Proverbs 26 · Verse 3

Proverbs 26:3

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.
Proverbs 26:3, King James Version

Proverbs 26:3 in other translations

BSBA whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
WEBA whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!
ASVA whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
YLTA whip is for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
DARBYA whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
BBEA whip for the horse, a mouth-bit for the ass, and a rod for the back of the foolish.
WebsterA whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

What does Proverbs 26:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. The rod is as much needed by fools and as well suited to them, as whips and bridles are for beasts.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 A whip for the horse - Correction is as suitable to a fool, as a whip is for a horse, or a bridle for an ass.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Every creature must be dealt with according to its nature, but careless and profligate sinners never will be ruled by reason and persuasion. Man indeed is born like the wild ass's colt; but some, by the grace of God, are changed.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 26:3 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

שׁ֣וֹטShota whipH7752
לַ֭סּוּסLa.susfor <the> horseH5483
מֶ֣תֶגMe.tega bridleH4964
לַחֲמ֑וֹרla.cha.Morfor <the> a donkeyH2543
וְ֝שֵׁ֗בֶטve.She.vetand a rodH7626
לְגֵ֣וle.Gevfor [the] back ofH1460
כְּסִילִֽים\׃ke.si.LimfoolsH3684

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 26:3

  • Proverbs 10:13

    In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:21

    What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

  • Psalms 32:9

    Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

  • Judges 8:5-7

    And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian. And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army? And Gideon said, Therefore when the Lord hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.

  • 2 Corinthians 13:2

    I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:

  • Proverbs 27:22

    Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

  • Proverbs 19:25

    Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

  • 2 Corinthians 10:6

    And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

  • Proverbs 19:29

    Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

  • Proverbs 17:10

    A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
According to our notions, we should rather say, a bridle for the horse, and a whip for the ass; but it should be considered, that the Eastern asses are not only much more beautiful, but better goers that ours; and being active and well broken, they need only a bridle to guide them; whereas their horses being scarce, and often caught wild, and badly broken, are much less manageable, and need the correction of the whip.
10:13; 17:10; 19:25; 27:22; Jud 8:5-7; Ps 32:9; 1Co 4:21; 2Co 10:6
2Co 13:2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 26:2

    As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

  • Proverbs 26:3

    A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.

  • Proverbs 26:4

    Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

Read all of Proverbs 26

Proverbs 26:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El látigo para el caballo, y el cabestro para el asno, y la vara para la espalda del necio.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Le fouet est pour le cheval, la bride pour l’âne, et la verge pour le dos des sots.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Die Peitsche dem Pferde, der Zaum dem Esel, und der Stock dem Rücken der Toren.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Flagellum equo, et camus asino, et virga in dorso imprudentium.