Bible Strands
Proverbs 14:17
A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a devious man is hated.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The author of Proverbs addresses a general audience within a wisdom discourse that contrasts the behavioral markers of the prudent with those of the fool. The verse functions as a midpoint definition in a sequence outlining how character determines one's path.
The words — קְצַר־אַפַּיִם (qetsar-'appayim) literally means "short of anger," denoting a quick temper, while מְזִמּוֹת (meziyyoth) translates to "devices" or devious plans. These Hebrew terms directly frame the verse's two parallel warnings against impulsive reaction and calculated deceit.
The thread — The text's explicit claims about anger and deceit recur in Proverbs 14:29, which ties patience to understanding and quick tempers to folly, Proverbs 29:22, which links anger to dissension and transgression, and Ecclesiastes 7:9, which states that quick provocation settles in a fool's lap.
Why it lands — The text states that quick temper produces foolish action and hidden agendas produce hatred. It requires the reader to monitor emotional reactivity and moral transparency, recognizing that impulsive behavior and covert schemes yield self-defeating and socially corrosive results.
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
He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 14:29 A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
- Proverbs 29:22 An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.
- Ecclesiastes 7:9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the lap of a fool.
- James 1:19 My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
- Proverbs 15:18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.
- Proverbs 16:32 He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.
- Proverbs 22:24 Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man,
- Esther 3:6 And when he learned the identity of Mordecai’s people, he scorned the notion of laying hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he sought to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the kingdom of Xerxes.
- Esther 7:5 Then King Xerxes spoke up and asked Queen Esther, “Who is this, and where is the one who would devise such a scheme?”
- Proverbs 6:18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil,