Proverbs 17:28
WEB
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
BSB
Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.
KJV
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H1571
adv — assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and
Derivation: by contraction from an unused root meaning to gather;
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
KJV: again, alike, also, (so much) as (soon), both (so)...and, but, either...or, even, for all, (in) likewise (manner), moreover, nay...neither, one, then(-refore), though, what, with, yea.
adv — also
גַּם 768 adv. denoting addition, also, moreover, yea
H191
a-m — silly
Derivation: from an unused root (meaning to be perverse);
(figuratively) silly
KJV: fool(-ish) (man).
adj — foolish
אֱוִיל 26 adj. foolish
H2790
v — scratch, engrave, plough, fabricate, devise, be silent, let alone, be deaf
Derivation: a primitive root;
to scratch, i.e. (by implication) to engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to fabricate (of any material); figuratively, to devise (in a bad sense); hence (from the idea of secrecy) to be silent, to let alone; hence (by implication) to be deaf (as an accompaniment of dumbness)
KJV: × altogether, cease, conceal, be deaf, devise, ear, graven, imagine, leave off speaking, hold peace, plow(-er, man), be quiet, rest, practise secretly, keep silence, be silent, speak not a word, be still, hold tongue, worker.
vb — be silent
[חָרֵשׁ] vb. 1. be silent, dumb, speechless; 2. be deaf; chiefly poet.
Qal
1. be silent, alw. of God’s keeping silence when men pray
2. be deaf
Hiph.
1. be silent (= exhibit silence)
2. once causat. make silent
3. be deaf, shew deafness
vb — cut in
[חָרַשׁ] vb. cut in, engrave, plough, devise
Qal
1. cut in, engrave
2. plough
3. devise
Niph. Zion, as a field she shall be ploughed
Hiph. fabricating mischief against
H2450
a — wise
Derivation: from 2449;
wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful)
KJV: cunning (man), subtil, (un-), wise((hearted), man).
adj — wise
חָכָם adj. wise
1. skilful in technical work
2. wise in the administration of affairs
3. shrewd, crafty, cunning
4. pl. class of learned and shrewd men, incl. astrologers, magicians and the like
5. prudent
6. wise, ethically and religiously
H2803
v — plait, interpenetrate, weave, fabricate, plot, contrive, think, regard, value, compute
Derivation: a primitive root;
properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a malicious sense); hence (from the mental effort) to think, regard, value, compute
KJV: (make) account (of), conceive, consider, count, cunning (man, work, workman), devise, esteem, find out, forecast, hold, imagine, impute, invent, be like, mean, purpose, reckon(-ing be made), regard, think.
vb — think
חָשַׁב vb. think, account
Qal
I. of man:
1. think, account
2. devise, plan, mean
3. charge, impute
4. esteem, value, regard
5. invent ingenious and artistic things
II. of God:
1. think
2. devise, plan, mean
3. inpute, reckon
4. esteem, value, regard
5. invent ingenious and artistic things
Niph.
1. be accounted, thought, esteemed
2. be computed, reckoned
3. be imputed to any one
Pi.
1. think upon, consider, be mindful of
2. think to do, devise, plan
3. count, reckon, the years since a sale of land
Hithp. among the nations it shall not reckon itself
H331
v — close, contract
Derivation: a primitive root;
to close (the lips or ears); by analology to contract (a window by bevelled jambs)
KJV: narrow, shut, stop.
vb — shut
[אטם] vb. shut, shut up
Qal shut, stop
Hiph. of adder, stopping ears, sim. of wicked.
H8193
n-f — lip, language, margin
Derivation: or (in dual and plural) שֶׂפֶת; probably from 5595 or 8192 through the idea of termination (compare 5490);
the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)
KJV: band, bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip, prating, (sea-)shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words.
n.f — lip
שָׂפָה 176 n.f. lip, speech, edge
1. lip
2. language
3. edge: shore of sea; bank of river
H995
v — separate, distinguish, understand
Derivation: a primitive root;
to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand
KJV: attend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause, make to, get, give, have) understand(-ing), view, (deal) wise(-ly, man).
vb — discern
בִּין vb. discern
Qal
1. perceive
2. understand, know (with mind)
3. observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider (with attention)
4. have discernment, insight, understanding
Niph. be intelligent, discreet, discerning, distinguish, have understanding
Po. he attentively considereth him
Hiph.
1. understand
2. give heed to, attend to, observe, discern
3. give understanding, make understand, teach
Hithp.
1. shew oneself attentive, consider diligently
2. get understanding, understand
3. shew oneself to have understanding
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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.