Proverbs 26:3
New International Version
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!

New Living Translation
Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle, and a fool with a rod to his back!

English Standard Version
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.

Berean Standard Bible
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!

King James Bible
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

New King James Version
A whip for the horse, A bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the fool’s back.

New American Standard Bible
A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the back of fools.

NASB 1995
A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the back of fools.

NASB 1977
A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the back of fools.

Legacy Standard Bible
A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the back of fools.

Amplified Bible
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the backs of fools [who refuse to learn].

Christian Standard Bible
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools.

American Standard Version
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of fools.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
A whip for a horse and a goad for a donkey, so also is a rod for the fool.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so is a rod for a simple nation.

Contemporary English Version
Horses and donkeys must be beaten and bridled--and so must fools.

Douay-Rheims Bible
A whip for a horse, and a snaffle for an ass, and a rod for the back of fools.

English Revised Version
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A whip is for the horse, a bridle is for the donkey, and a rod is for the backs of fools.

Good News Translation
You have to whip a horse, you have to bridle a donkey, and you have to beat a fool.

International Standard Version
A whip is for the horses, a bridle is for the donkey, a rod is for the back of fools.

JPS Tanakh 1917
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of fools.

Literal Standard Version
A whip is for a horse, a bridle for a donkey, | And a rod for the back of fools.

Majority Standard Bible
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!

New American Bible
The whip for the horse, the bridle for the ass, and the rod for the back of fools.

NET Bible
A whip for the horse and a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!

New Revised Standard Version
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.

New Heart English Bible
A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.

Webster's Bible Translation
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

World English Bible
A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!

Young's Literal Translation
A whip is for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Similitudes and Instructions
2Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. 3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! 4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.…

Cross References
Psalm 32:9
Do not be like the horse or mule, which have no understanding; they must be controlled with bit and bridle to make them come to you.

Proverbs 10:13
Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.

Proverbs 19:29
Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.


Treasury of Scripture

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

Proverbs 10:13
In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

Proverbs 17:10
A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

Proverbs 19:25
Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

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Proverbs 26
1. observations about fools
13. about sluggards
17. and about contentious busybodies














Verse 3. - A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass. We should be inclined to invert the words, and say a bridle for the horse, and a whip for the ass; but it must be remembered that in early times the horse was not ridden, but only driven. The animals used in riding were the ass and mule, and sometimes the camel. The Eastern ass is really a fine animal, larger, more spirited, and more active than the poor creature which we are wont to see. Or the whip and bridle may be intended to apply to both animals, though divided between the two for rhythmical or antithetical reasons (see on Proverbs 10:1). A rod for the fool's back. Sharp correction is beth useful and necessary for the fool (so Proverbs 10:13; Proverbs 19:29). Similar treatment Siracides advises to be employed in the case of an idle servant (Ecclus. 30:24-28). Septuagint, "As a whip for a horse and a goad for an ass, so is a rod for a lawless nation."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
A whip
שׁ֣וֹט (šō·wṭ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7752: A scourge, whip

for the horse,
לַ֭סּוּס (las·sūs)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5483: A swallow, swift (type of bird)

a bridle
מֶ֣תֶג (me·ṯeḡ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4964: A bridle

for the donkey,
לַחֲמ֑וֹר (la·ḥă·mō·wr)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2543: A male ass

and a rod
וְ֝שֵׁ֗בֶט (wə·šê·ḇeṭ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7626: Rod, staff, club, scepter, tribe

for the backs
לְגֵ֣ו (lə·ḡêw)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1460: The back, the middle

of fools!
כְּסִילִֽים׃ (kə·sî·lîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3684: Stupid fellow, dullard, fool


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 26:3 A whip is for the horse (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 26:2
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