Proverbs 16:32 - Exposition

He that is slow to anger ( Proverbs 14:29 ) is better than the mighty. The long suffering, non-irascible man is more of a hero than the valiant commander of a great army. One overcomes external foes or obstacles; the other conquers himself; as it is said, And he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city ( Proverbs 25:28 ). 'Pirke Aboth,' 4.1, "Who is the hero? The man that restrains his thoughts." Maxims about self-mastery are common enough. Says an unknown poet, "Fortior est qui se quam qui fortissima vincit Moenia, nec virtus altius ire potest." So Publ. Syr; 'Sent.,' 795, " Fortior est qui cupiditates suas, quam qui hostes subjicit ." And the mediaeval jingle -

" Linguam fraenare

Plus est quam castra domare ."

At the end of this verse the Alexandrian Manuscript of the Septuagint, followed by later hands in some other uncials, adds, "and a man having prudence [is better] than a great farm."