Proverbs 26:6 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 26:6-9

To recommend wisdom to us, and to quicken us to the diligent use of all the means for the getting of wisdom, Solomon here shows that fools are fit for nothing; they are either sottish men, who will never think and design at all, or vicious men, who will never think and design well. 1. They are not fit to be entrusted with any business, not fit to go on an errand (Prov. 26:6): He that does but send a message by the hand of a fool, of a careless heedless person, one who is so full of his jests... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:6

He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool ,.... Who knows not how to deliver it in a proper manner, and is incapable of taking the answer, and reporting it as he should; or unfaithful in it, and brings a bad or false report, as the spies did upon the good land; cutteth off the feet ; he may as well cut off his feet before he sends him, or send a man without feet, as such an one; for prudence, diligence, and faithfulness in doing a message, and bringing back the answer, are as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 26:6

Cutteth off the feet - Sending by such a person is utterly useless. My old MS. Bible translates well: Halt in feet and drinking wickednesse that sendith wordis bi a foole messager. Nothing but lameness in himself can vindicate his sending it by such hands; and, after all, the expedient will be worse than the total omission, for he is likely to drink wickedness, i.e., the mischief occasioned by the fool's misconduct. Coverdale nearly hits the sense as usual: "He is lame of his fete, yee... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 26:4-12

Discussion of folly and its treatment I. How we ANSWER THE FOOL . ( Proverbs 26:4 , Proverbs 26:5 .) 1 . Not according to his folly; i . e . so chiming in with his nonsense that yon become as he is. Do not descend into the arena with a fool. Preserve self-respect, and observe the conduct of the Saviour when to folly he "answered not again." 2 . According to his folly; that is, with the sharp and cutting reply his folly invites and deserves. We have also... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 26:6

He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool. This clause comes in the Hebrew after the next. Cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. To entrust an important commission to a fool is to deprive one's self of the means of having it properly executed, and to bring upon one's self shame and injury. A man who is so silly as to employ such an unfit messenger, as it were, cuts off the feet which should bear him on his errand, and, instead of enjoying the satisfaction of seeing the business... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 26:6

Proverbs 26:6. He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool He that employs a fool upon any important business, which is too hard for him; cutteth off the feet Namely, of his messenger: he bids one go that wants legs; he sends one that wants discretion, which is as necessary for that employment as legs are for running or walking; and drinketh damage Brings upon himself abundance of loss and mischief, not only spoiling the business about which he sends him, but making himself... 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 26:6

sendeth a message: or, transacteth business. Cutteth off the feet: i.e. his own feet = renders himself helpless. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 26:6-9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 26:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 26:1-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 26:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 26:4-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 26:6

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 26:6

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:1-28

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 26:6

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