Focused Passage

Proverbs 26:17

Fools, Sluggards, Quarrels, Gossip, Deceitful Speech, and the Ruin of Unrestrained Folly

The chapter moves from an extended warning about fools, to the self-deception of sluggards, to the danger of meddling and harmful joking, to gossip as conflict fuel, and finally to the concealed malice of lying and flattering speech.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

17 Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 17

Original words

Like one who grabs מַחֲזִ֥יק H2388 Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular a dog כָ֑לֶב H3611 Noun - masculine singular by the ears בְּאָזְנֵי־ H241 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine dual construct is a passerby עֹבֵ֥ר H5674 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular who meddles מִ֝תְעַבֵּ֗ר H5674 Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular in עַל־ H5921 Preposition a quarrel רִ֥יב H7379 Noun - masculine singular not לֹּֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle his own לֽוֹ׃ Preposition | third person masculine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.