Pro 15:2 | KingComments | STEP | Solomon, the king of peace, tells in how to calm down someone who is inflamed in anger. This applies to all situations in which a person is furious because of a (supposed) injustice done to him. It can happen in a family, in a friendship relationship, in the living and working environment and in the church. How important it is then to respond to the outburst of anger with “a gentle answer”. Someone who is agitated in his temper can be calmed down with a gentle or thoughtfully spoken answer, which removes the tension and restores calm. Opposed to a gentle answer is “a harsh word”. This does not calm things down, but rather stirs up anger. A harsh word is not only a hurtful word, but also a sharp word that causes pain or grief. Such a word causes a fierce, angry reaction. When a carnal expression is met with a carnal expression, it is war. We have a clear example of both ways of answering in Scripture. Gideon’s way of addressing the displeased Ephraimites is an example of a soft response (Ri 8:1-3). By what he says, the worst is over. The harshness with which Jephthah speaks to these same again displeased Ephraimites causes a civil war with many casualties (Jdg12:1-6; ). How wise people are can often be determined by what they say ( ). The wise know when, where and how to speak. The good use that wise people make of knowledge with their tongues gives knowledge a good name, makes knowledge acceptable and attractive to others and worth pursuing. Then knowledge is not theory but practice, and knowledge means blessing to those who listen to it. Knowledge comes from the wise and folly from the fools. The so-called knowledge of fools is folly. What comes out of the mouth of fools is nothing but folly. Their mouth spouts with it. The many words that bubble up from their mouth like water from a spring show how foolish of heart they are.

‏ Proverbs 15:2

A Gentle Answer and the Tongue of the Wise

Solomon, the king of peace, tells in Pro 15:1 how to calm down someone who is inflamed in anger. This applies to all situations in which a person is furious because of a (supposed) injustice done to him. It can happen in a family, in a friendship relationship, in the living and working environment and in the church. How important it is then to respond to the outburst of anger with “a gentle answer”. Someone who is agitated in his temper can be calmed down with a gentle or thoughtfully spoken answer, which removes the tension and restores calm.

Opposed to a gentle answer is “a harsh word”. This does not calm things down, but rather stirs up anger. A harsh word is not only a hurtful word, but also a sharp word that causes pain or grief. Such a word causes a fierce, angry reaction. When a carnal expression is met with a carnal expression, it is war.

We have a clear example of both ways of answering in Scripture. Gideon’s way of addressing the displeased Ephraimites is an example of a soft response (Ri 8:1-3). By what he says, the worst is over. The harshness with which Jephthah speaks to these same again displeased Ephraimites causes a civil war with many casualties (Jdg12:1-6; 1Kgs 12:13-16).

How wise people are can often be determined by what they say (Pro 15:2). The wise know when, where and how to speak. The good use that wise people make of knowledge with their tongues gives knowledge a good name, makes knowledge acceptable and attractive to others and worth pursuing. Then knowledge is not theory but practice, and knowledge means blessing to those who listen to it.

Knowledge comes from the wise and folly from the fools. The so-called knowledge of fools is folly. What comes out of the mouth of fools is nothing but folly. Their mouth spouts with it. The many words that bubble up from their mouth like water from a spring show how foolish of heart they are.