A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
Parallel translations
- WEB A wrathful man stirs up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases strife.
- BSB A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.
- 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 soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
- Prov 26:21As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
- Matt 5:9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
- Prov 29:22An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
- Prov 14:29He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
- Eccl 10:4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
- Jas 1:19–20Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
- Prov 10:12Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
- Prov 16:28A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
- Prov 28:25He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.
- Jas 3:14–16But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
- Gen 13:8–9And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
- Prov 25:15By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
- Acts 6:1–5And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
- 2 Sam 19:43And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.
- 1 Sam 25:24–44And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.
- Judg 8:1–3And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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.