The Meaning of Proverbs 17:27 Explained

Proverbs 17:27

KJV: He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

YLT: One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper is a man of understanding.

Darby: He that hath knowledge spareth his words; and a man of understanding is of a cool spirit.

ASV: He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He that hath  knowledge  spareth  his words:  [and] a man  of understanding  is of an excellent  spirit. 

What does Proverbs 17:27 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 17

1  Contrasts between the Righteous and the Wicked

What do the individual words in Proverbs 17:27 mean?

Spares his words He who has knowledge - is of a calm spirit - [And] a man of understanding
חוֹשֵׂ֣ךְ אֲ֭מָרָיו יוֹדֵ֣עַ דָּ֑עַת [וקר־] (יְקַר־) ר֝֗וּחַ אִ֣ישׁ תְּבוּנָֽה

חוֹשֵׂ֣ךְ  Spares 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חָשַׂךְ  
Sense: to withhold, restrain, hold back, keep in check, refrain.
אֲ֭מָרָיו  his  words 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֵמֶר 
Sense: utterance, speech, word, saying, promise, command.
יוֹדֵ֣עַ  He  who  has 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
דָּ֑עַת  knowledge 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: דַּעַת 
Sense: knowledge.
[וקר־]  - 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular
(יְקַר־)  is  of  a  calm  spirit 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: קַר  
Sense: cool.
ר֝֗וּחַ  - 
Parse:
אִ֣ישׁ  [And]  a  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
תְּבוּנָֽה  of  understanding 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: תְּבוּנָה 
Sense: understanding, intelligence.