John Gill Commentary Proverbs 15:1

"A soft answer turneth away wrath; But a grievous word stirreth up anger." — Proverbs 15:1 (ASV)

A soft answer turns away wrath. Mild words, gentle expressions, delivered with kindness and tenderness, humility and submission; these will work upon a man's passions, weaken his resentments, and break and scatter the storm of wrath raised in his breast, just breaking forth in a very boisterous and blustering manner; so high winds are sometimes laid by soft showers. Thus the Ephraimites were pacified by Gideon's mild answer; and David by Abigail's very submissive and respectful address, (Judges 8:1–3) (1 Samuel 25:25–32) ; but grievous words stir up anger. Such as are rough and menacing, scornful and sneering, reproachful and reviling, proud, haughty, and overbearing; like those of Jephthah to the Ephraimites; and of the Ephraimites to the Gileadites; and of Nabal to David's servants, concerning him; and of Rehoboam, who answered the people roughly: in all which instances anger was stirred up, and either were or like to have been attended with bad consequences, (Judges 12:1–4) (1 Samuel 25:10 1 Samuel 25:11 1 Samuel 25:21 1 Samuel 25:22) (1 Kings 12:13 1 Kings 12:14) .

Or a "word" causing, or rather expressing, "grief" ^F18 ; upbraiding others with being the cause of grief to them.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F18: (bue rbd) "verbum vel sermo doloris", Montanus, Vatablus, Michaelis; vid. Gussetius, p. 177.