Proverbs 26:9
New International Version
Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

New Living Translation
A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.

English Standard Version
Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

Berean Standard Bible
Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

King James Bible
As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

New King James Version
Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

New American Standard Bible
Like a thorn that sticks in the hand of a heavy drinker, So is a proverb in the mouths of fools.

NASB 1995
Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

NASB 1977
Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

Legacy Standard Bible
Like a thorn which goes up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

Amplified Bible
Like a thorn that goes [without being felt] into the hand of a drunken man, So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool [who remains unaffected by its wisdom].

Christian Standard Bible
A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a stick with thorns, brandished by the hand of a drunkard.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a stick with thorns, brandished by the hand of a drunkard.

American Standard Version
As a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

Contemporary English Version
A thornbush waved around in the hand of a drunkard is no worse than a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

English Revised Version
As a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the month of fools.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[Like] a thorn stuck in a drunk's hand, so is a proverb in the mouths of fools.

Good News Translation
A fool quoting a wise saying reminds you of a drunk trying to pick a thorn out of his hand.

International Standard Version
A thorn in the hand of a drunkard— that's what a proverb quoted by a fool is.

Majority Standard Bible
Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

NET Bible
Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

New Heart English Bible
Like a thornbush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

Webster's Bible Translation
As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

World English Bible
Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
A thorn has gone up into the hand of a drunkard, "" And an allegory in the mouth of fools.

Young's Literal Translation
A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.

Smith's Literal Translation
A thorn going up into the hand of a drunkard, a parable in the mouth of the foolish.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
As if a thorn should grow in the hand of a drunkard: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

Catholic Public Domain Version
In the manner of a thorn, if it were to spring up from the hand of a drunkard, so also is a parable in the mouth of the foolish.

New American Bible
A thorn stuck in the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

New Revised Standard Version
Like a thornbush brandished by the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Thorns spring up in the hand of a drunkard, and folly in the mouth of a fool.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Thorns are sprung up in the hand of a drunkard and madness in the mouth of the fool.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
As a thorn that cometh into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Similitudes and Instructions
8Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool. 9Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool. 10Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.…

Cross References
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.

Ecclesiastes 10:12-14
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. / The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness. / Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?

1 Corinthians 1:18-25
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. / For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” / Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ...

Psalm 50:16-17
To the wicked, however, God says, “What right have you to recite My statutes and to bear My covenant on your lips? / For you hate My instruction and cast My words behind you.

1 Corinthians 3:19
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”

Isaiah 29:13-14
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men. / Therefore I will again confound these people with wonder upon wonder. The wisdom of the wise will vanish, and the intelligence of the intelligent will be hidden.”

James 1:22-25
Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. / For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, / and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ...

Jeremiah 8:8-9
How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the Law of the LORD is with us,’ when in fact the lying pen of the scribes has produced a deception? / The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what wisdom do they really have?

2 Timothy 3:7
who are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Romans 1:21-22
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,

Hosea 8:12
Though I wrote for them the great things of My law, they regarded them as something strange.

1 Corinthians 2:14
The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Isaiah 44:18-20
They do not comprehend or discern, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see and closed their minds so they cannot understand. / And no one considers in his heart, no one has the knowledge or insight to say, “I burned half of it in the fire, and I baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make something detestable with the rest of it? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?” / He feeds on ashes. His deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”

Matthew 13:13-15
This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’ / In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. / For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’

Ezekiel 33:31-32
So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain. / Indeed, you are to them like a singer of love songs with a beautiful voice, who skillfully plays an instrument. They hear your words but do not put them into practice.


Treasury of Scripture

As a thorn goes up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouths of fools.

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Proverbs 26
1. observations about fools
13. about sluggards
17. and about contentious busybodies














Like a thorn
The imagery of a "thorn" in this context is significant. In the Hebrew, the word used can refer to a sharp, pointed object that can cause pain or injury. Thorns are often used in Scripture to symbolize something that is troublesome or harmful (Genesis 3:18, 2 Corinthians 12:7). Here, the thorn represents the potential harm or misuse of wisdom when it is not handled properly. Just as a thorn can cause physical pain, so can the misuse of a proverb cause spiritual or moral harm.

that falls into the hand
The phrase "falls into the hand" suggests an accidental or careless encounter. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the hand is often symbolic of power, action, or possession. When something falls into one's hand, it implies a lack of control or intention. This highlights the idea that the fool does not intentionally seek wisdom but rather stumbles upon it without understanding its value or purpose.

of a drunkard
The "drunkard" is a powerful metaphor for someone who lacks self-control and discernment. In biblical times, drunkenness was often associated with folly and moral failure (Isaiah 28:7, Ephesians 5:18). A drunkard is impaired in judgment and unable to handle things with care or wisdom. This comparison underscores the fool's inability to properly use or appreciate the wisdom found in a proverb.

is a proverb
A "proverb" in the biblical sense is a concise, wise saying that conveys truth or moral instruction. The Hebrew word for proverb, "mashal," can also mean a parable or a comparison. Proverbs are meant to be pondered and applied with discernment. However, in the mouth of a fool, the depth and richness of a proverb are lost, much like pearls cast before swine (Matthew 7:6).

in the mouth of a fool
The "mouth of a fool" is a recurring theme in Proverbs, highlighting the disconnect between possessing words of wisdom and understanding or applying them. The fool, in biblical literature, is not merely someone who lacks knowledge but someone who rejects wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7, 12:15). When a fool speaks a proverb, it is devoid of its intended power and meaning, much like a thorn in the hand of a drunkard is devoid of its intended use.

(9) As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard.--Rather, (As) a thornbush (which) comes into the hand of a drunkard, so (is) a parable (which comes) into the mouth of fools. They know not how to use it, and only do themselves and others harm by it. (Comp. 2Peter 3:16.)

Verse 9. - As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard. There is here no idea of the drunkard's hand being pierced with a thorn while he is insensible to the pain, but rather of his being armed with it, and ripe for mischief. So it is best to render, "A thornbush cometh into the hand of a drunkard;" he somehow gets possession of it, and in his stupid excitement is liable to become dangerous. Some understand עלה of the growth of the thorn; thus the Septuagint, "Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard;" Vulgate, "As if a thorn grew in the hand of a drunkard." But one does not see the bearing of such an expression; and the translation given above is more appropriate. So is a parable, etc. (as ver. 7). In that passage the wise saying in a fool's mouth was compared with something useless, here it is compared with something injurious. He employs it purposely to wound others; or by the ignorant use of some sharp-edged word he does much mischief. In this hemistich the LXX. has read משל with a different vocalization, and renders, "servitude (δουλεία) in the hand of fools." This seems to mean that it comes natural to fools to be manacled and restrained by force.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
[Like] a thorn
ח֭וֹחַ (ḥō·w·aḥ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2336: Briar, bramble, hook, ring, fetter

[that] falls
עָלָ֣ה (‘ā·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

into the hand
בְיַד־ (ḇə·yaḏ-)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

of a drunkard
שִׁכּ֑וֹר (šik·kō·wr)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7910: Intoxicated, as a, state, a habit

is a proverb
וּ֝מָשָׁ֗ל (ū·mā·šāl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4912: A pithy maxim, a simile

in the mouth
בְּפִ֣י (bə·p̄î)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

of a fool.
כְסִילִֽים׃ (ḵə·sî·lîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3684: Stupid fellow, dullard, fool


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 26:9 Like a thornbush that goes into (Prov. Pro Pr)
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