A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.
Parallel translations
- WEB A wrathful man stirs up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases strife.
- KJV A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
- ESV A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
- NKJV A wrathful man stirs up strife, But he who is slow to anger allays contention.
- NASB A hot-tempered person stirs up strife, But the slow to anger calms a dispute.
- NLT A hot-tempered person starts fights; a cool-tempered person stops them.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Quick temper inflames conflict, while patience calms it. It matters because self-control over anger is a mark of wisdom that heals relationships.
Overview
The proverb contrasts the wrathful man who fuels strife with the patient man who quiets it. Slowness to anger reflects God's own character, for He is described as slow to anger and abounding in love (Exodus 34:6). Believers are called to imitate this restraint, which the Spirit produces as the fruit of patience and peace (Galatians 5:22).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Prov 15:1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
- Prov 26:21Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
- Matt 5:9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
- Prov 29:22An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.
- Prov 14:29A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
- Eccl 10:4If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
- Jas 1:19–20My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
- Prov 10:12Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.
- Prov 16:28A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.
- Prov 28:25A greedy man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.
- Jas 3:14–16But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.
- Gen 13:8–9So 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 brothers.
- Prov 25:15Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
- Acts 6:1–5In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
- 2 Sam 19:43“We have ten shares in the king,” answered the men of Israel, “so we have more claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of restoring our king?” But the men of Judah pressed even harder than the men of Israel.
- 1 Sam 25:24–44She fell at his feet and said, “My lord, may the blame be on me alone, but please let your servant speak to you; hear the words of your servant.
- Judg 8:1–3Then 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.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 15:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.