Fourth Address. Chap. Proverbs 3:1-10 Be obedient to my instruction, so shalt thou live long and prosper (Proverbs 3:1). Trust, not in thyself, but in God (Proverbs 3:5). Seek His direction (Proverbs 3:5): render Him His due (Proverbs 3:9): and (see Proverbs 3:12, note) submit to His fatherly corre... [ Continue Reading ]
_law_ or, _teaching_, R.V. marg. This is the primary meaning of the Heb. word _Torah_(see Proverbs 1:8 note, Proverbs 4:2; Proverbs 7:2), which is the common designation of _the Law_, in its Biblical sense.... [ Continue Reading ]
_long life_ Rather, with A.V. marg. and R.V. text, YEARS OF LIFE. There is perhaps a climax; not only _length of days_, prolonged existence, but years of life truly so-called, life worth living. The distinction is at least suggested by the use of βίος in the first clause and ζωή in the second by the... [ Continue Reading ]
_mercy and truth_ The phrase is often used to represent the character of Almighty God as exhibited in His dealings with men (Genesis 24:17; Genesis 32:11; Exodus 34:6; Psalms 25:10). Hence it comes to represent the perfection of moral character in man (Proverbs 16:6; Proverbs 20:28). _bind them … wr... [ Continue Reading ]
_favour and good understanding_ Your character will conciliate for you by its two great elements of _mercy and truth_, the two corresponding tributes of good-will and respect. (Comp. 1 Samuel 2:26; Luke 2:52.) To find good understanding in the sight of anyone (A.V. and R.V. text), i.e. to be regard... [ Continue Reading ]
_unto_ Rather, UPON, R.V. The confidence is to be complete both in degree and in extent: "with _all_thy heart," "in _all_thy ways." This teaching of trust in God, "anticipates," as the _Speaker's Commentary_points out, the doctrine of faith. _Fides est fiducia_.... [ Continue Reading ]
_direct_ Or, _make straight_or _plain_, R.V. marg. Comp. Proverbs 11:5, ἵνα ὀρθοτομῇ, LXX.; diriget, Vulg.... [ Continue Reading ]
The first clause of this verse in the rendering of the LXX., φρόνιμος παρὰ σεαυτῷ, is quoted by St Paul, Romans 12:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
_health_ By an eternal law the moral condition and the physical are linked together; the _mens sana_promotes the _corpus sanum_. "Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is." 1 Timothy 4:8. _to thy navel_ So R.V. The LXX. give _to thy body_, τῷ σώματί σου (comp... [ Continue Reading ]
_substance … increase_ Perhaps (as _Speaker's Comm_.) capital, and revenue. It is interesting that (as there pointed out) the LXX. qualify both words, by restricting them to "righteous," well-gotten wealth: ἀπὸ σῶν δικαίων πόνων … ἀπὸ σῶν καρπῶν δικαιοσύνης. Restitution is the true consecration of u... [ Continue Reading ]
_presses shall burst out_ Rather, FATS SHALL OVERFLOW, R.V. "The wine-press of the Jews consisted of two receptacles or vats placed at different elevations, in the upper one of which the grapes were trodden, while the lower one received the expressed juice. The two vats are mentioned together only i... [ Continue Reading ]
Fifth Address. Chap. 3. Proverbs 3:11 11, 12. This short paragraph is at once in contrast and in harmony, with what precedes and follows it. It states the contrast that it may introduce the harmony. The pathway of wisdom, so the rest of the chapter insists, is the pathway of temporal prosperity. Bu... [ Continue Reading ]
_even as a father_&c. The LXX. (reading the same Heb. consonants with different vowels) renders this clause, _and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth_, which is followed in Hebrews 12:6. The R.V., guided perhaps by the direct address, "My son," Proverbs 3:11, begins the fresh paragraph there. The... [ Continue Reading ]
