Proverbs 29:9
Proverbs 29:9 in Multiple Translations
If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution.
If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.
If a wise man hath a controversy with a foolish man, Whether he be angry or laugh, there will be no rest.
If a wise man goes to law with a foolish man, he may be angry or laughing, but there will be no rest.
When a wise man takes a stupid man to court, there's raging and ridicule, but nothing is settled.
If a wise man contend with a foolish man, whether he be angry or laugh, there is no rest.
A wise man is judged by the foolish man, And he hath been angry, And he hath laughed, and there is no rest.
If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man, the fool rages or scoffs, and there is no peace.
If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rageth or laugheth, there is no rest.
If a wise man contend with a fool, whether he be angry or laugh, he shall find no rest.
If a wise person sues a foolish person, the foolish person merely laughs at him and yells at him and will not be quiet (OR, the dispute will not be resolved).
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 29:9
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Proverbs 29:9 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אִֽישׁ
חָכָ֗ם
נִ֭שְׁפָּט
אֶת
אִ֣ישׁ
אֱוִ֑יל
וְ/רָגַ֥ז
וְ֝/שָׂחַ֗ק
וְ/אֵ֣ין
נָֽחַת
אִֽישׁ
ʼîysh
H376
man
N-ms
חָכָ֗ם
châkâm
H2450
wise
Adj
נִ֭שְׁפָּט
shâphaṭ
H8199
to judge
V-Niphal
אֶת
ʼêth
H854
with
Prep
אִ֣ישׁ
ʼîysh
H376
man
N-ms
אֱוִ֑יל
ʼĕvîyl
H191
fool(ish)
Adj
וְ/רָגַ֥ז
râgaz
H7264
to tremble
Conj | V-Qal-3ms
וְ֝/שָׂחַ֗ק
sâchaq
H7832
to laugh
Conj | V-Qal-3ms
וְ/אֵ֣ין
ʼayin
H369
nothing
Conj | Part
נָֽחַת
Nachath
H5183
quietness
N-fs
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 29:9
אִֽישׁ
ʼîysh
H376
"man"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.
Definition: : man 1) man 1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female) 1b) husband 1c) human being, person (in contrast to God) 1d) servant 1e) mankind 1f) champion 1g) great man 2) whosoever 3) each (adjective)
Usage: Occurs in 1851 OT verses. KJV: also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare H802 (אִשָּׁה). See also: Genesis 2:23; Genesis 42:25; Exodus 32:23.
חָכָ֗ם
châkâm
H2450
"wise"
Adj
This word means wise or skilled, describing someone intelligent or crafty, like a cunning man or a prudent leader.
Definition: 1) wise, wise (man) 1a) skilful (in technical work) 1b) wise (in administration) 1c) shrewd, crafty, cunning, wily, subtle 1d) learned, shrewd (class of men) 1e) prudent 1f) wise (ethically and religiously)
Usage: Occurs in 133 OT verses. KJV: cunning (man), subtil, (un-), wise((hearted), man). See also: Genesis 41:8; Proverbs 16:14; Psalms 49:11.
נִ֭שְׁפָּט
shâphaṭ
H8199
"to judge"
V-Niphal
To shaphat means to judge or govern, and can also mean to vindicate or punish. In the Bible, this term is often used to describe God's role as a judge, as well as human judges and rulers.
Definition: 1) to judge, govern, vindicate, punish 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to act as law-giver or judge or governor (of God, man) 1a1a) to rule, govern, judge 1a2) to decide controversy (of God, man) 1a3) to execute judgment 1a3a) discriminating (of man) 1a3b) vindicating 1a3c) condemning and punishing 1a3d) at theophanic advent for final judgment 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to enter into controversy, plead, have controversy together 1b2) to be judged 1c) (Poel) judge, opponent-at-law (participle)
Usage: Occurs in 182 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] avenge, [idiom] that condemn, contend, defend, execute (judgment), (be a) judge(-ment), [idiom] needs, plead, reason, rule. See also: Genesis 16:5; Psalms 9:5; Psalms 2:10.
