The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
Parallel translations
- WEB The king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
- BSB The wrath of a king is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
- NKJV As messengers of death is the king’s wrath, But a wise man will appease it.
- NASB The fury of a king is like messengers of death; But a wise person will appease it.
- NLT The anger of the king is a deadly threat; the wise will try to appease it.
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
A king's anger can be deadly, but a wise person knows how to appease it. It matters because wisdom includes discerning how to navigate powerful displeasure.
Overview
This proverb soberly notes the lethal potential of a king's wrath and commends the wisdom that can pacify it. It teaches prudence and tact in dealing with those who hold power. The principle illustrates how wisdom calms anger generally, and points to the greater peace secured by Christ before the wrath of God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Prov 20:2The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
- Prov 19:12The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
- Eccl 10:4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
- Prov 17:11An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
- Acts 12:20And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country.
- 2 Cor 5:20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
- Dan 3:13–25Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
- 2 Kgs 6:31–33Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.
- Luke 12:4–5And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
- Mark 6:27And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
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 16:14 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.