_getteth_ Lit. DRAWETH FORTH, or OUT, R.V. and A.V. marg. The word occurs again Proverbs 8:35; Proverbs 12:2; Proverbs 18:22, in all which places the source of supply is expressed: _obtaineth_(lit. draweth forth) _favour_ FROM JEHOVAH.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the merchandise of it_ Comp. Matthew 13:45-46, where this proverb is expanded into a parable. The same idea of trading in the moral and spiritual sphere occurs in Proverbs 11:19; Proverbs 23:23; Job 28:15-19.... [ Continue Reading ]
_rubies_ This rendering is retained in R.V. text, with a reference to Job 28:18, where the alternative is given in the marg. of _red coral_, or _pearls_. The expression "more ruddy" (which those, however, who render "pearls," take to mean "more bright"), Lamentations 4:7, would seem to confine our c... [ Continue Reading ]
The LXX. add at the end of this verse: "Out of her mouth proceedeth righteousness; Instruction and compassion she beareth upon her tongue.... [ Continue Reading ]
_a tree of life_ The tree of life, Genesis 2:3 is referred to again in this Book (Proverbs 11:30; Proverbs 13:12; Proverbs 15:4), and only besides in the Bible in Revelation 2:7; Revelation 22:2. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was a tree of death: "in the day that thou eatest thereof, th... [ Continue Reading ]
_are_ Rather, WERE _broken up_, R.V. The reference is to Genesis 7:2, where the same Heb. word is used: "all the foundations of the great deep were broken up." The two clauses of the verse give two typical examples: alike, when the pent-up forces of nature burst forth occasionally in their resistle... [ Continue Reading ]
Sixth Address. Chap. 3. Proverbs 3:21 21. _let not them_ The reference may be to the "sound wisdom and discretion" of the following clause; but it is better perhaps to understand by "them" the precepts already given. The reading of the LXX., μὴ παραρυῇς, is interesting in connection with παραρυῶμεν... [ Continue Reading ]
_thy foot shall not stumble_ Lit. THOU SHALT NOT DASH THY FOOT, R.V. margin. Comp. Psalms 91:12, where "against a stone" is added.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Be not afraid_ Dean Plumptre (_Speaker's Comm_.) points out that, "under the form of this strong prohibition there is of course an equally strong promise," so that these two verses add yet another to the advantages to be gained from Wisdom: it confers both strength and beauty (Proverbs 3:22); it pr... [ Continue Reading ]
_them to whom it is due_ Lit. THE LORDS, OR OWNERS THEREOF, as A.V. marg. This may be either a precept of honesty, pay your just debts; or of benevolence, you are a steward and your wealth belongs not to you but to the poor and needy, for whose benefit you hold it. Comp. 1 Peter 4:10. So LXX. μὴ ἀπό... [ Continue Reading ]
Give (Proverbs 3:27); and not only so, but give promptly. We may compare Seneca's saying, "ingratum est beneficium, quod diu inter manus dantis hæsit; nam qui tarde fecit, diu noluit.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Envy thou not_ The temporal rewards of wisdom, health (Proverbs 3:8), long life (Proverbs 3:16), riches and honour (_ib_.), as they may be withheld from thee (Proverbs 3:11), so may they be surpassed by the prosperity of the wicked; but let not the comparison of thy lot with his move thee to envy,... [ Continue Reading ]
_his secret_ i.e., as R.V. margin explains, _his counsel_(Genesis 18:17), or _his friendship_(Exodus 33:11). Comp. Psalms 25:14 (and note there in this Series); John 15:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Surely … but_ Or, _Though … yet_, R.V. margin. For the thought comp. Jas 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5. _scorners_ See Proverbs 1:22, note.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the promotion_ There is force and irony in this rendering, which is retained in R.V. text, whereas the alternative of R.V. margin, _fools carry away shame_, though it may be thought to preserve the parallelism better, is insipid. Their glory is even now (Philippians 3:19), and in the day when all t... [ Continue Reading ]