Proverbs 17:28 Commentary and Bible Study

Building on the previous proverb, the Spirit puts this in a different way. Even a fool is counted as wise when he refrains from speaking. Has he then actually learnt some true wisdom? Not necessarily, but so uncommon is it for someone to act with self-restraint, that he is likely to be taken for a wise man. Is it good that we misread his character and count him as wise even though he is a fool? No. But the possibility of the mistake emphasises the point that Scripture is making. It is a rare thing for those who think they have knowledge not to blurt it out. They are like those who have no control of their spending. As soon as any money comes into their possession, they spend it immediately because they do not know how to save. The force of the argument is this: if even the fool shows marks of wisdom in restraining his lips and is wrongly considered to be wise, then how much more wonderful is the real thing – the man who has genuine wisdom and knows how to dispense his words prudently.