Bible Commentaries

wickedness = lawlessness. Hebrew. rasha". App-44.

profit nothing. Illustrations: Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 12:1-4, 2 Chronicles 12:9); Gehazi (2 Kings 5:20-27. 2 Kings 21:6); Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:31, Daniel 4:33; Belshazzar (Daniel 5); the Rich FoolLuk 12:20, Luke 12:21. Compare Luke 16:23, Luke 16:24). Compare Proverbs 11:28.

righteousness delivereth, &c. Illustrations: Daniel (Proverbs 6:22-30. Compare Proverbs 13:6); Noah (Genesis 7:1. Hebrews 11:7).

death. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), for the things which lead to death.

will not suffer, &c. Illustrations: Elijah (1Ki 17); David (2 Samuel 17:27-29).

soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

the righteous = a righteous one.

casteth away = repel, &c. Illustrations: Israel (Judges 6:1-4); Samaria (1 Kings 18:2. 2 Kings 6:5); Jerusalem (Lamentations 5:10. Zephaniah 1:18); the Chaldeans (Habakkuk 2:8).

the wicked = lawless ones. Hebrew. rasha". App-44.

poor = needy. Hebrew. rush. See note on Proverbs 6:11,

slack = deceitful. Asm Proverbs 12:24. Psalms 52:2; Psalms 120:2, Hosea 7:16.

gathereth in summer, &c. Illustrations: Isaac (Genesis 18:19); Joseph (Genesis 47:12); Timothy (2 Timothy 3:15. Acts 16:1, Acts 16:2).

sleepeth in harvest. Compare Proverbs 24:30-34.

Blessings: not simply good things, but good things bestowed by another.

head. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6, for the whole person.

the just = a just one.

violence, &c.: or, the mouth of lawless ones conceal violence.

The memory = What is remembered of him; not what he remembers; see Psalms 146:4. Illustrations: Elisha (2 Kings 13:21); Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 24:15, 2 Chronicles 24:16); the woman (Mark 14:9); Mary (Luke 1:28, Luke 1:48); Dorcas (Acts 9:36, Acts 9:39. Compare Proverbs 22:1; Antipas (Revelation 2:13).

the name, &c. Illustrations: Balaam (2 Peter 2:15. Jude 1:11. Revelation 2:14); Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28:22); Athaliah (2 Chronicles 24:7); Herod (Acts 12:22, Acts 12:23. Compare Psalms 9:16).

will receive, &c. Illustrations: Abraham (Gen 22, Hebrews 11:8, Hebrews 11:17); David (2Sa 7); widow (1 Kings 17:10-16); Rechabites (Jeremiah 35:6-10. Compare Proverbs 23:22).

a prating fool = a fool (Hebrew. "evil. See note on Proverbs 1:7) of lips: lips put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, for what is spoken by them. Illustrations: Korah, &c. (Num 16); Diotrephes (3 John 1:9-10). Compare 2 Peter 2:10. Jude 1:13.

uprightly = in integrity.

mouth. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, for what is spoken by it.

Hatred stirreth up strifes. Illustrations: Ishmael (Genesis 21:9-14. Galatians 1:4, Galatians 1:29); Jews (Acts 13:50; Acts 14:2-4; Acts 17:5, Acts 17:13).

love covereth. The opposite action. Compare 1 Corinthians 13:4. Illustrations: Joseph (Genesis 40:15. Compare Proverbs 45:5-8. Proverbs 17:9; Proverbs 19:11); David (2Sa 1); Paul (Philemon); Christ (Matthew 26:41. Mark 16:7. John 20:25-27; John 21:15-19, &c.)

sins. Hebrew. pasha". App-44.

lips. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, for what is spoken by them.

understanding. Hebrew "heart", put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6, for understanding.

foolish. Same word as in Proverbs 10:8.

his strong city. Hebrew city of his strength. Figure of speech Antimereia. App-6.

destruction = that which destroys them. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect).

poor = weak. Hebrew. dal. See note on Proverbs 6:11.

