Proverbs 30:32
If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
Original Language Analysis
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
1 of 7
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
נָבַ֥לְתָּ
If thou hast done foolishly
H5034
נָבַ֥לְתָּ
If thou hast done foolishly
Strong's:
H5034
Word #:
2 of 7
to wilt; generally, to fall away, fail, faint
בְהִתְנַשֵּׂ֑א
in lifting up
H5375
בְהִתְנַשֵּׂ֑א
in lifting up
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
3 of 7
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
וְאִם
H518
וְאִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
4 of 7
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
זַ֝מּ֗וֹתָ
thyself or if thou hast thought evil
H2161
זַ֝מּ֗וֹתָ
thyself or if thou hast thought evil
Strong's:
H2161
Word #:
5 of 7
to plan, usually in a bad sense
Cross References
Job 21:5Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.Job 40:4Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.Proverbs 26:12Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.Romans 3:19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern wisdom emphasized control of speech. Egyptian wisdom literature warned against hasty words. The gesture of hand over mouth symbolized humility and restraint (Job 21:5, 29:9). Agur's counsel: recognize folly immediately and cease multiplying it through defensive speech. This requires rare humility.
Questions for Reflection
- When you've 'lifted yourself up' foolishly, do you compound the error by justifying yourself—or do you 'lay your hand upon your mouth'?
- What would it look like to practice immediate silence when you recognize you've erred?
- How does pride make you defend yourself rather than quickly confessing folly?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself (אִם־נָבַלְתָּ בְהִתְנַשֵּׂא, im-navalta vehitnasse)—אִם (im, 'if') introduces a conditional. נָבַל (naval, 'to be foolish, to act as a fool') combined with הִתְנַשֵּׂא (hitnasse, 'to lift oneself up, exalt oneself') describes self-exaltation—the root of so much folly. Pride precedes destruction (Proverbs 16:18).
Or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth (וְאִם־זַמּוֹתָ יָד לְפֶה, ve'im-zammota yad lefeh)—or if זָמַם (zamam, 'to plan, devise, scheme') evil, place יָד (yad, 'hand') upon פֶּה (peh, 'mouth'). The remedy for prideful words or evil schemes: silence. Stop talking. Job learned this: 'I will lay mine hand upon my mouth' (Job 40:4). James 1:19: 'Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.' Silence prevents compound folly—when you've erred, don't make it worse by justifying yourself.