his heart. Thus Syr. and Targ. reading , the former, besides ( reputat eam ), so also Aben Ezra: in the heart as the background of the organ of speech. Others explain: in the background, afterward, retrorsum , e.g., Nolde, but to which compescit would be more appropriate than sedat . Hitzig’s objection, that in other cases the expression would be , is answered by this, that with the idea of pressing back (of ) is connected. The order of the words also is in favour of the meaning in recessu ( cordis ). Irae dilatio mentis pacatio (according to an old proverb).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
11 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
Note, 1. It is a piece of weakness to be very open: He is a fool who utters all his mind,–who tells every thing he knows, and has in his mouth instantly whatever he has in his thoughts, and can keep no counsel,–who, whatever is started in discourse, quickly shoots his bolt,–who, when he is provoked, will say any thing that comes uppermost, whoever is reflected upon by it,–who, when he is to speak of any business, will say all he thinks, and yet never thinks he says enough, whether choice or refuse, corn or chaff, pertinent or impertinent, you shall have it all. 2. It is a piece of wisdom to be upon the reserve: A wise man will not utter all his mind at once, but will take time for a second thought, or reserve the present thought for a fitter time, when it will be more pertinent and likely to answer his intention; he will not deliver himself in a continued speech, or starched discourse, but with pauses, that he may hear what is to be objected and answer it. Non minus interdum oratorium est tacere quam dicere—True oratory requires an occasional pause. Plin. Ep. 7.6.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Self Control
Verse 11 declares that the fool utters all he can say at once; but a wise man exercises restraint and presents his facts so as to progressively show the strength of his position, Pro 12:16; Pro 14:29; Pro 14:33; Pro 16:32; Pro 19:11; Pro 25:28; Jdg 16:16-17.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(11) The fool (khesl, Pro. 1:22) uttereth all his mind.Or, pours out all his wrath; but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards, or keepeth it back.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. All his mind , ( ruhho,) his spirit. He pours out all that is in him at once has neither reason nor self-control. But a wise man restrains his passions and his speech. Some read, a fool pours out all his passion: but a wise man afterwards soothes it, or tries to appease it.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Pro 29:11 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
Pro 29:11
Illustration – As a business manager, I have learned the importance of reacting slowly to a situation. When I have reacted quickly and emotionally to a situation in the past, I have turned out to look like the fool. I have now learned to hold my composure for a period of time so that I can react to a person or a situation when my emotions are back under control. It is then that I can reason better and speak words of wisdom.
Pro 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
Pro 29:15
Pro 29:15 Comments – In David’s role as a father, we see Solomon growing up and becoming a man of wisdom. This is evidence that Solomon received discipline from his father. David gave Solomon this discipline because he was being groomed to become the next king. We see Solomon make a reference to his father’s instructions in Pro 4:3-4.
Pro 4:3, “For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.”
In contract, we see other sons of King David that did not received proper discipline. In the story of Amnon and Tamar (2Sa 13:1-20), we see that David neglected to discipline this sin in the life of his son. David’s refusal to discipline his son Absalom ended in the rebellion that cost the life of his son and the broken heart of David.
Fuente: Everett’s Study Notes on the Holy Scriptures
Pro 29:11 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise [man] keepeth it in till afterwards.
Ver. 11. A fool uttereth all his mind. ] He is full of chinks, and can hold nothing; his heart lies so near his mouth, that he will out suddenly. , a fool , and , suddenly , are from the same root. He hath little command of himself at any time, but especially when he is angry; then he sputters and spews out all that he hath in his heart. The Septuagint here translate, A fool uttereth all his anger, ; he pulls out his wooden dagger, and cares not whom he hits. Bishop Bonner, in his visitation, because the bells rang not at his coming into Hadham, nor the church dressed up as it should, called Doctor Bricket knave and heretic; and, striking at him, gave Sir Thomas Josselin, who then stood next to the bishop, a good buffet under the ear; whereat the knight, somewhat astonished at the suddenness of the quarrel, said, ‘What meaneth your lordship? have you been trained up in Will Summers’ school, to strike him that stands next you?’ The bishop, still in a rage, either heard not or would not hear. And when Mr Fecknam would have excused him by his long imprisonment in the Marshalsea, whereby he was grown testy, he replied merrily, ‘So it seems, Mr Fecknam; for now that he is come forth of the Marshalsea, he is ready to go to Bedlam.’ a See Pro 14:23 .
But a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
a Ibid., fol. 1340.
b Beachor, in interiori aliquo loco, in ulteriore animi recessu.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
fool. Hebrew. kesil. See note on Pro 1:7.
mind = spirit. Hebrew. ruach. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, for the feeling manifested by it.
keepeth it. Illustrations: Abraham (Gen 22); Joseph (Pro 42:7; Pro 44:18-34); Moses (Exo 3:10. Compare Pro 4:18); Nathan (2Sa 12:1-6, 2Sa 12:7-13).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Pro 29:11
Pro 29:11
“A fool uttereth all his anger; But a wise man keepeth it back and stilleth it.”
The KJV has this: “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterward. “This indicates that a wise man restrains his anger till he can give it proper vent. “Stupid people express their anger openly, but sensible people are patient and hold it back. We like this because it means that righteous people overcome their anger.
Pro 29:11. A fool does not exercise self-control, for self-control is based upon wisdom which he does not have. Therefore, a wise person quiets his spirit when it could erupt, but a fool doesnt. Compare Pro 14:33 : Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding; but that which is in the inward part of fools is made known.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Pro 12:16, Pro 12:23, Pro 14:33, Jdg 16:17, Amo 5:13, Mic 7:5
Reciprocal: 1Sa 10:16 – matter Est 5:4 – If it seem Pro 15:28 – the mouth Pro 29:20 – Seest
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pro 29:11-12. A fool uttereth all his mind All at once, unnecessarily, unseasonably, without reservation or caution; but a wise man keepeth it in till afterward Till he have a fit occasion to express it. If a ruler hearken to lies Delight in flatteries or calumnies, or any lying words, or deceitful and wicked practices; all his servants are wicked Because, perhaps, he chooseth only such for his service: or, rather, because they are either corrupted by his example, or engaged by their place and interest to please him, and comply with his base desires and humours.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
"Always" is a poor translation. The idea is that fools customarily vent their feelings ("let it all hang out"), whereas wise individuals control themselves.