What does Proverbs 14:29 mean?
What is the meaning of Proverbs 14:29?

A patient man

Patience is not passive resignation; it is deliberate restraint that leaves room for God to work.

James 1:19 reminds us, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,” showing patience as a choice, not a personality trait.

Galatians 5:22 lists patience among the fruit of the Spirit, meaning the quality grows as we submit to Him.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 warns, “Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger lodges in the lap of fools,” highlighting that patience uproots the seedbed of anger before it sprouts.

1 Corinthians 13:4 sets the tone: “Love is patient,” anchoring the virtue in our calling to love.


has great understanding

True insight shows itself in composure.

Proverbs 17:27 says, “A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.” The wise know when silence speaks loudest.

Proverbs 19:11 adds, “A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense,” linking clear perception with measured responses.

Proverbs 16:32 echoes, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,” revealing that self-governed emotions outshine worldly power.

James 3:13 asks, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct,” tying wisdom to steady behavior, not sudden outbursts.


but a quick-tempered man

An uncontrolled temper is a warning light of inner disorder.

Proverbs 15:18 notes, “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,” showing anger as a catalyst for conflict.

Proverbs 29:22 adds, “An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression,” revealing how sin multiplies when anger rules.

James 1:20 cautions, “Man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires,” underscoring its spiritual barrenness.

Ephesians 4:26-27 concedes that anger will arise but commands, “Do not let the sun set upon your anger, and do not give the devil a foothold,” stressing swift resolution and boundaries.


promotes folly

Unchecked anger seeds foolish choices that spread to others.

Proverbs 14:17 observes, “A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,” confirming the cause-and-effect.

Proverbs 13:16 says, “Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly,” contrasting thoughtful action with impulsive display.

Proverbs 30:33 pictures anger escalating: “For as churning cream produces butter… so stirring anger produces strife,” illustrating how frustration, once agitated, hardens into visible damage.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 (again) shows folly’s fruit: anger “lodges” and stays, becoming a permanent resident if unaddressed.


summary

Solomon draws a straight line: patience equals wisdom, anger equals folly. The patient person trusts God’s timing, listens, and weighs responses; understanding grows and relationships flourish. The quick-tempered person reacts, inflames situations, and reaps a crop of foolishness. Walk the path of patience; it is the road where God’s wisdom meets daily life.

How does Proverbs 14:28 relate to the concept of divine authority?
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