Text -- Proverbs 17:28 (NET)

17:28 Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Pro 17:28

¹ tn The imperfect tense here denotes possibility: One who holds his tongue [may be considered] discerning.

² tn The Niphal participle is used in the declarative/estimative sense with stative verbs: “to be discerning” (Qal) becomes “to be declared discerning” (Niphal). The proverb is teaching that silence is one evidence of wisdom, and that even a fool can thereby appear wise. D. Kidner says that a fool who takes this advice is no longer a complete fool (Proverbs [TOTC], 127). He does not, of course, become wise – he just hides his folly.