Proverbs 29:11
A Fool Utters All His Mind
1. This proverb contrasts the fool and the wise man.
2. There have been many such contrasts in Proverbs thus far, but each one is unique.
3. This contrast highlights the differences in the way they deal with thoughts and their tongues.
1. The first man in the contrast is the fool.
a. Prov. 1:7 – The fool despises wisdom and instruction.
b. Prov. 1:29 – They hate knowledge and have chosen NOT to fear the Lord. They are not God-fearing people.
c. Prov. 12:15 – “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes.”
d. The fool is a “know it all” who hates to be corrected, and does not fear God.
2. This proverb tells us that the fool also “utters all his mind.”
a. Utters: This Hebrew word is subject to various translations.
• Its basic meaning is “to go out” or “come in.”
• Various shades of meaning: To bring out; to extend to others; to cause to go forth; to vent (as in anger); to spread; to disseminate; to announce.
• Consider it’s usage in Num. 32:24: “do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth.”
• This seems to be the gist of the meaning in our proverb.
• The fool “utters” whatever is in his mind. He speaks forth whatever enters his mind and heart. He disseminates information as soon as he hears it… usually without thinking.
b. Mind: Here we are told that another characteristic of the fool is that he utters all his “mind.”
• The term translated “mind” seems to be broader than mind.
• It is the word for breath or spirit and is sometimes used of one’s temperament: anger, courage, jealousy, patience or impatience.
• It is used of a person’s disposition—often uncontrollable impulse.
• It speaks of a wide range of emotions and feelings.
• It is not the common word for “mind,” but is more closely connected to feelings. And of course, our feelings affect our thoughts.
• Today people almost use the word “feel” for a synonym for “think.” For example, “I feel that this is the right thing to do,” or “I feel like we should turn around.”
c. The term “mind” implies that the fool blurts out more than just his thoughts. He also blurts out his feelings and emotions.
d. Of course the purpose of this proverb is to demonstrate how dangerous and wrong this kind of behavior really is.
3. Prov. 29:11 uses terms that are general in nature. The terms “uttereth” and “mind” have a broad range of meaning.
a. This proverb speaks of a general axiom about fools: whatever enters into their head and heart usually is displayed publically… without much thought or consideration.
b. They don’t think about how to word it; whether this is the right time to speak; or how it will affect others; or whether or not it is even true; whether it will hurt someone; whether it should be spoken privately; etc.
c. Fools don’t think. Whatever is on mind or heart… they blurt out without thinking it through… without considering its effect or consequences.
d. Fools have no control over their emotions or their tongues.
e. And yet many fools think it a badge of honor to speak whatever is on their mind. They see it as honesty… being fearless… and something to be proud of! “I speak my mind!”
f. God sees it as foolish.
4. Prov.12:16 – It is foolish to vent one’s anger.
a. The fool has no control over his anger. As soon as he “feels” angry, he vents it out… he displays it…
b. He may vent it verbally… and then perhaps physically and violently.
c. When the fool feels angry, he explodes and unleashes his anger on anyone in his path.
d. He has no control over his spirit – his temperament. The noun translated “mind” in Prov. 29:11 can also be translated “temperament or disposition.”
e. In Prov. 29:11, the verb translated “utters” can also mean “vent.”
f. Prov. 29:11 is broad enough in meaning to include the more specific illustration of it in Prov. 12:16 – venting anger.
5. Prov. 12:23 – Here is another specific illustration of the general principle we find in Prov. 29:11: “the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.”
a. Here Solomon states that the fool’s “heart” proclaims folly.
b. Heart – the seat of his inner nature. It includes his mind and his emotions.
c. Like Prov. 29:11, this proverb also states that whatever is going on in the “inner man” (heart; mind) of the fool is publically “proclaimed.”
d. The fool loudly and publically proclaims his irrational thoughts, his assumptions, his foolish ideas, and his uncontrolled emotions.
e. And what is Solomon’s description of the things that are in his heart that the fool publically proclaims? Foolishness!
6. Prov. 14:33 – “but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.”
a. In this proverb, Solomon states that “whatever” is in the midst (the heart) of a fool will come out.
b. It will be made known one way or the other.
c. He has no self control… over his emotions or his tongue.
7. Prov. 15:2 – The fool “pours out” his foolishness… uncontrollably. There is a constant stream of folly coming out of his mouth because he doesn’t THINK before he speaks.
a. Foolish and evil thoughts, ideas, and feelings are better dealt with inwardly. Don’t proclaim them for all to hear.
b. Silence them… forsake them… repent of them… don’t proclaim them!
8. Prov. 17:28 – If a fool controls his mouth and refuses to broadcast his folly, people might even think him to be wise!
a. It’s when he opens his mouth that trouble begins.
b. Unfortunately, the other proverbs we have considered tell us that the fool does NOT “hold his peace.”
c. He seems unable to hold his peace… to keep his cool… to control his tongue.
d. This is a serious character flaw.
1. Here we have the wise man contrasted to the fool.
a. The fool utters his whole mind and heart. Whatever pops into his head… whatever he happens to be feeling at the moment is sure to come out of his mouth—with little to no thought.
b. But whatever is in the mind and heart of the wise man stays there.
2. He keeps it in—until afterwards.
a. In other words, he waits for the right time.
b. He waits until he has thought it through.
c. He waits until he has all the facts.
d. He waits until his emotions have cooled down.
e. He waits and thinks of the best way to word what he is trying to say.
f. He waits to say many things in private.
3. Prov. 17:27 – “He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.”
a. The term translated “spirit” is the same word translated “mind” in Prov. 29:11.
b. It speaks of the man’s “mind, emotions, disposition, temperament, etc.”
c. The man with knowledge has an excellent “disposition and temperament.” He doesn’t blurt everything out.
d. He spares his words. He thinks before he speaks.
e. Usually when we think before we speak, we use our words more sparingly. And sometimes we don’t say anything. (Answer not a fool lest ye be like him!)
f. Ps. 141:3 – The wise man prays: “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.”
4. Prov. 12:23 – “A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.”
a. The wise and prudent man not only “keeps his mind and heart in,” sometimes he conceals it entirely from others.
b. Not every thought or feeling we have is worthy of speech or discussion.
c. Yes, even wise men have foolish thoughts. The difference is that a wise man recognizes it as such and conceals it… to his credit.
d. The fool proclaims it publically—to his shame.
5. Prov. 14:33 – “Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: But that which is in the midst of fools is made known.”
a. Wisdom rests (resides) in the heart of the wise man.
b. He doesn’t blurt it out constantly. He keeps it inside until the appropriate time.
c. Prov. 16:32 – “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.”
d. Oh how necessary and valuable is self-control.
e. Being able to control our thoughts, our emotions, and our tongues is better than having a mighty army at our fingertips.
f. Prov. 25:28 – “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”
g. He does not know how to exercise restraint. How pitiful!
6. Ecc. 3:1, 7 – Consider the words of Solomon on this matter:
a. Vs. 1 – “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”
b. Vs. 7 – “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak
c. The wise man knows the difference. The fool does not.