Proverbs 26:17 (BSB)

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

From Proverbs 26. Also in the ESV.

Commentary on Proverbs 26:17

• Matthew Henry (Presbyterian), Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on Proverbs 26:17: 1. That which is here condemned is meddling with strife that belongs not to us. If we must not be hasty to strive in our own cause (Pro 25:8), much less in other people's, especially theirs that we are no way related to or concerned in, but light on accidentally as we pass by.
• John Gill (Reformed Baptist), Exposition of the Old and New Testaments on Proverbs 26:17: He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him,.... One that going along the streets, and passing by the door, where two or more persons are quarrelling, and he thrusts himself in and intermeddles in the affair he has no concern in; and interests himself in the cause of the quarrel he has nothing to do with, on account of acquaintance, relation...
• Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (Reformed), Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible on Proverbs 26:17: meddleth--as in Pro 20:19; Pro 24:21; as either holding a dog by the ears or letting him go involves danger, so success in another man's strife or failure involves a useless risk of reputation, does no good, and may do us harm.
• Keil & Delitzsch (Lutheran), Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament on Proverbs 26:17: Pro 26:17 A series of proverbs which recommend the love of peace, for they present caricatures of the opposite: 17 He seizeth by the ears of a dog passing by, Who is excited by a strife which concerns him not.