Bible Strands
Proverbs 12:16
A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The wisdom teacher addresses a student in a structured instruction, positioning the verse between a contrast of the fool’s self-assurance and the wise man’s receptiveness (12:15) and a contrast between truthful speakers and false witnesses (12:17).
The words — The Hebrew כַּעְסוֹ (ka.S/o) literally means "his anger," while קָלֹן (ka.lon) translates to "shame" or "insult," denoting the offense that is either publicly displayed or privately concealed.
The thread — The immediate display versus restrained response to anger is repeated in Proverbs 29:11 and reinforced by the instruction to be slow to anger in James 1:19. The practice of concealing an offense rather than broadcasting it aligns with the principle that love covers transgressions in Proverbs 10:12.
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to identify uncontrolled anger as a diagnostic mark of folly and to deliberately choose concealment over immediate reaction when insulted.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 29:11 A fool vents all his anger, but a wise man holds it back.
- James 1:19 My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
- Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.
- Proverbs 17:9 Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
- Proverbs 25:28 Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.
- Proverbs 14:33 Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; even among fools she is known.
- Proverbs 16:22 Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.
- 1 Kings 19:1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
- 1 Samuel 20:30 Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you?