Proverbs 1 - Introduction
I. The Appeal of Wisdom. Chaps. 1 9... [ Continue Reading ]
I. The Appeal of Wisdom. Chaps. 1 9... [ Continue Reading ]
The Title. Chap. Proverbs 1:1 1. _proverbs_ Properly _resemblances_. Here used of (1) short, pithy sentences, either couched in the form of a similitude, or comparison, or gathering up under their common principle or issue classes of events or actions, which _resemble_one another in the identity of... [ Continue Reading ]
_To know_ The construction in this and the following clauses is elliptical: _The proverbs … to know, to discern, to receive, to give_; i.e. the proverbs of which the purpose is that men may know, discern, and receive (as it is expressed in Proverbs 1:5), and that they (the proverbs) may give, &c. _w... [ Continue Reading ]
The Introduction. Chap. Proverbs 1:2-7 The Introduction consists of a statement of the object of the Book (Proverbs 1:2), which is primarily to instruct the young in Wisdom (Proverbs 1:4), but at the same time to increase the store of those who are already wise (Proverbs 1:5); and also of a kind of... [ Continue Reading ]
_the instruction of wisdom_ Rather, _instruction_(or discipline) IN WISE DEALING, R.V. The word is not the same as that rendered _wisdom_in Proverbs 1:2_; Proverbs 1:7_. _justice_ Rather, _righteousness_, R.V. as a wider word. The three words, righteousness, judgement, equity, may be simply cumulat... [ Continue Reading ]
_subtilty to the simple_ Both words are here used in a good sense, or perhaps we might say, in their proper or neutral sense. The Hebrew word for _simple_is literally _open_(Heb.), sc. to influence, whether good or bad. The primary meaning of the English word _simple_, whether it be _without fold_(T... [ Continue Reading ]
_A wise_man _will hear_ Or, _That the wise man may hear_, R.V., making the clause a continuation of the direct statement of the design of the Book. _learning_ Lit. _taking_, and so that which is taken, or learned. He will increase his store. σοφὸς σοφώτερος ἔσται, LXX. _sapiens sapientior erit_, Vu... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse intimates that the aim of the Book is to confer an initiation which will make its possessor free of all the mysteries of the Wise. By understanding these proverbs he will acquire the power of understanding all proverbs. (See Mark 4:13, and _Speaker's Comm_. on this verse.) _interpretatio... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse stands out as the motto, or key-note, both of the whole Book, and of the whole subject of which the Book treats. I am offering, the writer would seem to say, to give you the right of entering into the House of Knowledge, to conduct you through some of its goodly chambers, to display to yo... [ Continue Reading ]
_instruction_ or DISCIPLINE, as in Proverbs 1:2_; Proverbs 1:7_. _law_ or _teaching_R.V. marg. θεσμοὺς, LXX.... [ Continue Reading ]
First Address. Chap. Proverbs 1:8-19 Proverbs 1:8. In these two verses the writer passes to direct appeal. The form of appeal, _My son_, which is continually repeated throughout these opening Chapter s, strikes the key-note of the strain in which all the succeeding exhortations and counsels are cas... [ Continue Reading ]
_ornament_ Rather, CHAPLET, R.V. στέφανον, LXX. See Proverbs 4:9, where the same phrase _chaplet of grace_occurs, with _crown of glory_, as its equivalent in the parallel clause of the verse. _chains_ not of bondage, but of honour and ornament. Genesis 41:42; Daniel 5:29; Song of Solomon 4:9; Judge... [ Continue Reading ]
The Teacher passes from Appeal to Warning: Against Evil Companions. Chap. 1. Proverbs 1:10 10. _sinners_ The warning points to a state of society of which indications are to be found not only in the unsettled times "when the Judges ruled" and before the monarchy was firmly established, when "vain" a... [ Continue Reading ]
