What is the meaning of Proverbs 17:14? To start a quarrel Proverbs 17:14 opens by naming the moment conflict begins. Scripture treats that spark seriously, because sin often hides in the first flare-up. • “Where there is strife, there is pride” (Proverbs 13:10). Pride refuses to yield and insists on having the last word. • “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife” (Proverbs 15:18), showing that anger, not truth, usually drives the quarrel. • James 4:1 reminds us that “fights and quarrels” rise from desires warring within. The real battleground is the heart. The Lord’s straightforward warning: recognize the first hint of friction as a signal to pause, pray, and choose humility instead of escalation. is to release a flood The picture shifts to water bursting a dam—once released, it cannot be gathered back. • “A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping” (Proverbs 27:15); irritation grows into a torrent. • “A fool vents all his anger” (Proverbs 29:11); unrestrained emotion overruns every boundary. • Genesis 7:11 shows floodwaters breaking open the earth’s fountains—unstoppable once loosed. God’s truth is literal: words pour out and sweep away peace, relationships, even reputations. Better never open the floodgate. so abandon the dispute The command is practical and immediate—drop it. Walk away before words wound. • “Leave the presence of a fool” (Proverbs 14:7); sometimes the wisest speech is silence. • Jesus urges, “Settle matters quickly with your adversary” (Matthew 5:25), because reconciliation honors God more than winning. • “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). The believer’s default posture is peace, not stubborn defense. before it breaks out Timing is everything. Once the dam breaks, damage spreads fast. • “It is to one’s honor to avoid strife” (Proverbs 20:3); honor comes from prevention, not victory. • “Do not let the sun set upon your anger, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:26-27); lingering anger invites the enemy in. • Proverbs 17:14 itself underscores urgency—act at the earliest moment, not after emotions harden. summary Proverbs 17:14 literally compares the first spark of conflict to the opening of a floodgate. Recognize pride in the earliest words, refuse to vent unchecked emotions, and deliberately abandon the quarrel before it spills over. Obeying this verse preserves peace, safeguards relationships, and honors the God who calls His people to be peacemakers. |
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