It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
Parallel translations
- WEB It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be quarreling.
- KJV It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
- NKJV It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel.
- NASB Avoiding strife is an honor for a person, But any fool will quarrel.
- NLT Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.
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
Avoiding strife is honorable; only fools love to quarrel. It is a mark of dignity to keep clear of needless conflict.
Overview
This proverb declares it an honor for a person to keep aloof from strife, while every fool is quick to quarrel. It elevates peaceableness as a sign of true dignity and wisdom. The teaching anticipates Jesus' blessing on peacemakers (Matt. 5:9) and Paul's call to live at peace with all as far as it depends on us (Rom. 12:18), reflecting the reconciling heart of the gospel.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Prov 16:32He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.
- Prov 17:14To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
- Prov 19:11A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
- Prov 18:6A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
- Eph 4:32Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
- Prov 14:29A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
- Jas 4:1What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you?
- Prov 21:24Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man—of him who acts with excessive pride.
- Eph 1:6–8to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.
- Jas 3:14But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.
- Prov 14:17A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a devious man is hated.
- 2 Kgs 14:9But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle.
- Prov 25:8–10do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
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 20:3 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.