Proverbs 18:13
New International Version
To answer before listening— that is folly and shame.

New Living Translation
Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.

English Standard Version
If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.

Berean Standard Bible
He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.

King James Bible
He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

New King James Version
He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him.

New American Standard Bible
One who gives an answer before he hears, It is foolishness and shame to him.

NASB 1995
He who gives an answer before he hears, It is folly and shame to him.

NASB 1977
He who gives an answer before he hears, It is folly and shame to him.

Legacy Standard Bible
He who responds with a word before he hears, It is folly and shame to him.

Amplified Bible
He who answers before he hears [the facts]— It is folly and shame to him.

Christian Standard Bible
The one who gives an answer before he listens — this is foolishness and disgrace for him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The one who gives an answer before he listens— this is foolishness and disgrace for him.

American Standard Version
He that giveth answer before he heareth, It is folly and shame unto him.

Contemporary English Version
It's stupid and embarrassing to give an answer before you listen.

English Revised Version
He that giveth answer before he heareth, it is folly and shame unto him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Whoever gives an answer before he listens is stupid and shameful.

Good News Translation
Listen before you answer. If you don't, you are being stupid and insulting.

International Standard Version
Whoever answers before listening is both foolish and shameful.

Majority Standard Bible
He who answers a matter before he hears it?this is folly and disgrace to him.

NET Bible
The one who gives an answer before he listens--that is his folly and his shame.

New Heart English Bible
He who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.

Webster's Bible Translation
He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame to him.

World English Bible
He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Whoever is answering a matter before he hears, "" It is folly to him—and shame.

Young's Literal Translation
Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and shame.

Smith's Literal Translation
He turning back the word before he shall hear it, is folly and shame to him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He that answereth before he heareth sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Whoever responds before he listens, demonstrates himself to be foolish and deserving of confusion.

New American Bible
Whoever answers before listening, theirs is folly and shame.

New Revised Standard Version
If one gives answer before hearing, it is folly and shame.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He who gives answer before he hears is a fool and a reviler.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He that gives an answer before he hears is a fool, and is brought to shame.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
He that giveth answer before he heareth, It is folly and confusion unto him.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Whoso answers a word before he hears a cause, it is folly and reproach to him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Selfishness of the Unfriendly
12Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor. 13He who answers a matter before he hears it— this is folly and disgrace to him. 14The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?…

Cross References
James 1:19
My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,

John 7:51
“Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?”

Proverbs 29:20
Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Proverbs 15:28
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-2
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. / Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your words be few.

Matthew 7:1-2
“Do not judge, or you will be judged. / For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Job 29:16
I was a father to the needy, and I took up the case of the stranger.

Proverbs 25:8
do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?

Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

Proverbs 17:27-28
A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit. / Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.

James 3:1-2
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. / We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.

1 Samuel 25:10-11
But Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters. / Why should I take my bread and water and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give them to these men whose origin I do not know?”

Acts 17:11
Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.

Isaiah 11:3-4
And He will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what His eyes see, and He will not decide by what His ears hear, / but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.

1 Corinthians 2:15
The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment.


Treasury of Scripture

He that answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.

that

Deuteronomy 13:14
Then shalt thou inquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you;

2 Samuel 16:4
Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.

2 Samuel 19:24-30
And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace…

answereth a matter; returneth a word.

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Proverbs 18
1. A fool delights not in understanding














He who answers a matter
This phrase emphasizes the act of responding or giving an opinion. In the Hebrew text, the word for "answers" is "עָנָה" (anah), which means to respond or reply. The implication here is that the person is quick to speak without full understanding. In the context of ancient Israel, where wisdom was highly valued, this behavior would be seen as rash and unwise. The Bible consistently teaches the importance of listening before speaking, as seen in James 1:19, which advises believers to be "quick to listen, slow to speak."

before he hears it
The phrase underscores the importance of listening and understanding before responding. The Hebrew word for "hears" is "שָׁמַע" (shama), which means to listen or to understand. In the cultural and historical context of the Bible, hearing was not just about the physical act of listening but also about comprehending and considering the information. This reflects a broader biblical principle that values discernment and patience, as seen in the wisdom literature and teachings of Jesus, who often emphasized the importance of truly understanding before acting.

this is folly
The term "folly" in Hebrew is "אִוֶּלֶת" (ivvelet), which denotes foolishness or lack of wisdom. In the biblical context, folly is often contrasted with wisdom, which is a key theme in the book of Proverbs. Folly is not just a lack of intelligence but a moral failing, a departure from the path of righteousness and wisdom. The Bible frequently warns against folly, as it leads to poor decisions and negative consequences, both spiritually and practically.

and disgrace to him
The word "disgrace" in Hebrew is "כָּלוֹן" (kalon), which means shame or dishonor. In the ancient Near Eastern culture, honor and shame were significant social values. To act without understanding and to speak without listening would bring shame not only upon oneself but also upon one's family and community. This reflects the biblical teaching that our actions and words have consequences, and that wisdom and discernment are necessary to maintain honor and integrity. The disgrace mentioned here serves as a warning to the reader about the social and spiritual repercussions of acting foolishly.

(13) He that answereth a matter before he heareth it . . .--Comp. Ecclesiasticus 11:8.

Verse 13. - He that answereth a matter, etc. Thus Ecclus. 11:8, "Answer not before thou hast heard the, cause; neither interrupt men in the midst of their talk." A reminiscence of the passage occurs in the Talmud ('Aboth.' 5. 10), "I weighed all things in the balance, and found nothing lighter than meal; lighter than meal is the betrothed man who dwells in the house of his intended father-in-law; lighter than he is a guest who introduces a friend; and lighter than he is the man who answers before he has heard the other's speech" (Dukes, p. 72, § 21). So Menander -

Ὁ προκαταγιγνώσκων δὲ πρὶν ἀκοῦσαι σαφῶς
Αὐτὸς πονηρός ἐστι πιστεύσας κακῶς. Seneca, 'Medea,' 199 -

"Qui statuit aliquid, parte inaudita altera,
AEquum licet statuerit, haud aequus erit."


Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He who answers
מֵשִׁ֣יב (mê·šîḇ)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

a matter
דָּ֭בָר (dā·ḇār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

before
בְּטֶ֣רֶם (bə·ṭe·rem)
Preposition-b | Adverb
Strong's 2962: Non-occurrence, not yet, before

he hears [it]—
יִשְׁמָ֑ע (yiš·mā‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

this
הִיא־ (hî-)
Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

[is] folly
אִוֶּ֥לֶת (’iw·we·leṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 200: Silliness

and disgrace
וּכְלִמָּֽה׃ (ū·ḵə·lim·māh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3639: Insult, reproach, ignominy

to him.
ל֝֗וֹ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 18:13 He who gives answer before he hears (Prov. Pro Pr)
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