Mishlei 18:6
משלי יח:ו) שִׂפְתֵ֣י כְ֭סִיל יָבֹ֣אוּ בְרִ֑יב וּ֝פִ֗יו לְֽמַהֲלֻמ֥וֹת יִקְרָֽא׃
Mishlei 18:6) The lips of the fool will come in conflict, and his mouth calls out for destruction.
Questions:
Q1: What is being conveyed by the lips of the fool?
Q2: What is the nature of the conflict being described?
Q3: What does it mean to call out for striking or destruction?
Q4: What is the subject of the verse?
ר' סעדיה גאון פירוש משלי יח:ו
ספר מה שרואים בין בני אדם
Saadai Gaon - Commentary on Mishlei
He tells what we see [occur] between people.
There are many different types of verses in Mishlei. Some are parables that convey an idea. Some contrast opposing character traits and personalities, highlighting divergent outcomes. Some draw our attention to a specific phenomenon in the world. Saadia Gaon here points out that King Solomon is sharing an observation about interpersonal interactions.
Description:
The Radak understands this verse to be talking about how the fools words lead to conflict. Or that he enters into a conflict and fans the flames with his words. The Radak is apparently sensitive to the fact the the verse to doesn’t say the words of the fools lead “to” conflict, but that they come “with” or “in” conflict.
Main Idea:
Conflict can intensify certain feelings. It can enflame passions and magnify responses. People say things in a dispute that they don’t mean, or things they do mean or feel but should perhaps not have said out-loud. An outpouring of foolishness can occur in the context of an interpersonal conflict.
This outpouring can have real consequences. It can provoke anger or resentment from the other side. It can reveal inner feelings that one would prefer to remain private. Literally translated as striking or breaking (see Metzudot and Shoftim 5:26), it as if his mouth calls out for destruction. Such a verbal torrent can permanently harm a relationship or cause damage to the individual.
משלי יח:ו) שִׂפְתֵ֣י כְ֭סִיל יָבֹ֣אוּ בְרִ֑יב וּ֝פִ֗יו לְֽמַהֲלֻמ֥וֹת יִקְרָֽא׃
Mishlei 18:6) The [outpouring of the] lips of the fool will come in conflict, and his mouth calls out for destruction.
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