poverty = rush. See note on Proverbs 6:11.

fruit = produce.

the wicked = a lawless one.

sin. Hebrew. chata App-44.

refuseth. Some codices read "hateth".

erreth = leadeth astray.

wanteth not sin = lacketh not sin. Illustrations: Job (Proverbs 32:2; Proverbs 34:5, Proverbs 34:12; Proverbs 35:16; Proverbs 42:3); Job's friends (Proverbs 32:3; Proverbs 42:7, Proverbs 42:8); the widows (1 Timothy 5:13). Of the "Twelve", the one who spake most (Peter) erred most (Matthew 16:22; Matthew 26:74).

refraineth = restraineth. Illustrations: Eleazar (Genesis 24:21. Compare Proverbs 4:26; Proverbs 15:28); Aaron (Leviticus 10:3); Saul (1 Samuel 10:27. Compare Proverbs 11:12).

tongue. Put by Fig;. Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, for what is spoken by it.

feed = shepherd: i.e. instruct. Illustrations: Job (Proverbs 4:3, Proverbs 4:4; Proverbs 29:21, Proverbs 29:22); David (Psalms 78:70-72); Peter (Acts 4:1-4); Philip (Acts 8:5-8); Paul and Barnabas (Acts 11:26; Acts 14:22-28); Judas and Silas (Acts 15:32, Acts 15:33).

for = through.

wisdom: Hebrew "heart", put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6, for understanding.

it = itself: i.e. the uttered blessing, like the "words of the wise".

But. Supply Figure of speech Ellipsis (App-6), "But [to exercise] wisdom [is as sport] to a man of understanding".

man. Hebrew. "ish. App-14.

understanding . . . wisdom. See note on Proverbs 1:2.

the righteous = righteous ones.

shall be granted. Illustrations: Hannah (1 Samuel 1:20); Esther (Proverbs 4:16; Proverbs 8:15-17); Daniel (Proverbs 2:16-23); Simeon (Luke 2:25-30).

As the whirlwind passeth, &c. Illustrations: Genesis 7:21-23 (compare Matthew 24:37-39. Luke 17:26, Luke 17:27); Elah (1 Kings 16:7-10); Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:35-37).

an everlasting foundation. Compare Matthew 7:24-27.

smoke. In Eastern tents and houses, wood or charcoal fires, and no chimneys.

The fear of the LORD. See note on Proverbs 1:7.

prolongeth days = increaseth days; not necessarily in number, but in greater value and importance.

shortened = cut down, or made little, as in Isaiah 50:2; Isaiah 59:1. Micah 2:7. Numbers 11:23; Numbers 21:4. (discouraged). Judges 10:16 (grieved); Proverbs 16:16 (vexed). Job 21:4 (troubled). Zechariah 11:8 (loathed). Psalms 102:23, where it refers to affliction, not to continued living.

The hope of the righteous, &c. Illustrations: Abraham (Romans 4:18-20); Joseph (Psalms 105:17-21); Hezekiah (Psalm 126); Daniel (Proverbs 6:10).

hope. Hebrew. yahal = an unlikely hope.

expectation = confidence. Hebrew. tikvah = a likely hope. Illustrations: Goliath (1 Samuel 17:44, 1 Samuel 17:51); Athaliah (2 Kings 11:1-16); Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:23, 2 Kings 19:37; 2 Chronicles 32:21); Herod (Matthew 2:16).

the upright = an upright one.

destruction = ruin. Illustrations: Saul (1 Chronicles 10:13, 1 Chronicles 10:14. 1 Chronicles 11:3); Jeroboam (1 Kings 14:7-11. Isaiah 50:11).

iniquity. Hebrew. "aven. App-44.

removed = moved, or shaken.

earth: or land [of promise].

just = righteous, as in verses: Proverbs 10:30, Proverbs 10:32.

bringeth forth: i.e. as a plant.

froward. See note on Proverbs 2:12.

cut out = cut off as unproductive.

frowardness. See note on Proverbs 2:12. Here plural = great [perverseness].