Proverbs 18:13He who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~950 BC. Royal court where Solomon teaches wisdom principles. Jerusalem, Kingdom of Israel.
The emotion here: frustrated with witnessing too many rushed judgments
The original word
kesil (כְּסִיל) — fool who acts without thinking, moral deficiency not just lack of knowledge
Why it matters
Hebrew court proceedings required hearing all witnesses before rendering judgment
Read with care
What most readers miss in Proverbs 18:13
This was likely written after Solomon witnessed too many hasty royal decisions
Common misconceptionPeople think this is just about being polite, but it's about the arrogance of assuming you know the full story before listening.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Proverbs 18:13
Bible Genome reading
Proverbs 18:13 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Proverbs 18:13 comes from the book of Proverbs, written during the United Kingdom period. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the wisdom genre of biblical literature. Key themes include wisdom, listening. Notable phrases: answer before he hears; folly and shame.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does Proverbs 18:13 mean to you, today?
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