Bible Strands
Proverbs 17:14
To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The wisdom writer addresses Israel in a didactic collection contrasting righteous conduct with folly, placing this injunction between warnings against retaliating against kindness and condemning unjust judicial decisions.
The words — The verb פּ֣וֹטֵֽר (Po.ter) literally means to release or let out, paired with מַ֭יִם (Ma.yim) for water, while נְטֽוֹשׁ (ne.To.osh) commands the reader to abandon or forsake.
The thread — This theme appears in Proverbs 20:3, which notes that a fool initiates quarrels while the honorable resolve them, and in Proverbs 25:8, which warns against hastily bringing disputes to court. The New Testament echoes the warning in 2 Timothy 2:23 by instructing believers to reject speculation that breeds quarreling.
Why it lands — The text demands that a reader recognize initiating conflict unleashes uncontrollable consequences and requires active withdrawal from arguments before they escalate.
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
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 20:3 It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
- Proverbs 25:8 do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
- 2 Timothy 2:23 But reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling.
- Ecclesiastes 7:8 The end of a matter is better than the beginning, and a patient spirit is better than a proud one.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:11 and to aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you.
- Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
- 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 19:11 A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
- Genesis 13:8 So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no contention between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen. After all, we are kinsmen.
- Judges 8:1 Then the men of Ephraim said to Gideon, “Why have you done this to us? Why did you fail to call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they contended with him violently.