Answer a fool, or answer him not?
The two proverbs stand together on purpose: don’t answer the fool in his own manner, but answer him so as to show his folly.
The Passages
Proverbs 26:4
Proverbs 26:5
The Difficulty
“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him” (Proverbs 26:4). “Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit” (Proverbs 26:5).
The Answer
The two are set side by side on purpose, and each gives its own reason. Verse 4 forbids answering a fool in his own manner, with railing for railing, “lest thou also be like unto him.” Verse 5 bids answering him as his folly deserves, so that it is shown up, “lest he be wise in his own conceit.” Gill: he is to be answered and not answered “according to different times, places, and circumstances, and manner of answering.” Haley gives this too: sometimes silence is the fitting answer, and sometimes the fool must be answered.
Sources
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and when an answer is returned, it should not be in his foolish way and manner, rendering evil for evil, and railing for railing
Checked against: Internet Archive scan of the first edition, 2026-10-28 -
he is to be answered and not answered according to different times, places, and circumstances, and manner of answering
Checked against: Internet Archive scan of the first edition, 2026-10-28 -
Or, the two texts may refer to different cases, thus: In certain circumstances, do not answer the fool at all.
Checked against: Internet Archive scan of the 1874 edition, 2026-10-28
