Proverbs 26:3
WEB
A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!
BSB
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
KJV
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H7752
n-m — lash
Derivation: from 7751;
a lash (literally or figuratively)
KJV: scourge, whip.
n.m — scourge
שׁוֹט n.m. scourge, whip
H5483
n-m — horse, swallow, flight
Derivation: or סֻס; from an unused root meaning to skip (properly, for joy);
a horse (as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid flight)
KJV: crane, horse (-back, -hoof). Compare 6571.
n.m — horse
סוּס 138 n.m. horse
n.[m.] — swallow
סוּס n.[m.] swallow or swift
H4964
n-m — bit
Derivation: from an unused root meaning to curb;
a bit
KJV: bit, bridle.
n.m — bridle
מֶ֫תֶג n.m. bridle
1. lit. bridle, for animals
2. fig. = control, authority
H2543
n-m — ass, red
Derivation: or (shortened) חֲמֹר; from 2560;
a male ass (from its dun red)
KJV: (he) ass.
n.m — (he)-ass
חֲמוֹר n.m. (he)-ass
H7626
n-m — scion, stick, clan
Derivation: from an unused root probably meaning to branch off;
a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan
KJV: × correction, dart, rod, sceptre, staff, tribe.
n.m — rod
שֵׁ֫בֶט 189 n.m. 1. rod, staff, club, sceptre. 2. tribe
H1460
n-m — back, middle
Derivation: from 1342 (corresponding to 1354);
the back; by analogy, the middle
KJV: among, back, body.
n.[m.] — back
גֵּו n.[m.] back
H3684
n-m — fat, stupid, silly
Derivation: from 3688;
properly, fat, i.e. (figuratively) stupid or silly
KJV: fool(-ish).
n.m — stupid fellow
כְּסִיל 70 n.m. stupid fellow, dullard, fool
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Verse 3
Proverbs 26:3
Here, 1. Wicked men are compared to the horse and the ass, so brutish are they, so unreasonable, so unruly, and not to be governed but by force or fear, so low has sin sunk men, so much below themselves. Man indeed is born like the wild ass's colt, but as some by the grace of God are changed, and become rational, so others by custom in sin are hardened, and become more and more sottish, as the horse and the mule, Psa 32:9. 2. Direction is given to use them accordingly. Princes, instead of giving honour to a fool (Pro 26:1), must put disgrace upon him - instead of putting power into his hand, must exercise power over him. A horse unbroken needs a whip for correction, and an ass a bridle for direction and to check him when he would turn out of the way; so a vicious man, who will not be under the guidance and restraint of religion and reason, ought to be whipped and bridled, to be rebuked severely, and made to smart for what he has done amiss, and to be restrained from offending any more.
Cross-references: Ps 32:9 · Prov 26:1