What Does the Bible Say About Arguing With A Fool?

Proverbs 26:4 ESV / 187 helpful votes

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.

Proverbs 18:2 ESV / 183 helpful votes

A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.

Proverbs 29:9 ESV / 170 helpful votes

If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.

Proverbs 1:7 ESV / 106 helpful votes

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 18:6 ESV / 74 helpful votes

A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating.

Proverbs 14:29 ESV / 52 helpful votes

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

Proverbs 26:11 ESV / 42 helpful votes

Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.

Proverbs 20:3 ESV / 41 helpful votes

It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.

James 1:19-20 ESV / 38 helpful votes

Know this, my beloved brothers: 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.

Proverbs 15:2 ESV / 32 helpful votes

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

Psalm 111:10 ESV / 19 helpful votes

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

2 Timothy 2:23-24 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,

Romans 3:11 ESV / 13 helpful votes

No one understands; no one seeks for God.

Romans 1:18 ESV / 13 helpful votes

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

Matthew 7:6 ESV / 12 helpful votes

“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

Proverbs 26:1-28 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight. A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. ...

Isaiah 17:1-14 ESV / 8 helpful votes

An oracle concerning Damascus. Behold, Damascus will cease to be a city and will become a heap of ruins. The cities of Aroer are deserted; they will be for flocks, which will lie down, and none will make them afraid. The fortress will disappear from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus; and the remnant of Syria will be like the glory of the children of Israel, declares the Lord of hosts. And in that day the glory of Jacob will be brought low, and the fat of his flesh will grow lean. And it shall be as when the reaper gathers standing grain and his arm harvests the ears, and as when one gleans the ears of grain in the Valley of Rephaim. ...

Philippians 2:14 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Do all things without grumbling or disputing,

Jeremiah 32:40 ESV / 6 helpful votes

I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.

Proverbs 23:9 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Proverbs 29:11 ESV / 5 helpful votes

A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

Proverbs 26:4-5 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 5 helpful votes

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 12:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

Proverbs 9:10 ESV / 5 helpful votes

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Proverbs 8:27-30 ESV / 5 helpful votes

When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

2 Timothy 4:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

Luke 1:37 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Matthew 5:22 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.

Proverbs 26:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

Proverbs 15:18 ESV / 4 helpful votes

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

Proverbs 1:22 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

Colossians 1:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Proverbs 29:10 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless and seek the life of the upright.

Proverbs 29:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.

Psalm 53:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes

To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.

Psalm 50:1-23 ESV / 3 helpful votes

A Psalm of Asaph. The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest. He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people: “Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!” ...

Revelation 11:1-19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. ...

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

John 3:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Proverbs 29:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes

A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.

Proverbs 18:1-2 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.

Psalm 14:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

To the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.

46 Bible Verses about Arguing With A Fool

Proverbs 26:4 ESV / 187 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 18:2 ESV / 183 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 29:9 ESV / 170 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 1:7 ESV / 106 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 18:6 ESV / 74 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 14:29 ESV / 52 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 26:11 ESV / 42 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 20:3 ESV / 41 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:19-20 ESV / 38 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:2 ESV / 32 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 111:10 ESV / 19 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 2:23-24 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 3:11 ESV / 13 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 1:18 ESV / 13 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 7:6 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 26:1-28 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 17:1-14 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 2:14 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jeremiah 32:40 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 23:9 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 29:11 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 26:4-5 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 12:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 9:10 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 8:27-30 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 4:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 1:37 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:22 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 7:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 26:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:18 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 1:22 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 1:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 29:10 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 29:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 53:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 50:1-23 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 11:1-19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 29:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 18:1-2 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 14:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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