Proverbs 18:13 (KJV)

Passage

He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 18:11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.

Proverbs 18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

Proverbs 18:13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

Proverbs 18:14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

Proverbs 18:15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "answereth", "matter", "before", "heareth", "folly", and "shame". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "answereth" and "matter", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 12's "Before destruction the heart of man is..." into verse 14's "The spirit of a man will sustain...", so "answereth" and "matter" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "answereth" and "matter" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.