The Meaning of Proverbs 26:4 Explained

Proverbs 26:4

KJV: Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

YLT: Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him -- even thou.

Darby: Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

ASV: Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Answer  not a fool  according to his folly,  lest thou also be like  unto him. 

What does Proverbs 26:4 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 26

1  observations about fools
13  about sluggards
17  and about contentious busybodies

What do the individual words in Proverbs 26:4 mean?

Not do answer a fool according to his folly lest be like him also you
אַל־ תַּ֣עַן כְּ֭סִיל כְּאִוַּלְתּ֑וֹ פֶּֽן־ תִּשְׁוֶה־ לּ֥וֹ גַם־ אָֽתָּה

תַּ֣עַן  do  answer 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Jussive, second person masculine singular
Root: לְעַנּׄות 
Sense: to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout.
כְּ֭סִיל  a  fool 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כְּסִיל  
Sense: fool, stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one.
כְּאִוַּלְתּ֑וֹ  according  to  his  folly 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אִוֶּלֶת  
Sense: foolishness, folly.
פֶּֽן־  lest 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: פֶּן  
Sense: lest, not, beware lest adv.
תִּשְׁוֶה־  be  like 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁוָה 
Sense: to agree with, be or become like, level, resemble.
גַם־  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.