John Gill Commentary Proverbs 26:9

"[As] a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools." — Proverbs 26:9 (ASV)

As a thorn goes up into the hand of a drunkard
And he does not perceive it; or being in his hand he makes an ill use of it, and hurts himself and others with it; so is a parable in the mouth of fools,

a proverbial sentence respecting religious matters; or a passage of holy Scripture which either he understands not, and has no spiritual perception of, any more than the drunkard has of the thorn in his hand; or which being used as a pun, or by way of jest, as some pun upon or jest with the Scripture, hurts himself and others, wounds his own conscience, and ruins the souls of others;

for it is dangerous meddling with edge tools, and hard to kick against the pricks; Doing so is like a drunken man handling thorns, which he does without judgment, and to his own prejudice and that of others.

Gussetius ^F24 understands this of a fish hook coming up into the hand of a drunkard empty, without taking any thing by it, and so alike useless is what is said by a fool.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F24: Ebr. Comment. p. 244.