אֶת
ʼêth
H854
"with"
Prep
This Hebrew preposition means 'with' or 'near', indicating a close relationship or physical proximity. It's used in Genesis 1:26 to describe God's relationship with humanity, and in many other places to show connection or closeness.
Definition: 1) with, near, together with 1a) with, together with 1b) with (of relationship) 1c) near (of place) 1d) with (poss.) 1e) from...with, from (with other prep)
Usage: Occurs in 787 OT verses. KJV: against, among, before, by, for, from, in(-to), (out) of, with. Often with another prepositional prefix. See also: Genesis 4:1; Genesis 42:32; Numbers 1:5.
אִ֣ישׁ
ʼîysh
H376
"man"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.
Definition: : man 1) man 1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female) 1b) husband 1c) human being, person (in contrast to God) 1d) servant 1e) mankind 1f) champion 1g) great man 2) whosoever 3) each (adjective)
Usage: Occurs in 1851 OT verses. KJV: also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare H802 (אִשָּׁה). See also: Genesis 2:23; Genesis 42:25; Exodus 32:23.
אֱוִ֑יל
ʼĕvîyl
H191
"fool(ish)"
Adj
The Hebrew word for a foolish person, someone who despises wisdom or mocks when guilty. It appears in the Bible to describe those who are quarrelsome or licentious. The KJV translates it as 'fool' or 'foolish man'.
Definition: 1) be foolish, foolish 1a) (subst) 1a1) of one who despises wisdom 1a2) of one who mocks when guilty 1a3) of one who is quarrelsome 1a4) of one who is licentious
Usage: Occurs in 26 OT verses. KJV: fool(-ish) (man). See also: Job 5:2; Proverbs 14:9; Psalms 107:17.
וְ/רָגַ֥ז
râgaz
H7264
"to tremble"
Conj | V-Qal-3ms
In the Bible, this word means to shake or tremble with strong emotions like fear, anger, or excitement. It can also mean to provoke or disturb someone, causing them to become agitated. The KJV Bible translates it in various ways, including 'tremble', 'quake', and 'rage'.
Definition: 1) tremble, quake, rage, quiver, be agitated, be excited, be perturbed 1a)(Qal) to quake, be disquieted, be excited, be perturbed 1b) (Hiphil) to cause to quake, disquiet, enrage, disturb 1c) (Hithpael) to excite oneself
Usage: Occurs in 40 OT verses. KJV: be afraid, stand in awe, disquiet, fall out, fret, move, provoke, quake, rage, shake, tremble, trouble, be wroth. See also: Genesis 45:24; Isaiah 5:25; Psalms 4:5.
וְ֝/שָׂחַ֗ק
sâchaq
H7832
"to laugh"
Conj | V-Qal-3ms
This Hebrew word means to laugh, often in contempt or derision, as seen in Genesis 21:9 when Ishmael mocks Isaac. It can also mean to play or make sport, like in Psalm 104:26 where God plays with the whale. In the Bible, it appears over 50 times, including in the book of Job.
Definition: 1) to laugh, play, mock 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to laugh (usually in contempt or derision) 1a2) to sport, play 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to make sport 1b2) to jest 1b3) to play (including instrumental music, singing, dancing) 1c) (Hiphil) to laugh mockingly
Usage: Occurs in 36 OT verses. KJV: deride, have in derision, laugh, make merry, mock(-er), play, rejoice, (laugh to) scorn, be in (make) sport. See also: Judges 16:25; Psalms 2:4; Psalms 37:13.
וְ/אֵ֣ין
ʼayin
H369
"nothing"
Conj | Part
This word means nothing or not, often used to indicate the absence of something, as in Genesis 1:2 where the earth was without form. It emphasizes the idea of something lacking or non-existent.