_for blood_ The shameless form of the proposal shows at once the insecurity and the low moral tone of society. The language is too strong and vivid to admit of a figurative interpretation: Let us rob them violently of their bread which is their life. Compare "The bread of the needy is the life of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_the grave_ or, _Sheol_, R.V. text, ᾅδης LXX., infernus Vulg. _whole_ Some (as R.V. marg. _even the perfect_) give the Heb. word here the moral sense, which it has elsewhere. But both the parallelism and the force are better preserved by the rendering of A.V. and R.V. text. Let us make away with the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cast in thy lot_ and so R.V. marg. But, _Thou shall cast thy lot among us_, R.V. text: i.e. Thou shalt share our gains, as the 2nd clause of the verse explains, "We will all have one purse," R.V.... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse is omitted here by the LXX. It occurs again in Isaiah 59:7, where, however, the Heb. (but not the LXX.) has "innocent" blood.... [ Continue Reading ]
_in vain_ Because, whereas by the certain destruction which it portends, the net ought to deter the bird from yielding to the solicitations of appetite, the temptation of the bait prevails, and the warning of the visible net is unheeded. "So," in their unheeding regard of manifest warning, "are the... [ Continue Reading ]
which _taketh away_ Rather, IT (greed of gain) TAKETH AWAY THE LIFE OF THEM THAT HAVE IT. It is the destruction of those who are possessed by it. The same Heb. phrase, owner or lord of, is rendered _him that hath it_, in Proverbs 16:22, Comp. Proverbs 22:24, _an angry man_, A.V.; _him that is given... [ Continue Reading ]
Second Address. Warning against Neglecting the Appeal of Wisdom. Chap. 1. Proverbs 1:20 20. _crieth_ Rather, CRIETH ALOUD, R.V. _without_ Rather, IN THE STREET, R.V. The expression is sometimes used adverbially, _without_or _abroad_; but the parallelism here, _in the broad places_, points to the l... [ Continue Reading ]
_in the chief place of concourse_ Lit. _at the head of the noisy places_(_turbarum_, Vulg.). The expression _head of the streets_occurs Isaiah 51:20; Lamentations 2:19. Comp. _at every head of the ways_, Ezekiel 16:25; the place where the street branches off and so has its head or beginning. The LXX... [ Continue Reading ]
_simple_ unwary, see Proverbs 1:4 above, note. _love simplicity_ when you stand in need of that _subtilty_, which wisdom offers you (Proverbs 1:4). When war is at the gates, you are not safe without armour. "Parvuli, diligitis infantiam," Vulg. _scorners_ The word is, with few exceptions, peculiar... [ Continue Reading ]
We have here the germ both of later prophecies (Isaiah 44:3; Joel 2:28 [Hebrews 3:1]), and of their fulfilment in Christ (John 7:37-39; Acts 2:33; John 7:17).... [ Continue Reading ]
The abruptness of the transition from gracious invitation to awful threatening has led to the suggestion that a pause is to be introduced between the two divisions (Proverbs 1:20) of this appeal of Wisdom. But, as Maurer points out, Proverbs 1:22 (How long!) shews, as do these Proverbs 1:24-25, that... [ Continue Reading ]
_at_ Rather, IN, i.e. in the time of. Comp. on this verse Psalms 2:4; Psalms 37:13; Psalms 59:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
_desolation_ So R.V. marg. Comp. Zephaniah 1:15, where both in A.V. and R.V. this and a cognate Heb. word are rendered "wasteness and desolation." The parallel, however, is better preserved if, with R.V. text we render STORM, as in Ezekiel 38:9, A.V. and R.V. LXX. has θόρυβος; Vulg. _repentina calam... [ Continue Reading ]
_early_ Rather, EARNESTLY, or DILIGENTLY, R.V. text. The rendering _early_is due to the doubtful connection (see Bp Perowne on Psalms 63:1) of the Heb. word with _the dawn_(_mane consurgent_, Vulg.). Here in fact, so far from being early, it is not only late, but too late. It may of course be urged... [ Continue Reading ]
_the fruit of their own way_ As they sow, so shall they reap, in accordance with the eternal law of righteousness. Comp. Galatians 6:7-8.... [ Continue Reading ]
_turning away_ Lit. TURNING. The word, however, is commonly used of turning away from God and from good. So here: "I called you to turn _to_me (Proverbs 1:23), and instead, you have turned _from_me." _Backsliding_(R.V.), is less suitable, as denoting a turning away from a position already taken up,... [ Continue Reading ]
_from_ Rather, WITHOUT, R.V., timore malorum sublato, Vulg.... [ Continue Reading ]