Proverbs 26:1 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 26:1

Note, 1. It is too common a thing for honour to be given to fools, who are utterly unworthy of it and unfit for it. Bad men, who have neither wit nor grace, are sometimes preferred by princes, and applauded and cried up by the people. Folly is set in great dignity, as Solomon observed, Eccl. 10:6. 2. It is very absurd and unbecoming when it is so. It is an incongruous as snow in summer, and as great a disorder in the commonwealth as that is in the course of nature and in the seasons of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:1

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest ,.... Which were very undesirable and unseasonable, yea, very hurtful to the fruits of the earth; and a great obstruction to the labourers in the harvest, and a hinderance to the gathering of it in; and were very rare and uncommon in Judea; it was even a miracle for thunder and rain to be in wheat harvest, 1 Samuel 12:17 ; so honour is not seemly for a fool : for a wicked man; such should not be favoured by kings, and set in high places of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 26:1

As snow in summer - None of these is suitable to the time; and at this unsuitable time, both are unwelcome: so a fool to be in honor is unbecoming. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 26:1

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest. Snow in summer would be quite unnatural and unheard of (see on Proverbs 25:13 ). Rain falls in the usual course of things only at stated times; whence arose the phrase of "the early and of latter rains" (see on Proverbs 16:15 ). From spring to October or November was the dry season, and a storm at harvest time was regarded, not merely as destructive or inconvenient, but as portentous and even supernatural (see 1 Samuel 12:17 , etc.). The two... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 26:1-3

Sayings against folly I. THE INAPTNESS OF HONOURS TO THE FOOLISH MAN . ( Proverbs 26:1 .) According to Jerome, it is something unheard of or impossible to experience, rain in the harvest time (see 1 Samuel 12:17 , sqq .). The advancement of the fool appears to all men unseasonable, even shocking. High place reveals the more clearly the smallness of small souls. Honour is the just reward of virtue and ability. Let men be virtuous and wise, that they may be honoured,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 26:1-9

Honouring the unworthy There are different ways in which we may honour men, whether the wise or the unwise. We may I. ITS PAINFUL INCONGRUITY . "As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool." To hear a fool attempting lamely to discourse wisdom is suggestive of the motion of a man whose "legs are not equal." For the post of honour to be occupied by one who has disgraced himself by guilty foolishness, or who has neglected his opportunities, and is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 26:1-12

Certain proverbs concerning the fool ( kesil ), with the exception, perhaps, of Proverbs 26:2 (see on Proverbs 1:22 ). read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 26:1

Proverbs 26:1. As snow in summer, &c. Unseasonable and unbecoming; so honour is not seemly for a fool Because he neither deserves it, nor knows how to use it, and his folly is both increased and manifested by it. Bishop Patrick considers this as a tacit admonition to kings (for whose use principally, he thinks, this last part of the book of Proverbs was collected) to be very careful in disposing of preferments only to worthy persons; bad men being made worse by them, and usually doing... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:1-28

Fools and troublemakers (26:1-28)Only a fool honours a fool, and only a fool curses another without cause. Such a curse cannot come true (26:1-2). People with wisdom know on which occasions to ignore a fool and on which occasions to answer him (3-5). Fools cannot be trusted. For them, proverbs are as useless as paralysed legs, and honour is as useless as a stone tied to the sling that is supposed to throw it out (6-8). Fools with a little knowledge can be dangerous. As employees, they can... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 26:1

snow in summer . . . rain. These are as rare and as exceptional as honour is to a fool. a fool. Hebrew. kesil. See note on Proverbs 1:7 . read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 26:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 26:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 26:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 26:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 26:1-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 26:1-12

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 26:1

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:1-28

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 26:1

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