Insulting a person, or putting them down, is risky business. If you insult someone, or put them down, and they don’t get angry, then the insult or put-down comes right back at you.
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Amen @BobEstey. You reap what you sow. Another thing to consider is how, as a child of God, we respond to others who insult us or put us down. Scripture speaks directly to this dynamic, both regarding how we are called to treat others and how we ought to respond when insulted.
When someone insults us, returning the insult hands them control of the interaction. Refusing to take the bait turns the weight of the insult back on the aggressor.
"A soft answer turns away wrath,
** but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1**
Returning a harsh word fuels their fire, but a calm, non-defensive response leaves the foolishness of the insult hanging entirely on the person who spoke it.
"Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written,
"Vengeance is mine,
I will repay, says the Lord."To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17–21
Paul highlights that when you refuse to retaliate, you allow righteousness to prevail. In verse 20, he quotes Proverbs 25, noting that showing kindness to an enemy is like “heaping burning coals on his head”; it brings conviction directly back upon the insult’s source.
Jesus modeled this exact dynamic during His trial and passion. When put down and insulted, He did not engage in a back-and-forth, leaving His accusers exposed in their own injustice.
“When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” 1 Peter 2:23
Jesus showed that a child of God does not need to defend their honor against malicious put-downs. By entrusting judgment to God, the evil of the insult stays entirely with the reviler. As children of God, we are given the Spirit’s power to break the cycle of anger and retaliation.
"Good sense makes one slow to anger,
and it is his glory to overlook an offense." Proverbs 19:11
Overlooking an offense isn’t weakness; Scripture calls it a person’s glory. It shows emotional maturity and spiritual strength, leaving the insult with nowhere to land.
“Do not repay evil for evil or revile for revile, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:9
Peter
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Amen to that. It’s been my experience that hurting others hurts yourself just as much, if not more.
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The negative energy goes into the world and your own heart whether they hear it or not. Since we spoke it it’s in our heart as a seed of bitterness and left unchecked grows into a root of bitterness, then a tree.
This is why scripture says bless your enemies, for our own protection. part of diligently guarding our heart. The Lord taught me that Gossip also is one of the worst things to do to ourselves. Many women and some men treat malicious gossip as harmless and entertaining somehow. Don’t do it!
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It is one thing to say, “You are wrong,” and another thing to say, “You are an idiot.” You can fight evil without insulting anyone.
Verbal exchanges can be tricky because you are usually dealing with someone of crippled intelligence. Trading insults usually leads to an unwanted escalation. Physically walking away and avoiding such crippled characters in the future is the easiest way to deal with them.
If you are stuck having to work with someone like this it can be similar to dealing with a dog. A rolled up newspaper can motivate a dog to back off. A verbal response that puts the bully on the defensive can also create a discomfort that causes them to avoid you.
Responses such as “Can you explain the basis for your hostility?”
“Why are you so angry”
“Do you find amusement in picking on people?”
Often being called to give an account can cause someone to back off.
There is a fine line between a negative response and an insult. If I call you an idiot, that is an insult. What you want to do is show the person they are wrong, without insulting them. If you do that, the insult they paid you will be reversed.
Yeah but what about if they are an idiot?! I mean anyone can make a mistake and be wrong, but some sins…it would take a real idiot to do, for real!
Why do people treat the word Ignorant as an insult? Ignorant means that was something they were never taught, and how can anyone expect someone to know something that they’ve never been taught? So it’s really not an insult and I have used the word innocently before but I guess they had never read the definition so took it as an insult.
Nevertheless, your point is well taken because I used to have quite the mouth on me in my youth. But some years back I took steps to get a handle on it and so I’m much better than I used to be!
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Idiots are people with very low IQs. If you call a person an idiot just because they are wrong, you are insulting him, and in doing so, giving him ammunition. Instead, show him where he is wrong. That is more satisfying, and you won’t be giving him ammunition to use against you.
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