The Meaning of Proverbs 15:1 Explained

Proverbs 15:1

KJV: A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

YLT: A soft answer turneth back fury, And a grievous word raiseth up anger.

Darby: A soft answer turneth away fury; but a grievous word stirreth up anger.

ASV: A soft answer turneth away wrath; But a grievous word stirreth up anger.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

A soft  answer  turneth  away wrath:  but grievous  words  stir up  anger. 

What does Proverbs 15:1 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 15:1-17 - Kind Words And Glad Hearts
A soft answer; the tongue of the wise; a wholesome tongue; the lips of the wise; the prayer of the upright-these keywords touch one of the greatest departments of human influence. If we can rule our speech, or at least hand over our tongue and lips to the keeping of God's Spirit, what a world of trouble we should save ourselves and others! And God would keep watch over us and for us. See Proverbs 15:3, r.v.
Notice, also, the inducements to a right and holy life! Treasure in the house; answered prayer; the love of God; a cheerful heart; a contented mind-such are some of the by-products and experiences of those whose life is "hid with Christ in God." When we put first things in the first place, all else is added.
What a comfort it is that God searcheth our hearts and knoweth them altogether! Yes, and even when He chastens and corrects us, it is well. There is no bliss comparable to that of the forgiven sinner, who is called into "the secret place of the Most High." [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 15

1  A gentle answer turns away wrath

What do the individual words in Proverbs 15:1 mean?

A answer soft turns away wrath but a word harsh stirs up anger
מַֽעֲנֶה־ רַּ֭ךְ יָשִׁ֣יב חֵמָ֑ה וּדְבַר־ עֶ֝֗צֶב יַעֲלֶה־ אָֽף

מַֽעֲנֶה־  A  answer 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מַעֲנֶה 
Sense: answer, response.
רַּ֭ךְ  soft 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַךְ  
Sense: tender, soft, delicate, weak.
יָשִׁ֣יב  turns  away 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
חֵמָ֑ה  wrath 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֵמָא 
Sense: heat, rage, hot displeasure, indignation, anger, wrath, poison, bottles.
וּדְבַר־  but  a  word 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
עֶ֝֗צֶב  harsh 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֶצֶב 
Sense: pain, hurt, toil, sorrow, labour, hardship.
יַעֲלֶה־  stirs  up 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
אָֽף  anger 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַף 
Sense: nostril, nose, face.