Proverbs 25:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

NIV: Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.

NASB: Like a city that is broken into and without walls So is a person who has no self-control over his spirit.

CSB: A person who does not control his temper is like a city whose wall is broken down.

NLT: A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.

KJV: He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

NKJV: Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.

In the ancient world, the primary defense of a city was its walls. Unless an army was exceptionally large or very well-prepared, cities could take shelter behind walls and wait out an attack. This did not make a walled city invincible, but it did make an enormous difference in their defensive ability. The book of Nehemiah reports the rebuilding of Jerusalem's broken walls and the attempt of the Jews' enemies to stop the effort. Without good walls, the city was vulnerable to attack. In fact, it was virtually waiting to be conquered.

Here, Solomon (Proverbs 25:1) notes that a person lacking self-discipline is also defenseless. He is vulnerable to attacks from the enemy; especially relevant here the spiritual temptations of Satan (Ephesians 6:12). Self-control is much like a wall against temptation. It does not make the temptation go away, itself. Yet it helps a person resist until the temptation passes or is chased off.

The Devil often assaults us at our weakest points, which vary among believers. Pride is a common weakness (Proverbs 25:27). Other weaknesses may be illicit sexual desire, a love of money, a lust for pleasure, a craving for fame, selfish ambition, a materialist attitude, or some other weakness. The apostle Peter summons believers to "be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Knowing how vulnerable to spiritual defeat he was, Paul practiced self-discipline. He writes in 1 Corinthians 9:27: "I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."

Chapter 25 begins to relate more wise statements from Solomon. Depending on where they are divided or combined, these amount to around one hundred portions of godly wisdom. These were compiled and added about 250 years after Solomon's reign by men under the direction of King Hezekiah. The phrasing used in verse 1 suggests these were copied from other records into the scrolls associated with the prior proverbs. This collection runs through the end of chapter 29.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.