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Selected Verse: Proverbs 17:28 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Pr 17:28	Strong Concordance	Even a fool [0191], when he holdeth his peace [02790], is counted [02803] wise [02450]: and he that shutteth [0331] his lips [08193] is esteemed a man of understanding [0995].
	King James	Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

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Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Is esteemed - Or, "is" (simply). The maxim would imply that silence is in any case good.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Is esteemed - Or, "is" (simply). The maxim would imply that silence is in any case good.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
Ver. 28 continues the same theme, the value of silence: Even a fool, when he keeps silence, is counted wise; When he shutteth his mouth, discreet. The subj. as well as the pred. of the first line avail for the second. אטם, obturare, occludere, usually of the closing the ear, is here transferred to the mouth. The Hiph. החרישׁ means mutum agere (cf. Arab. khrs, mutum esse), from חרשׁ, which, like κωφός, passes from the meaning surdus to that of mutus (Fl.). The words of Job 13:5, and also those of Alexander: si tacuisses sapiens mansisses, are applicable to fools. An Arab. proverb says, "silence is the covering of the stupid." In the epigrammatical hexameter, πᾶς τις ἀπαίδευτος φρονιμώτατός ἐστι σιωπῶν, the word σιωπῶν has the very same syntactical position as these two participles. (Note: Cf. C. Schultze's Die bibl. Sprichwrter (1860), p. 60f.)

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

Ver. 28 continues the same theme, the value of silence:

Even a fool, when he keeps silence, is counted wise;

When he shutteth his mouth, discreet.

The subj. as well as the pred. of the first line avail for the second. אטם, obturare, occludere, usually of the closing the ear, is here transferred to the mouth. The Hiph. החרישׁ means mutum agere (cf. Arab. khrs, mutum esse), from חרשׁ, which, like κωφός, passes from the meaning surdus to that of mutus (Fl.). The words of Job 13:5, and also those of Alexander: si tacuisses sapiens mansisses, are applicable to fools. An Arab. proverb says, "silence is the covering of the stupid." In the epigrammatical hexameter,

πᾶς τις ἀπαίδευτος φρονιμώτατός ἐστι σιωπῶν,

the word σιωπῶν has the very same syntactical position as these two participles.

(Note: Cf. C. Schultze's Die bibl. Sprichwrter (1860), p. 60f.)

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Even a fool - He is counted wise as to that particular. He may know that he cannot speak well, and he has sense enough to keep from speaking. He is, as to that particular, a wise fool. A man may be golden-mouthed and silver-tongued in eloquence; but to know when and where to speak and to be silent, is better than diamonds. But who that thinks he can speak well can refrain from speaking? His tongue has no rest.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

Even a fool - He is counted wise as to that particular. He may know that he cannot speak well, and he has sense enough to keep from speaking. He is, as to that particular, a wise fool.

A man may be golden-mouthed and silver-tongued in eloquence; but to know when and where to speak and to be silent, is better than diamonds. But who that thinks he can speak well can refrain from speaking? His tongue has no rest.

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