Proverbs 29:8 Meaning and Explanation
“Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Mockery inflames conflict; wisdom extinguishes it.
The Context of Proverbs 29:8
Proverbs on speech and peace: scorn breeds conflict; wisdom brings peace.
What Does Proverbs 29:8 Mean?
Scornful people—those who mock, ridicule, and disdain others—pour fuel on anger. Their words wound, their laughter humiliates, and soon the entire city is embroiled in tension and violence. What began as individual mockery ripples outward into collective strife.
Wise people work differently. They see anger rising and speak or act to cool it—a soft word, a timely gesture, a refusal to return insult. They know that wrath feeds on provocation and starves on calm reason. Their restraint is not weakness but strength: they defuse the snare before it tightens.
Proverbs 29:8 in the Original Language
latsats (לצץ), 'to scorn' or 'to mock'—to deride or ridicule, often in a way that demeans and alienates.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 29:8
What does Proverbs 29:8 mean?
Mockery inflames conflict; wisdom extinguishes it.
What is the context of Proverbs 29:8?
Proverbs on speech and peace: scorn breeds conflict; wisdom brings peace.