What does this mean to you?

Question

Proverbs Ch26 v4-5
Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you will be like him yourself.
Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.

I have my own thoughts, but am curious to see what other people make of it...

Answer 1

If you agree with a fool you or argue with a fool you will be one yourself. If you say nothing in opposition he will think that he is speaking the truth.

I think it is a damn if you do, damn if you don't situation.

Answer 2

I think it means that you answer a fool or not according to the circumstance, and how obvious the foolishness is. For instance, there are fools whose foolishness is obvious to anyone who listens. There is no need to answer this kind of person, because nothing they say merits an answer. Getting into a dialog with this kind of person brings you down to their level.

However there are fools whose foolishness is subtle, and capable of leading others astray - this kind is potentially destructive, especially when the fool is articulate and getting some attention. It can be important to expose the folly in what this person says, to prevent the damage that results in listening to and following the advice of a fool, and also to put such a person in his place. If allowed to go unchecked, this type of fool begins to think very highly of himself and there is no end to chaos he will begin to create.

The real trick in this is to accurately determine if the fool is the other guy, or if you are really the fool! ;)

Answer 3

The Hebrew is:
`anah k@ciyl 'ivveleth shavah
`anah k@ciyl 'ivveleth chakam `ayin

Here's my inexpert rendering, taken word by word from www.blueletterbible.com.

Answer a fool's foolishness with a simile or analogy (sense of proportion - because they just won't get a metaphor - they're probably in a cult and would take it literally).
Answer a fool's foolishness with a wise eye (analogy is linked to facial recognition, however a wise person's use of their brain would possibly bypass a sense of just matching up assessments by their eye and mind of "how much").

The message is "use an analogy or simile but feel free to let your own mind use metaphor."

I disagree with comments here that ignore Jesus' habit of associating with sinners and tax collectors. And it doesn't mean to correct a mocker, either (see Proverbs 9:7, 8).

Answer 4

Pro 26:4
Two sides of a truth. To “answer a fool according to his folly” is to bandy words with him, to descend to his level of coarse anger and vile abuse;

Pro 26:5 it is to say the right word at the right time, to expose his unwisdom and untruth to others and to himself, not by a teaching beyond his reach, but by words that he is just able to apprehend.

Answer 5

Don't answer a fool by doing the same thing he does but don't let him go on believing he is justified by not answering him.

Answer 6

Be careful of the Book of Proverbs. Some of the proverbs are wise and some are completely wrong. They all come from a human being, not from God.

Answer 7

It sounds like a trick with semantics.

Don't bring yourself down to a fools level, but inform him that he is behaving foolishly.

Answer 8

26:4: do not stoop to his level

26:5: sometimes folly must be plainly exposed and denounced.

Answer 9

On the one hand don't be like a fool when you answer him. On the other hand point out to him why what he says is foolish.

Answer 10

That if you respond to the provocations of another with a like retort, whether it be anger, sass, impertinence or insult the person believes themselves justified in their offense.

I you respond to the provocations of another by identifying it peacefully, and not engaging they are left with the truth of their actions (which they may not acknowledge due to unpleasantness)