Answering too quickly without listening first is both foolish and shameful.
Proverbs 18:13 addresses listening: He who gives an answer before he hears, It is folly and shame to him (v. 13). Solomon warns against premature judgment and impulsive speech.
To give an answer before he hears is to respond without understanding the matter. This can come from pride, impatience, or the desire to appear knowledgeable. Whatever the cause, it is folly because it bypasses one of wisdom’s first duties: careful listening.
It is also shame, because speaking too soon often exposes the speaker as shallow, careless, or self-centered. Wisdom listens long enough to understand. The fool answers early because he is more interested in speaking than in knowing.
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Proverbs 18:13 meaning
Proverbs 18:13 addresses listening: He who gives an answer before he hears, It is folly and shame to him (v. 13). Solomon warns against premature judgment and impulsive speech.
To give an answer before he hears is to respond without understanding the matter. This can come from pride, impatience, or the desire to appear knowledgeable. Whatever the cause, it is folly because it bypasses one of wisdom’s first duties: careful listening.
It is also shame, because speaking too soon often exposes the speaker as shallow, careless, or self-centered. Wisdom listens long enough to understand. The fool answers early because he is more interested in speaking than in knowing.