He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Parallel translations
- WEB He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.
- BSB A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
- NKJV He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
- NASB One who withholds his words has knowledge, And one who has a cool spirit is a person of understanding.
- NLT A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.
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
Restrained, calm speech marks a person of true knowledge and understanding. Wisdom shows itself in measured words and a cool spirit.
Overview
Sparing one's words and keeping an even temper are signs of knowledge and discernment, in contrast to the hasty and hot-tempered. The proverb commends self-control of both tongue and emotions as fruit of inner wisdom. James echoes this, urging believers to be slow to speak and slow to anger (James 1:19), a self-mastery that the Spirit produces in those conformed to Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Jas 3:18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
- Jas 1:19Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
- Prov 10:19In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
- Prov 14:29He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
- Prov 15:28The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
- Jas 3:2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
- Eccl 9:17The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
- Prov 16:32He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
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 17:27 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.