"It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling."
Proverbs 20:3
“It is an honor for a man to cease from strife.”
“It’s An Honor”
This word “honor” from the Hebrew text is also translated as “justice, righteousness, truthfulness, justification, and salvation” [1] (see BDB). Interestingly, this “honor” is not to the proud or fools but is a quality of the humble.
“Before destruction, the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility” (Proverbs 18:12).
“A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit” (Proverbs 29:23).
The humble, honorable man or woman stays away from the bickering quarrels and disputes that the dis-honorable folks like to partake of. Solomon tells us that fools have no honor, for they are proud. “Honor” is a foreign concept to them.
“As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not seemly for a fool” (Proverbs 26:1).
“Many men feel that honor drives them to dispute and fight with others. This proverb reminds us that often times it is even more honorable for a man to stop striving” [2] (EWC).
Those who believe it is honorable to start fights with others are fools.
“To Cease From Strife”
“to cease from strife—or, better, “to dwell from or without strife,” denoting the habit of life” [3] (JFB).
“But every fool will be meddling.”
Fools love to “meddle,” starting and feeding disputes, sticking their nose where it doesn’t belong. To be meddling means “to break out (in contention)” [4] (BDB).
“Only a fool … starts a dispute …” [5] (CSB).
“Avoiding strife is honorable, though the way some people are quick to quarrel would make one think they thought quarreling is honorable. Such people are fools” [6] (BKC).
“Since any fool can start a quarrel: In many circumstances, it takes a man of honor to stop the fight, but any fool can start the quarrel and continue it” [7] (EWC).
How can we avoid quarrels? “Arguments can be avoided –
“by overlooking insults (12:16),”
“Fools are easily upset, but wise people avoid insulting others” [8] (Proverbs 12:16, HSB).
“by dropping issues that are potentially volatile (17:14).”
“The start of an argument is like a water leak— so stop it before real trouble breaks out” [9] (Proverbs 17:14, CEV).
“and by getting rid of mockers (22:10)” [10] (BKC).
“Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife, and reproach shall cease” (Proverbs 22:10).
Believers, we have a choice to make here. Will we be foolish and add wood to the fiery contentions? Or will we be wise and remove the wood so the fire can go out and peace be resumed? (Proverbs 26:20). [11] Let’s be sure that our names are not added to the list of foolish contenders.
“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18).
Quote: “To engage in quarrels is the greatest folly that can be. Yield, and even give up just demands, for peace’ sake” [12] (Henry).
[1] BDB – Brown, Driver, Briggs. Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Hebrew Definitions, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] EWC – David Guzik. Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.
[3] JFB, Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 1 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 398.
[4] BDB, ibid.
[5] CSB, David K. Stabnow, “Proverbs,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 984.
[6] BKC, Sid S. Buzzell, “Proverbs,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 948.
[7] EWC, ibid.
[8] HSB is the Harvest Study Bible from Harvest Ministries in Guam.
[9] CEV is the Contemporary English Version of the Bible.
[10] BKC, ibid. The emphasis is mine, as well as the added verses.
[11] This verse refers to being a talebearer who causes much strife by adding fuel to the fire. They know how to keep conflicts high by saying the wrong things at the right time… Fools are experts at maintaining arguments rolling along.
[12] Matthew Henry and Thomas Scott, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, 1997), Pr 20:3.