John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:5
Answer a fool according to his folly ,.... The Targum is, "but speak with a fool in thy wisdom;' and the Syriac version, "yea, speak with a fool according to thy wisdom;' which would at once remove the seeming contradiction in these words to the former, but then they are not a true version; indeed it is right, and must be the sense, that when a fool is answered, as it is sometimes necessary he should, that it be done in wisdom, and so as to expose his folly; he is to be answered and... read more
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:4
Answer not a fool according to his folly ,.... Sometimes a fool, or wicked man, is not to be answered at all; as the ministers of Hezekiah answered not a word to Rabshakeh; nor Jeremiah the prophet to Hananiah; nor Christ to the Scribes and Pharisees; and when an answer is returned, it should not be in his foolish way and manner, rendering evil for evil, and railing for railing, in the same virulent, lying, calumniating, and reproachful language; lest thou also be like unto him ; lest... read more