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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Proverbs 15:16-17

PROVERBS—NOTE ON Proverbs 15:16 These verses show how to develop the kind of heart described in vv. Proverbs 15:13. One who “seeks knowledge” (v. Proverbs 15:14) recognizes that contentment is found not primarily in external circumstances but in a life governed by the fear of the LORD.

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See also Proverbs 15:16-17 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Proverbs 15:16. _BETTER_ IS _LITTLE WITH THE FEAR OF THE LORD_] Because where the fear of God is, there are _moderation_ and _contentment_ of spirit....

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    This proverb has its completion in the teaching of Matthew 6:33....

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 15 THE BETTER THINGS One can read through the proverbs recorded in this chapter and ask the question, What are the better things? A soft answer which turneth away wrath is better than grievou...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    PROVERBS 15. This chapter makes no new departure. Proverbs concerning the moral government of the world again occupy the chief place. One (Proverbs 15:11) is noteworthy as showing an extended concepti...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    BETTER. See note on Proverbs 8:11. Illustrations: the shepherds (Luke 2:20. Compare Matthew 2:3); Paul in prison (Philippians 1:4;...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    TEXT Proverbs 15:12-22 12. A scoffer loveth not to be reproved; He will not go unto the wise. 13. A glad heart maketh a cheerful countenance; But by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken. 14. T...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith. BETTER (IS) LITTLE WITH FEAR OF THE LORD, THAN GREAT TREASURE, AND TROUBLE THEREWITH - the usual accompaniment...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    1. GRIEVOUS] i.e. annoying. 'If one pour in hot water let the other pour in cold.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    Religion delivers from harassing care....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    LESSONS ABOUT WISDOM PROVERBS _KEITH SIMONS_ CHAPTER 15 V1 A quiet answer reduces anger. But an impatient word increases anger....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    A Christian may be poor. But he has every reason to be cheerful. See Philippians 4:4; 1 Peter 1:8 and Psalms 96:11-13. God’s love is like a party. See...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    TROUBLE. — The “disquiet” (Psalms 39:6) which attends the pursuit and care of riches, in contrast to the “peace which they have who love God’s law. (Psalms 119:165.)...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    טֹוב ־מְ֭עַט בְּ יִרְאַ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה מֵ אֹוצָ֥ר

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 16 A PASSIONATE DISPOSITION "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but a grievous word stirreth up anger." In the LXX there is another clause inserted at the beginning.- Proverbs 15:1 "A meek t...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    KIND WORDS AND GLAD HEARTS Proverbs 15:1-17 _A soft answer; the tongue of the wise; a wholesome tongue; the lips of the wise; the prayer of the upright_ -these keywords touch one of the greatest depa...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Verse Proverbs 15:11. This is a simple method of drawing attention to God's perfect knowledge of all the deepest and hidden things. If that which is most full of mystery to us is perfectly known to Hi...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Content. Septuagint, "fear." Hebrew, "with trouble," which is preferable, 1 Timothy vi. 6._...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness. All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feas...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 10 THROUGH 31. In chapter 10 begin the details which teach those who give ear how to avoid the snares into which the simple might fall, the path to be followe...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    BETTER [IS] LITTLE WITH THE FEAR OF THE LORD THAN GREAT TREASURE AND TROUBLE THEREWITH. Not that a "little" is better than "much" of that which is good, as the things of this world are in themselves;...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Better [is] little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith. Ver. 16. _Better is a little with the fear of the Lord._] This is one special consideration that keeps up the g...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Better is a little with the fear of the Lord_ Which gives a man tranquillity and comfort in what he hath; _than great treasure and trouble therewith_ Tumultuous lusts and passions, vexatious cares an...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    V. 16. BETTER IS LITTLE WITH THE FEAR OF THE LORD, the proper contentment with the blessings of the Lord, small as they may be outwardly, THAN GREAT TREASURE AND TROUBLE THEREWITH, for the possession...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    THE FEAR OF THE LORD, which gives a man tranquillity and comfort in what he hath. TROUBLE; tumultuous lusts and passions, vexatious cares and fears, horrors of conscience, and expectation of God's cur...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Proverbs 15:16 Better H2896 little H4592 fear H3374 LORD H3068 great H7227 treasure H214 trouble H4103 little -...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE MAN OF UNDERSTANDING OVERCOMES ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES AND ENJOYS A LIFE OF PLEASANTNESS WHILST THE FOOL CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCES TROUBLE (PROVERBS 15:14). This subsection is in an inclusio concernin...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    FEAR Also; (Proverbs 14:26), (_ See Scofield) - (Psalms 19:9). _...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Proverbs contrasting good and evil. CHARACTERS: God. CONCLUSION: The course of the wicked man is an abomination to God, neither is there any offering he can make to God that can be accepte...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Proverbs 15:1. _A soft answer turneth away wrath._ It bows to the tempest, it names a mitigating circumstance, it gives a favourable turn to misconstruction, it proposes a better way. My father, said...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 15:16_ A TREASURE WITHOUT TROUBLE THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS BETTER THAN WORLDLY TREASURE—I. _Because the fear of the Lord tends to peace of mind_. In any piece of complicat...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION PROVERBS 15:1 A SOFT ANSWER TURNETH AWAY WRATH. Two things are here to be observed: an answer should be given—the injured person should not wrap himself in sullen silence; and that answer...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Fifteen. I love this first one here. A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger (Proverbs 15:1). How oftentimes a person comes just raging and a soft answer turns away wrath. If...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Timothy 6:6; Ecclesiastes 2:10; Ecclesiastes 2:11; Ecclesiastes 2:18;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Trouble — Tumultuous lusts and passions, vexatious cares, and horrors of conscience....

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