What is the meaning of Proverbs 25:28?

Like a city

- Solomon opens with a vivid picture of a bustling, purposeful place. A city is meant to be orderly, protected, and productive (Psalm 48:12-14; Proverbs 18:10).

- God often likens His people to a city set on a hill, designed to shine and draw others to Him (Matthew 5:14-16).

- The comparison calls us to think of our lives as visible, influential communities where Christ’s rule should be evident.

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whose walls are broken down

- Walls were a city’s primary defense; when they crumble, enemies enter at will (Nehemiah 1:3; Isaiah 62:6-7).

- Without solid boundaries, even the finest treasures are exposed (2 Chronicles 32:5).

- Spiritually, the protective “walls” are God’s commands and the Spirit’s fruit that guard heart and mind (Philippians 4:7).

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is a man

- The metaphor shifts from city to individual, stressing personal responsibility (Ezekiel 33:2-6).

- Each believer is accountable for building and maintaining godly defenses—no one else can do it for us (Galatians 6:4-5).

- In Christ, we are “God’s fellow workers…God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9), underscoring how our character affects the larger community.

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who does not control his temper

- “Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city” (Proverbs 16:32).

- Unchecked anger opens breaches where bitterness, strife, and regret march in (Ephesians 4:26-27; James 1:19-20).

- Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Cultivating it repairs walls and restores safety to the soul and to relationships.

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summary

Proverbs 25:28 warns that losing temper is not a harmless outburst but a demolition of spiritual defenses. Just as a city without walls lies open to plunder, a believer without self-control invites destructive influences. By relying on the Spirit, obeying God’s Word, and practicing patience, we rebuild strong walls that protect our testimony and bless all who dwell within our “city.”