Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
Two ways a man may show himself to be a wise man: - 1. By the good temper, the sweetness and the sedateness, of his mind: A man of understanding is of an excellent spirit, a precious spirit (so the word is); he is one that looks well to his spirit, that it be as it should be, and so keeps it in an even...
Commenting on Proverbs 17:27-28
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise,.... Not only one that is sparing of his words, and is really a man of knowledge and understanding; but even a feel, if he is but silent, and does not betray his folly by his words, will be reckoned a wise man by those that do not know him; and, whatever fool he may...
Pro 17:28 Ver. 28 continues the same theme, the value of silence: Even a fool, when he keeps silence, is counted wise; When he shutteth his mouth, discreet. The subj. as well as the pred. of the first line avail for the second. אטם, obturare, occludere, usually of the closing the ear, is here transferred to the mouth. The Hiph. החרישׁ means mutum agere (cf. Arab.