---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Proverbs 26:1. As snow in summer — None of these is suitable to the time; and at this unsuitable time, both are unwelcome: so a fool to be in honour"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/proverbs/26"
---

Verse [Proverbs 26:1](../../../kjv/proverbs/26/1). ***As snow in summer*** — None of these is *suitable* to the *time*; and at this unsuitable time, both are *unwelcome: so a fool* to be *in honour* is *unbecoming*.

Verse [Proverbs 26:2](../../../kjv/proverbs/26/2). ***As the bird*** — צפור *tsippor* is taken often for the *sparrow*; but means generally any small bird. As the *sparrow* flies about the house, and the *swallow* emigrates to strange countries; so an undeserved malediction may flutter about the neighbourhood for a season: but in a short time it will disappear as the bird of passage; and never take effect on the innocent person against whom it was pronounced.

Verse [Proverbs 26:3](../../../kjv/proverbs/26/3). ***A whip for the horse*** — Correction is as suitable to a fool, as a *whip* is for a horse, or a *bridle* for an ass.

Verse [Proverbs 26:4](../../../kjv/proverbs/26/4). ***Answer not a fool*** — On this and the following verse Bishop *Warburton*, who has written well on many things, and very indifferently on the doctrine of grace, has written with force and perspicuity: "Had this advice been given simply, and without circumstance, *to answer* the fool, and *not to answer* him, one who had reverence for the text would satisfy himself in supposing that the different directions referred to the *doing* a thing *in* and *out* *of season*;
1. The reasons given why a *fool should not be answered* *according to his folly*, is, "lest he (the answerer) should be like unto him."
2. The reason given why *the fool should be answered* *according to his folly*, is, "lest he (the fool) should be wise in his own conceit."
"1. The cause assigned for *forbidding to answer*, therefore, plainly insinuates that the defender of religion should not imitate the insulter of it in his modes of disputation, which may be comprised in sophistry, buffoonery, and scurrility.
"2. The cause assigned for directing *to answer*, as plainly intimates that the sage should address himself to confute the *fool* upon his own false principles, by showing that they lead to conclusions very wide from, very opposite to, those impieties he would deduce from them. If any thing can allay the *fool's vanity*, and prevent his being *wise in his own conceit*, it must be the dishonour of having his own principles turned against himself, and shown to be destructive of his own conclusions."-*Treatise on* *Grace. Preface*.

Verse [Proverbs 26:6](../../../kjv/proverbs/26/6). ***Cutteth off the feet*** — Sending by such a person is utterly useless. My old MS. Bible translates well: *Halt in feet* *and drinking wickednesse that sendith wordis bi a foole messager*. Nothing but *lameness* in *himself* can vindicate his sending it by such hands; and, after all, the expedient will be worse than the total omission, for he is likely to *drink wickedness*, i.e., the mischief occasioned by the fool's misconduct. *Coverdale* nearly hits the sense as usual: "He is lame of his fete, yee dronken is he in vanite, that committeth eny thinge to a foole."

Verse [Proverbs 26:8](../../../kjv/proverbs/26/8). ***As he that bindeth a stone in a sling*****, so is*****he that**********giveth honour to a fool.*** — It is entirely thrown away. This, however, is a difficult proverb; and the *versions* give but little light on the subject. The Hebrew may be translated, "As a piece of precious stone among a heap of stones, so is he that giveth honour to a fool." See the *margin*, and *Parkhurst*: but on this interpretation the meaning would rather be, "It is as useless to throw a jewel among a heap of stones to increase its bulk, as to give honour to a fool."
*As he that sendith a stoon into a hepe of monee; so he that* *geveth to an unwiisman wirschip*. - Old MS. Bible.
"He that setteth a foole in hye dignite, that is even as yf a man dyd caste a precious stone upon the galous." - *Coverdale*. This translator refers to the custom of throwing a stone to the *heap* under which a *criminal lay buried*. The *Vulgate* gives some countenance to this translation: "He who gives honour to a fool is like one who throws a stone to Mercury's heap." *Mercury* was considered the deity who *presided over the highways*; and stones were erected in different places to guide the traveller. Hence those lines of Dr. *Young*: -
"Death stands like Mercuries in every way;
And kindly points us to our journey's end."