Definition: 1) nothing, not, nought n 1a) nothing, nought neg 1b) not 1c) to have not (of possession) adv 1d) without w/prep 1e) for lack of
Usage: Occurs in 686 OT verses. KJV: else, except, fail, (father-) less, be gone, in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any, thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable), well-nigh, without. Compare H370 (אַיִן). See also: Genesis 2:5; Deuteronomy 14:27; 1 Kings 15:22.
נָֽחַת
Nachath
H5183
"quietness"
N-fs
This word refers to a descent or a coming down, often in the sense of a punishment or a judgment from God. It can also mean restfulness or quietness, like the stillness after a storm.
Definition: 1) rest, quietness 1a) quietness, quiet attitude 1b) rest (of death)
Usage: Occurs in 8 OT verses. KJV: lighting down, quiet(-ness), to rest, be set on. See also: Job 17:16; Ecclesiastes 6:5; Proverbs 29:9.
Study Notes — Proverbs 29:9
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 29:9 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 29:9
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 29:9
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 29:9
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 29:9
- Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 29:9
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 29:9
- Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 29:9
- Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 29:9
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 29:9
- Sermons on Proverbs 29:9
Context — The Flourishing of the Righteous
7The righteous consider the cause of the poor, but the wicked have no regard for such concerns.
8Mockers inflame a city, but the wise turn away anger.
9If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution.
10Men of bloodshed hate a blameless man, but the upright care for his life. 11A fool vents all his anger, but a wise man holds it back.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 26:4 | Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him. |
| 2 | Ecclesiastes 10:13 | The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness. |
| 3 | Matthew 7:6 | Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. |
| 4 | Matthew 11:17–19 | ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.” |
Proverbs 29:9 Summary
This verse is saying that when a wise person tries to resolve a dispute with someone who is not wise, it will often end in confusion and frustration, with no clear resolution. This is because the fool is not interested in finding a wise or just solution, but rather in expressing their own emotions and opinions. As believers, we can apply this verse by being careful about the company we keep and the arguments we engage in, and instead seeking out wise and peaceful relationships, as encouraged in Proverbs 27:17. By doing so, we can avoid the kind of 'raving and laughing with no resolution' described in this verse and instead promote peace and understanding, as seen in Proverbs 29:8.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to 'go to court with a fool' in Proverbs 29:9?
This phrase is a metaphor for engaging in a dispute or argument with someone who is not wise or reasonable, as seen in the contrast between the wise and the fool in Proverbs 29:9, similar to the description of the fool in Proverbs 12:23.
Why does the verse say there will be 'raving and laughing with no resolution'?
This outcome is because the fool is not interested in finding a wise or just solution, but rather in expressing their own emotions and opinions, as described in Proverbs 29:11, where a fool vents all his anger.
How can we apply this verse to our own lives?
We can apply this verse by being careful about the company we keep and the arguments we engage in, as warned in Proverbs 22:24-25, and instead seeking out wise and peaceful relationships, as encouraged in Proverbs 27:17.
Is it ever necessary to engage with a fool, even if it may not lead to resolution?
Sometimes, as believers, we are called to stand up for what is right, even if it means engaging with those who may not be wise or reasonable, as seen in the example of Jesus' interactions with the Pharisees in the Gospel of Matthew 23:13-36.
Reflection Questions
- What are some situations in my life where I have engaged with someone who is not wise or reasonable, and how did it turn out?
- How can I discern whether someone is a 'fool' or not, and what are the characteristics of a wise person that I should be looking for?
- What are some ways that I can 'turn away anger' and promote peace in my relationships, as described in Proverbs 29:8?
