Translation commentary on Proverbs 18:13

“If one gives answer before he hears”: This line speaks of the person who lacks self-control and gives his opinion before the other person finishes speaking. “Gives answer” or “replies” (to a question or comments) is literally “answers a matter” or “speaks about something.” “Before he hears” means “before he hears the entire matter” or “before he hears what is said to him.”

“It is his folly and shame”: that is, to reply without hearing all that is being said is foolish and insulting. “Shame” renders a word that means “disgrace” or “dishonor.” Some take it to mean “insult.” Revised English Bible translates “is both stupid and insulting.” See also Good News Translation.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

complete verse (Proverbs 18:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 18:13:

  • Kupsabiny: “A foolish person brings shame on himself when (he) jumps into words (speaks too quickly)
    without listening carefully.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Listen before [you] answer,
    otherwise you will be a fool
    and will be put to shame.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Stupid and shameful is the man who answers without listening first.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “It is shameful if there-is someone who answers who doesn’t first listen to the question, and that is the evidence of his foolishness.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Those who reply to someone before that person has finished speaking are foolish;
    doing that is disgraceful.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Proverbs 18:13

18:13

In this proverb, the second line describes the action in the first line as “folly.” The result of this action is “disgrace.”

13a He who answers a matter before he hears it—

13b this is folly and disgrace to him.

The Berean Standard Bible uses a long dash to separate the two lines. Some other ways to express the relationship between the two lines are:

13a If one gives answer before hearing, 13b it is folly and shame. (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
13a To retort without first listening 13b is both foolish and embarrassing. (New Jerusalem Bible)

18:13a

He who answers a matter before he hears it: This line refers to a person who interrupts another person’s question or statement. He replies before he has listened carefully to the whole question. So he does not really understand what the other person is trying to say. Some other ways to translate this line are:

To answer a question before you have heard it out (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Anyone who answers without listening (New Century Version)

18:13b

this is folly and disgrace to him: In Hebrew, this clause is more literally “that is folly to him and shame.” When a person “answers a matter before he hears it,” it shows his folly or foolishness.

disgrace: It also causes disgrace. It results in the fool being shamed, embarrassed, or humiliated. The situation itself may also cause embarrassment to others.

Some other ways to translate 18:13b are:

is foolish and disgraceful (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-
is both shameful and foolish (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
shows his foolishness and causes him shame/embarrassment

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