Proverbs 17:27
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.
KJV
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H2820
v — restrain, refrain, refuse, spare, preserve, observe
Derivation: a primitive root; also interchangeable with 2821
to restrain or (reflex.) refrain; by implication, to refuse, spare, preserve; to observe
KJV: assuage, × darken, forbear, hinder, hold back, keep (back), punish, refrain, reserve, spare, withhold.
vb — withhold
חָשַׂךְ vb. withhold, refrain
Qal
1.
a. withhold, keep back, keep for oneself
b. keep one from evil, calamity
c. hold in check
d. refrain
e. spare
f. reserve for
2. (abs.) restrain, check (pain) i.e. assuage
Niph. at the day of calamity the wicked is spared
H561
n-m — something said
Derivation: from 559;
something said
KJV: answer, × appointed unto him, saying, speech, word.
n.m — utterance
אֹמֶר n.m. utterance, speech, word, only poet., & exalted style
H3045
v — know, seeing, observation, care, recognition, instruction, designation, punishment
Derivation: a primitive root;
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)
KJV: acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, × could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, be learned, lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, × prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), × will be, wist, wit, wot.
vb — know
יָדַע 943 vb. know
Qal
1.
a. know, learn to know
b. perceive
c. perceive and see; find out and discern
d. discriminate, distinguish
e. know by experience
f. recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess
g. consider
h. not know = not expect
2. know a person, be acquainted with
3. know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse
4.
a. know how, to do a thing, be able to do it
b. be skilful in
5. abs. have knowledge, be wise
Niph.
1. be made known, be or become known, of things
2. make oneself known of pers.
3. be perceived
4. be instructed
Pi. cause to know
Pu. known
Hiph. make known, declare
Hoph. made known
Hithp. make oneself known
H1847
n — knowledge
Derivation: from 3045;
knowledge
KJV: cunning, (ig-) norantly, know(-ledge), (un-) awares (wittingly).
n.f — knowledge
דַּ֫עַת n.f. knowledge
1.
a. knowledge, perception
b. = skill (in workmanship)
c. of proph. knowledge
d. esp. knowledge with moral quality
e. knowledge possessed by God
2. esp. in Wisd Lt = discernment, understanding, wisdom
H3368
a — valuable
Derivation: from 3365;
valuable (objectively or subjectively)
KJV: brightness, clear, costly, excellent, fat, honourable women, precious, reputation.
adj — precious
יָקָר adj. precious, rare, splendid, weighty
H7307
n-f — wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, region of the sky, spirit
Derivation: from 7306;
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)
KJV: air, anger, blast, breath, × cool, courage, mind, × quarter, × side, spirit(-ual), tempest, × vain, (whirl-) wind(-y).
n.f — breath
רוּחַ 378 n.f. (less oft. m.) breath, wind, spirit
1. breath of mouth or nostrils (33 t.)
2. wind (117 t.)
3. spirit, as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation = temper, disposition (76 t.)
4. spirit of the living, breathing being
5. spirit as seat of emotion
6. occasionally (and late) = seat or organ of mental acts
7. rarely of the will
8. רוּחַ esp. of moral character
9. spirit of God (94 t.)
H376
n-m — man
Derivation: contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant);
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
KJV: also, another, any (man), a certain, champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), none, one, people, person, steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare 802.
n.m — man
אִישׁ 2166 n.m. man (= vir)
H8394
n-m — intelligence, argument, caprice
Derivation: and (feminine) תְּבוּנָה; or תּוֹבֻנָה; from 995;
intelligence; by implication, an argument; by extension, caprice
KJV: discretion, reason, skilfulness, understanding, wisdom.
n.f — understanding
תְּבוּנָה n.f. understanding
1. the act
2. the faculty
3. the object of knowledge
4. personified as teacher.
Bible49 app
Get translation compare, commentary, and interlinear study — offline, on iPhone and Mac.
See Bible49
Verses 27–28
Proverbs 17:27–28
Two ways a man may show himself to be a wise man: - 1. By the good temper, the sweetness and the sedateness, of his mind: A man of understanding is of an excellent spirit, a precious spirit (so the word is); he is one that looks well to his spirit, that it be as it should be, and so keeps it in an even frame, easy to himself and pleasant to others. A gracious spirit is a precious spirit, and renders a man amiable and more excellent than his neighbour. He is of a cool spirit (so some read it), not heated with passion, nor put into any tumult or disorder by the impetus of any corrupt affection, but even and stayed. A cool head with a warm heart is an admirable composition. 2. By the good government of his tongue. (1.) A wise man will be of few words, as being afraid of speaking amiss: He that has knowledge, and aims to do good with it, is careful, when he does speak to speak to the purpose, and says little in order that he may take time to deliberate. He spares his words, because they are better spared than ill-spent. (2.) This is generally taken for such a sure indication of wisdom that a fool may gain the reputation of being a wise man if he have but wit enough to hold his tongue, to hear, and see, and say little. If a fool hold his peace, men of candour will think him wise, because nothing appears to the contrary, and because it will be thought that he is making observations on what others say, and gaining experience, and is consulting with himself what he shall say, that he may speak pertinently. See how easy it is to gain men's good opinion and to impose upon them. But when a fool holds his peace God knows his heart, and the folly that is bound up there; thoughts are words to him, and therefore he cannot be deceived in his judgment of men.