- How can I balance the need to stand up for what is right with the need to avoid engaging in pointless arguments, and what role does wisdom play in this balance?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 29:9
[If] a wise man contendeth with a foolish man,.... Enters into a controversy with him, either by word or writing, in order to convince him of his folly and wickedness, of his errors and mistakes;
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 29:9
If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 29:9
If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man; either judicially or otherwise debating any matter with him, endeavouring to convince him of any error; whether he, the wise man, rageth (or is angry) or laugheth, i.e. whether he deal sharply and severely with him, rebuking him for his folly, or mildly and pleasantly smiling at it, there is no rest, no end or fruit of the debate, the fool will not be satisfied nor convinced. Or, as it is in the Hebrew, he (to wit, the fool last named, to whom the following carriages may seem more fitly to agree) both rageth and laugheth, (he will not yield nor be convinced, but persists in his folly, which he discovers sometimes by his furious and unbridled passions, and sometimes by foolish laughter and scorning,) and there is no rest; he will never be quieted.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 29:9
Proverbs 29:9 [If] a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, [there is] no rest.Ver. 9. If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man.] Such fools were the Pharisees, though for their worldly wisdom called princes of this world. Christ piped to them, John mourned to them, neither wrought upon them. Such was their peevishness and pertinace in evil, that they "rejected the counsel of God against themselves," being ingrati gratiae Dei, as Ambrose hath it; receiving the grace of God in vain, as Paul; turning good nourishment into vicious humours, as foul stomachs use to do. And as wine, a strong remedy against hemlock, yet mingled with it, doubles the force of the poison; so was it with the most powerful means of grace, mingled with their obstinace and unbelief. Tigers are enraged with perfumes, and vultures killed with oil of roses, as Aristotle writes.
Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 29:9
(9) Whether he rage or laugh—i.e., whether the wise man treat him with sternness or good temper, yet “there is no rest,” the fool will not cease from his folly; or, the sense may be, “the fool rages and laughs;” he will not listen quietly to argument, by which he might be brought to wisdom, but is either violent or supercilious.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 29:9
Verse 9. Whether he rage or laugh] Coverdale translates, "Yf a wyse man go to lawe with a foole, whether he deale with him frendly or roughly he geteth no rest."
Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 29:9
9. whether he rage &c.] This makes the fool the subject, as is more clearly brought out in R.V. marg., He rageth and laugheth and there is no rest. In R.V. text, however, the wise man is made the subject, whether he be angry or laugh, whether he seeks to bring the controversy to an end by severity or by banter, he will fail. There is no coming to terms with a fool, either by threats or by persuasion.
Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 29:9
All modes of teaching - the stern rebuke or the smiling speech - are alike useless with the “foolish” man; there is “no rest.” The ceaseless cavilling goes on still.
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 29:9
9. Contendeth — ðùׁ ?ôùׂ, (nishpat,) litigates; goes to law before a judge. Whether he rage or laugh — It is uncertain whether this is predicated of the wise man or the fool.
Sermons on Proverbs 29:9
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Life of the Mind and the Love of God by John Piper | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of loving God with all our minds. He lists seven or eight things that we should avoid in order to cultivate a love for God. Th |
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(Proverbs) ch.10:12 - 11:12 by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes that riches will not help anyone on judgment day, only righteousness will matter. It is not about Bible knowledge or religious activities, bu |
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The Discipline of Disdain - 23 by Jack Hibbs | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of listening and being slow to speak and anger. He highlights the need to trust in God during times of shaking and suffering. |
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Ministry From James-01 by Dwight Pentecost | In this sermon, the preacher uses two illustrations to emphasize the power of the tongue. The first illustration compares the bit in a horse's mouth to the control a person can hav |
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Personal Testimony by Keith Daniel | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on a personal experience of going against his conscience and the consequences that followed. He describes the moment when his father confronted |
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Sex and the Single Person by John Piper | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the issue of enslavement to worldly desires and emphasizes the need to be free from such bondage. He highlights the prevalence of sexual tempt |
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Casting Pearls Before Swine by Rolfe Barnard | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the importance of preparing hearts for the presence of God. He references 1 Corinthians 14:24-25, where it is stated that unbelievers and the |