Why are we told to answer not a fool according to his folly (Proverbs 26:4)?

TL;DR:

Proverbs 26:4–5 advises discernment when interacting with a fool. We are advised to correct a person’s foolishness without becoming foolish like them.

In Proverbs 26 Solomon discusses the characteristics of a fool and how to interact with one. Solomon points out that fools and honor are as odd together as “snow in summer” (Proverbs 26:1). He advises discipline for fools (Proverbs 26:3). This is an apt lead-in to Proverbs 26:4–5, which offers additional wisdom on interacting with such people. Solomon tells readers to "answer not a fool according to his folly lest you be like him yourself” (Proverbs 26:4). We are cautioned against becoming the very type of person that we are trying to correct. Immediately after that sentence, the proverb states that one should “answer a fool according to his folly,” but the reason given is different: “lest he be wise in his own eyes” (Proverbs 26:5). Proverbs 26:4 and 26:5 are not contradictory, as some might believe from a quick reading. Instead, both are true: At times, we should interact with fools to correct them (Proverbs 26:5), but in doing so, we should not act as fools ourselves (Proverbs 26:4).

from the old testament

Some Old Testament passages provide examples of what a fool is so that readers can be alert to avoid emulating them, such as Proverbs 1:7, which says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction," and Proverbs 18:2, which notes, "A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion." Proverbs 26:11 also describes a foolish person as one who “repeats his folly,” not learning from his mistakes.
Another characteristic of a fool is not having a proper attitude toward the Lord. Psalm 14:1 says, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” Denying the obvious evidence of a Creator is foolishness (Psalm 19).
Proverbs 1:7 asserts that fools lack proper reverence for God and the humility that would make them receptive to wisdom: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; / fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7).
In Numbers, Aaron and Miriam are rebuked by God for daring to challenge the authority of Moses, who was appointed by God. Aaron confesses, “we have done foolishly and have sinned” (Numbers 12:11). This implies foolishness is linked to lack of humility and proper reverence for God’s decisions.

from the new testament

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul applies Proverbs 26:5 by interacting with the “foolish Galatians” to dispel their mistaken view that the Law is the way to salvation (Galatians 3:1). Paul corrects the Galatians for their foolishness in going back to the Law when they already knew salvation came through Christ: “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish?” (Galatians 3:1–3).
In Ephesians, Paul cautions against emulating the world’s behavior (Ephesians 5:3–15). He writes, “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17). Here, again, foolishness is associated with having an improper attitude toward God.

implications for today

Every day we encounter people at work, the gym, school, church, and in other places. We are also able to interact with others remotely in digital and electronic formats. In some of these encounters, we inevitably meet foolish people. Should we ignore them? If not, what should we say to them? Responding carries the risk of being drawn into interactions that are unbecoming of a Christian and that the Bible would classify as foolish. We are not to respond to someone’s foolishness by being foolish ourselves (Proverbs 26:4). At the same time, Proverbs 26:5 indicates that avoiding fools altogether isn’t necessarily the best choice. We need to seek God and ask for discernment to know when to say something and when to hold back. In all we do, we are called to glorify God and present the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). The wise will recognize that foolishness must be addressed carefully and for the right reasons to avoid becoming a fool.

understand

A fool is described as someone who is not humble and who does not follow after God but instead follows his own thinking or the thinking of the world.
Engaging with fools is sometimes necessary to correct their errors, but we must maintain our wisdom and integrity in doing so.
Balance in answering a fool is needed—we are called to interact to correct fools (Proverbs 26:5) but also called to avoid becoming like them (Proverbs 26:4).

reflect

How do you determine between responding to a fool and ignoring him?
Have you ever responded foolishly in a situation with someone who acted foolishly? What did you learn?
How can you correct someone’s foolish behavior without adopting their folly?

engage

How can understanding the nature of foolishness influence our approach to conflict resolution and communication?
What role does personal humility play in ensuring we don’t become like those we are trying to correct?
How does the concept of “answering a fool” align with the broader biblical call to love and patience in our relationships?