Verse [Proverbs 26:10](../../../kjv/proverbs/26/10). ***The great*****God*****that formed all*****things**] See the *margin*, where this verse is very differently translated. I shall add that of *Coverdale*: "A man of experience discerneth all thinges well: but whoso hyreth a foole, hyreth soch one as wyl take no hede." The רב *rab* may mean either the great God, or a great man: hence the two renderings, in the *text* and in the *margin*.

Verse [Proverbs 26:11](../../../kjv/proverbs/26/11). ***As a dog returneth to his vomit*** — [2 Peter 2:22](../../../kjv/2-peter/2/22).

Verse [Proverbs 26:13](../../../kjv/proverbs/26/13). ***The slothful*****man*****saith*** — [Proverbs 22:13](../../../kjv/proverbs/22/13).

Verse [Proverbs 26:16](../../../kjv/proverbs/26/16). ***Than seven men that can render a reason.*** — *Seven* here only means *perfection, abundance*, or *multitude*. He is wiser in his own eyes than a *multitude* of the wisest men. "Than seven men that sytt and teach." - *Coverdale*; i.e., than seven *doctors* of the *law*, or *heads* of the schools of the *prophets*, who always *sat* while they *taught*.

Verse [Proverbs 26:17](../../../kjv/proverbs/26/17). ***He that passeth by*** — This proverb stands true *ninety-nine* times out of a *hundred*, where people meddle with *domestic broils*, or differences between *men* and their *wives*.

Verse [Proverbs 26:19](../../../kjv/proverbs/26/19). ***Am not I in sport?*** — How many hearts have been made sad, and how many reputations have been slain, by this kind of *sport*! "I designed no harm by what I said;" "It was only in jest," &c. *Sportive* as such persons may think their conduct to be, it is as ruinous as that of the *madman* who shoots *arrows*, throws *firebrands*, and projects in all directions *instruments of death*, so that some are wounded, some burnt, and some slain.

Verse [Proverbs 26:20](../../../kjv/proverbs/26/20). ***Where no wood is*****, there*****the fire goeth out*** — The tale-*receiver* and the tale-*bearer* are the agents of discord. If none received the slander in the *first* instance, it could not be propagated. Hence our proverb, "The receiver is as bad as the thief." And our *laws* treat them equally; for the *receiver* of stolen goods, knowing them to be stolen, is *hanged*, as well as *he* who *stole them*.

Verse [Proverbs 26:22](../../../kjv/proverbs/26/22). ***The words of a tale-bearer*** — The same with [Proverbs 18:8](../../../kjv/proverbs/18/8), where see the note. [Proverbs 18:8](../../../kjv/proverbs/18/8).

Verse [Proverbs 26:23](../../../kjv/proverbs/26/23). ***Burning lips and a wicked heart*** — Splendid, shining, smooth lips; that is, lips which make great professions of friendship are like a *vessel plated* over with *base metal* to make it resemble *silver*; but it is only a *vile pot*, and even the *outside* is not *pure*.

Verse [Proverbs 26:25](../../../kjv/proverbs/26/25). ***When he speaketh fair*** — For there are such hypocrites and false friends in the world.
***Believe him not*** — Let all his professions go for nothing.
**For there are*****seven abominations in his heart.*** — That is, he is *full of abominations*.

Verse [Proverbs 26:27](../../../kjv/proverbs/26/27). ***Whoso diggeth a pit*** — [Psalms 7:15](../../../kjv/psalms/7/15). There is a *Latin* proverb like this: *Malum consilium consultori* *pessimum*, "A bad counsel, but worst to the giver." *Harm watch; harm catch*.

Verse [Proverbs 26:28](../../../kjv/proverbs/26/28). ***A lying tongue hateth*****those that are*****afflicted by it*** — He that injures another hates him in proportion to the injury he has done him; and, strange to tell, in proportion to the *innocence* of the oppressed. The debtor cannot bear the sight of his creditor; nor the knave, of him whom he has injured.

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