"Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly."
— Proverbs 14:29 (NIV)
Proverbs 14:29 is the "he that is slow to wrath is of great understanding" verse, a short proverb that ties patience to wisdom and a short fuse to foolishness. This page gives the verse, what the key words mean, where it sits in Proverbs 14, and a plain reading. For more on the theme, see Bible verses about patience, Bible verses about self-control, and Bible verses about anger.
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The verse
The King James reads: "He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly."
"Patient" (KJV "slow to wrath") is two Hebrew words, 'arek (H750), long, and 'aph (H639), nostril or anger. Literally it is "long of nostrils," a person whose anger takes a long time to flare. "Great" is rab (H7227) and "understanding" is tebunah (H8394), insight. "Quick-tempered" (KJV "hasty of spirit") is qatser (H7116), short, with ruach (H7307), spirit or breath: a short-spirited person. "Displays" (KJV "exalteth") is rum (H7311), to lift up, and "folly" is 'ivveleth (H200), foolishness.
Where it sits in Proverbs 14
The next verse also talks about the inner life: "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones" (Proverbs 14:30). Earlier in the chapter: "A quick-tempered person does foolish things" (Proverbs 14:17).
Other proverbs say the same thing in different words: "A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel" (Proverbs 15:18), "Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city" (Proverbs 16:32), and "A person's wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory to overlook an offense" (Proverbs 19:11).
What the verse is saying
The proverb sets a long fuse against a short one. A patient person shows great understanding, because waiting gives time to see the whole situation before reacting. A quick-tempered person lifts up foolishness, almost like holding it up for everyone to see.
The Hebrew picture helps. Being "long of nostrils" is the same phrase used of God, who is "slow to anger, abounding in love" (Exodus 34:6). Patience with people is one way of being like him. James 1:19-20 carries the same wisdom into the New Testament: "slow to become angry."
Questions people ask
What does Proverbs 14:29 say?
In the NIV it says, "Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly." The KJV says, "He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly."
What does "slow to wrath" mean?
It means slow to become angry. The Hebrew is literally "long of nostrils," a picture of anger that takes a long time to heat up.
What does "hasty of spirit exalteth folly" mean?
It means a short-tempered person puts foolishness on display. Reacting fast in anger shows a lack of understanding, even when the person feels justified.
How can I become slower to anger?
Pause before you respond, ask what you might be missing, and pray before you speak. Proverbs 19:11 says wisdom produces patience, so growing in understanding helps your temper too.
What verses go with Proverbs 14:29?
James 1:19-20 (slow to become angry), Proverbs 15:1 (a gentle answer turns away wrath), and Proverbs 16:32 (better a patient person than a warrior) are close companions.
