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“A gentle answer quiets anger,
but harsh words stir it up.
The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing,
but the mouth of a fool gushes out foolishness.”
(Proverbs 15:1–2, my rendering based on common translations)
Let us look at what the Word of God says.
This brief proverb exposes one of the most critical battlefields in the Christian life: the tongue. The writer of Proverbs, moved by the Holy Spirit, brings us face to face with a reality many believers ignore—words are not neutral. Words heal or wound. Words build or destroy. Words release peace or provoke strife. Words reveal whether we are walking in wisdom or in folly.
Proverbs 18:21 states it plainly:
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
What you speak, you will eat. Your words create an atmosphere around your life, your home, your marriage, your children, your church. This short song, built on Proverbs 15:1–2, is not simply about “being nice” or “polite speech.” It is about spiritual alignment—either with the wisdom of God or with the folly of the flesh. It is about opening the door either to the Holy Spirit or to strife, confusion, and demonic activity (James 3:16).
The central theme is clear:
There is wisdom in words.
There is power in tone.
There is spiritual consequence in what we say—and how we say it.
Proverbs belongs to the wisdom literature of the Old Testament. Much of it is attributed to Solomon, king of Israel, to whom God gave exceptional wisdom (1 Kings 3:12). These sayings were not written in an academic classroom. They were forged in royal courts, family life, leadership pressures, conflicts, confrontations, and the daily realities of governing a people.
Proverbs 15 is part of a larger collection contrasting the wise and the foolish. The structure is often in couplets—two lines placed in tension:
In Proverbs 15:1–2, we have two such contrasts:
1. Gentle answer vs. harsh words
2. Tongue of the wise vs. mouth of a fool
The setting assumed is relational conflict.
There is anger. There is tension. There is a situation where someone is provoked, or feels wronged, or is ready to attack verbally. Most of us know such situations very well—in families, in marriages, at workplaces, in church leadership, and between believers.
The Spirit of God is addressing specifically:
It is important to see: these verses are not abstract. They speak into real life—arguments, misunderstandings, accusations, correction, rebuke, conflict. And the Spirit of God says: the difference between escalation and resolution often lies in the kind of answer you give, and the kind of tongue you cultivate.
Two key expressions in this passage open the heart of the message.
### 1. “Gentle answer” – Hebrew: *ma‘aneh rakh* (מַעֲנֶה רַךְ)
“Rakh” is used of a soft tongue (Prov 25:15), of tender hearts, and of something easily shaped rather than resistant. It is not weakness, but controlled strength. A gentle answer is not compromise with sin, nor avoidance of truth. It is truth wrapped in controlled tone, under the discipline of the Spirit, not driven by wounded ego or anger.
So the Scripture is not saying: “Say nothing hard.” It is saying: “Do not answer in a hard *way*.” Firm content can be given in a gentle manner.
### 2. “Harsh words” – Hebrew: *davar-‘etsev* (דָּבָר־עֶצֶב) / “grievous words”
In many translations, the phrase is rendered “harsh words” or “grievous words.” The core idea is of words that cause pain, words that wound, words that trouble. They are words that press on sore places, words that inflame rather than heal.
Anger is like a small fire; harsh, wounding words are like pouring fuel on that fire. They stir it up, make it rise, extend its damage.
### 3. “Makes knowledge appealing” – Hebrew: *yatib da‘at* (יֵיטִיב דָּעַת)
Literally: “makes knowledge good,” or “uses knowledge rightly.” The idea is not only possessing knowledge, but presenting it in a form that is fitting, pleasant, and helpful. Wisdom does not only know the truth; wisdom knows how to present the truth.
The tongue of the wise does not make knowledge heavy, confusing, or repulsive. It makes knowledge profitable, accessible, and attractive—so that others are inclined to receive it rather than resist it.
Now connect this to the lyrics:
“The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing.”
The wise person’s speech takes God’s truth and presents it in a way that draws people, not drives them away.
The lyrics simply repeat the text, which in itself is highly significant. Repetition in Hebrew thought is often emphasis. The Spirit is underlining these truths:
> “A gentle answer quiets anger,
> but harsh words stir it up.
> The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing,
> but the mouth of a fool gushes out foolishness.”
We will unpack this in four movements.
### A. “A gentle answer quiets anger”
The Hebrew literally says: “A soft answer turns back wrath.”
Anger is a spiritual reality. Scripture distinguishes between righteous and unrighteous anger (Eph 4:26), but in either case, anger is volatile. It can easily move from legitimate grievance into sinful rage, bitterness, and open strife.
Notice:
That means:
This is a profound spiritual principle:
A Spirit-controlled response can redirect an already hostile atmosphere.
James 1:19–20 confirms this:
“Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
The gentle answer is slow to speak and slow to anger. It is measured, controlled, submitted to God. It is not reactive; it is redemptive.
In spiritual warfare terms:
Romans 12:21 says:
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
The gentle answer is good overcoming evil speech.
### B. “But harsh words stir it up”
Here we have a spiritual law of cause and effect. Harsh words do not merely “accompany” anger; they *stir it up*. Like a stick thrust into a fire, they cause what was smoldering to blaze.
Harsh words can include:
Even if the content is technically true, harsh *delivery* can become sin and produce strife. Ephesians 4:29 commands:
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths,
but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion,
that it may give grace to those who hear.”
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