Bible Strands
Proverbs 18:6
A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The wisdom author addresses a general listener within a structured collection of practical instructions, placing this verse between a warning about judicial partiality and a statement on the self-destructive nature of foolish speech.
The words — כְ֭סִיל (Khe.sil) denotes a practical fool, and לְֽ/מַהֲלֻמ֥וֹת (le./ma.ha.lu.Mot) literally means "for blows" or "for beatings."
The thread — The destructive power of foolish speech appears in Proverbs 16:27, which compares a worthless man's words to scorching fire, and Proverbs 27:3, which states that aggravation from a fool outweighs heavy burdens. The immediate context in Proverbs 18:5 and 18:7 frames this warning within themes of justice and self-ruin.
Why it lands — The text states that a fool's speech actively generates conflict and physical danger, requiring the reader to monitor their words to avoid self-inflicted harm.
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 lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 27:3 A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.
- Proverbs 16:27 A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
- Proverbs 22:24 Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man,
- Proverbs 12:16 A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
- Proverbs 13:10 Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised.
- Proverbs 14:3 The proud speech of a fool brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.
- Proverbs 14:16 A wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless.
- Proverbs 17:14 To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
- Proverbs 19:19 A man of great anger must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do so again.
- Proverbs 19:29 Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.