Bible Strands
Proverbs 27:3
A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The speaker addresses a general audience within a wisdom collection, placing this maxim between instructions on accepting praise and warnings about destructive emotions.
The words — The Hebrew terms כֹּֽבֶד (koed, heaviness) and אֶ֭בֶן ('E.ven, stone) establish a physical baseline, which is surpassed by וְ/כַ֥עַס (ve./Kha.'as, provocation) from אֱ֝וִ֗יל ('e.Vil, fool).
The thread — This contrast between physical weight and emotional burden connects to Genesis 49:7, which curses strong anger and cruel wrath, and 1 John 3:12, which warns against the destructive lineage of Cain.
Why it lands — The text states that a fool's aggravation carries more weight than physical burdens, demanding that readers recognize emotional toxicity as a heavier liability than material hardship.
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 stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.
Cross-references
- Daniel 3:19 At this, Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual,
- 1 John 3:12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.
- Genesis 49:7 Cursed be their anger, for it is strong, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will disperse them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.
- 1 Samuel 22:18 So the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests himself. On that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.
- Proverbs 17:12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
- Genesis 34:25 Three days later, while they were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons (Dinah’s brothers Simeon and Levi) took their swords, went into the unsuspecting city, and slaughtered every male.
- Esther 3:5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or pay him homage, he was filled with rage.