He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
Parallel translations
- WEB Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
- BSB Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who does not control his temper.
- NKJV Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.
- NASB Like a city that is broken into and without walls So is a person who has no self-control over his spirit.
- NLT A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.
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 person without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken walls. Lack of restraint leaves one exposed to ruin.
Overview
In the ancient world a breached wall meant a city was open to every enemy, so the proverb pictures the undisciplined person as utterly vulnerable. Self-control is a vital protection for the soul. It is named as a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:23), produced by God's grace at work in the believer.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- 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.
- Prov 22:24Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
- 2 Chr 32:5Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.
- Neh 1:3And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
- 1 Sam 20:30Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness?
- 1 Sam 25:17Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.
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 25:28 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
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