Proverbs 14:3

CRITICAL NOTES.—

Proverbs 14:3. Rod, or “sceptre.” Zöckler reads, “In the mouth of a fool is a rod for his pride.” Stuart, “Haughtiness is a rod,” etc.

Proverbs 14:5. Miller here translates, “He who witnesses things correctly, does not lie; but of a deceived witness the very breath is lies” (See his comments on the verse).

Proverbs 14:6. Rather, “The scorner has sought wisdom,” etc.

Proverbs 14:7. Stuart translates the latter clause, “for thou hast not discerned,” etc.; Miller, “and thou shalt not know,” etc.

MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 14:3

SPEECH A ROD

I. Speech is a rod because it is emblematic of power. A rod is an emblem of position and authority. It represents more than it is. Speech is a sign of man’s superiority to the animal creation. Words in themselves are not much, but they are mighty because of what they represent, viz., the soul of man. The sceptre of a king may not in itself be of much value, but it is of worth because of what it signifies.

II. Speech will be a man’s destruction or salvation according to his character. The mouth of the fool represents the soul of the fool. We have before noted the unwisdom and danger of him who is too proud to receive instruction (see chap. Proverbs 11:1, page 192; Proverbs 13:18, etc.) His proud boasting speech will by-and-by become the cause of his chastisement—a rod for his own back. And the godly wise speech of the wise will be the means of his preservation and honour (See on chap. Proverbs 12:5, page 255, Proverbs 14:17, page 274).

OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS

The fool’s rod of pride is his tongue, wherewith he assails and strikes others. But it recoils on himself. The instrument of punishment is called a rod, not a sword, to denote the contumely with which the proud shall be visited.—Fausset.

The rod in the mouth is often sharper than the rod in the hand (Jeremiah 18:18). Sometimes it strikes against God (Exodus 5:2; Psalms 12:3; 2 Kings 19:10); sometimes it is “the rod of His anger against His people” (Isaiah 10:5) permitted (Revelation 13:5) yet restrained (Psalms 125:3). Always in the end it is the rod for the fool himself (Psalms 64:8).—Bridges.

The “mouth” is the great word in the Proverbs for our whole earthly agency. The word translated “rod” is the favourite emblem of sovereignty. A fool’s life-work or energy is his sovereignty, by which he would carve his way. But it is a “sceptre of pride.” His kingship is a notion of pride. But the “lips of the wise” do really win, and do really govern. They have a true sceptre which shall really guard them.—Miller.

The lips of the wise preserve them.

1. From doing wrong to others, in their loving mildness.

2. From suffering wrong from others, by a wary heedfulness.

3. From the rod of God’s anger, in a humble craving pardon for their errors. The former part of this verse St. Gregory applieth unto arrogant preachers, who desire more sharply to reprove their afflicted hearers, than sweetly to comfort them, for they study more how they may condemn evil things by blaming of them, than how they may commend good things by praising them. They always desire those things which, by fierce chiding, they may beat upon.—Jermin.