Bible Strands
Proverbs 19:11
A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Proverbs is wisdom literature, traditionally ascribed to Solomon, addressed to any person seeking practical understanding rather than to a specific audience in a narrative moment.
The words — שׂכּל (se.khel, "prudence") is the engine of the verse; it is what stretches out (האריך, "makes long") the anger. The second clause names the act of overlooking a transgression as תפארת (ti.Peh.'ar, "glory"), a striking valuation.
The thread — Proverbs 16:32 calls the slow-to-anger greater than a warrior who captures a city; Proverbs 14:29 links patience to great understanding; James 1:19 repeats the "slow to anger" formula in the New Testament.
Why it lands — It asks the reader to stop treating the overlooked offense as a small concession and start treating it as the highest display of character. The verse inverts the usual logic: the one who "wins" the argument is the one who loses.
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 discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
Cross-references
- 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 14:29 A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
- James 1:19 My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
- Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
- Proverbs 15:18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.
- Proverbs 20:3 It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
- Proverbs 12:16 A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
- Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
- Romans 12:18 If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.
- Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?”