Proverbs 17:27 Commentary and Bible Study

A man who possesses knowledge and knows the value of knowledge is sparing with his words. Why is this? Should he not speak all the more so that he shares his knowledge and others also enjoy the benefit of it? There are various reason why he does not do so, but waits for the right opportunity to speak. True knowledge brings with it a humility that is ready to concede that other may know more and it is better to let those with more knowledge speak first. True knowledge is not competitive but thinks more highly of the other and so is not in a rush to show itself. Knowledge is not something to be paraded about so that it becomes an instrument of boasting, but because it is so precious to its owner, he is careful not to devalue it by using it inappropriately. Neither does he waste words. He does not speak to those who will not appreciate knowledge or throw pearls before swine. He does not allow good words to be denigrated, for it is a shameful thing to be so keen to display knowledge that we do not care if it is doing any good to the hearer. It certainly will not do them any good if they treat it lightly and despise the insights of wisdom. Therefore the man with knowledge watches carefully to see how much his words are understood and waits for knowledge to be appreciated before giving more. He certainly has much to pass on to those who hunger and thirst for knowledge, but to those who disdain his words he will speak sparingly. His knowledge is his treasure and he will not allow fools to deride it by their foolish response.Solomon helps us to understand what it means by providing a surprising second part to this proverb. What does a man who is sparing with his words have to do with someone who has an excellent spirit? This is the explanation for his care with his words. That knowledge is not simply something to be passed on to others but it also teaches the man himself. If it did not, it would have lost one proof of its excellence. We teach ourselves before we teach others, and if our medicine cannot heal us, it has little to recommend it to others. It is the wisdom that it teaches us that persuades us to be modest and sparing with our words, and to want to do good with them and not to boast.