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Answering a Fool According to His Folly

Proverbs 26:4-5

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Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you yourself will be just like him.
Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.

Proverbs 26:4-5 NIV

This, on the surface, is a strange and seemingly contradictory pair of proverbs. Should we answer a fool according to his folly? Or not? I do believe that the answer is actually both.

In this passage, the word translated as fool means one who is “foolish, stupid, or insolent.” I realize that identifying a person as a fool is not politically correct. But I believe it is an appropriate term for what these proverbs are talking about. Foolishness, as used here, has nothing to do with intelligence. Some very intelligent people are fools. When you read the book of Proverbs as a whole, you find that it uses fool as more a moral attribute than an intellectual one. The fool acts, or speaks, in ways that bring harm or discredit to themselves and others. And we all know people who are like this. Especially if you are on social media. People who speak without thinking first. Often in thoughtless and hurtful ways.

Answering a Fool

The author of these two proverbs gives us two distinct ways to respond to people like this. The first is not to respond as they do. If I respond to them thoughtlessly or hurtfully, I am no better than they are. But if I respond with integrity and reason, I can potentially help them to recognize their foolishness for what it is. I don’t believe we are being told that we need to respond to the fool. But if we do, be sure to answer them in a way that will not validate their positions and might help correct their thoughts.

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Ed Jarrett

Just an old clay jar that God continues to see fit to use in his kingdom's work. I am retired, married with 2 children, and 4 grandchildren. I have followed Jesus for many years. And I love to share what He has given me from His word.

A Note to Readers

The views expressed here are solely mine and do not necessarily reflect those of any other person, group, or organization. While I believe they reflect the teachings of the Bible, I am a fallible human and subject to misunderstanding. Please feel free to leave any comments or questions about this post in the comments section below. I am always interested in your feedback.

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