Proverbs 1:5
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
– Proverbs 1:5
Counsel refers to guidance. The wise man is a man of understanding who will receive and heed good, wise counsel. Contrariwise, the fool is one who will not listen or receive counsel, though it comes from multiple wise sources (Proverbs 12:15; 26:12, 16).
This verse is an example of the layering common in the Proverbs. By sketching a wise man we also have a sketch of the fool if we consider the reverse image. One of the layers common in Proverbs is to teach us insight into character. So where we have a man or woman who will not receive or listen to counsel from anyone, we know we are dealing with a fool.
Proverbs 1:4
To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
– Proverbs 1:4
Knowledge means cunning or perception and is paired with discretion. The word for discretion means a purpose, plan, or plot. It can be used of a good plan or evil and so the context determines which. Here the discretion is good whereby the young man who attains it can wisely plan his way.
Proverbs 1:3
To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
– Proverbs 1:3
Prudence here is joined with justice, judgment, and equity. These three convey the ideas of knowing what is right, making right decisions, and being upright, fair, or even. These words have a legal connotation in making judgments of law concerning cases, but here refer more to the manner of life and one’s dealings with others in the course of life. Therefore, they are applicable to such things as family relations, neighborhood or community relations, and business dealings.
Proverbs 1:2
To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
– Proverbs 1:2
The verbs—to know and to perceive—mean to ascertain and to separate mentally. They refer to acquiring and sorting. They give us the thought of discerning, which is a chief component of wisdom. The different verbs and nouns in this first section are an instructive study and also let us know that the kind of wisdom presented is not easily come by.
The Proverbs was written to grow us in that sort of wisdom and discernment. Real life is not like a black-and-white cowboy picture where the good guys all have on white hats and the bad guys all have on black hats. You can readily discern their character by quickly distinguishing their headgear. In real life we encounter various ways of life, philosophies, teachings, and counsels. They are all compelling us to go this way or that. We need true wisdom to distinguish the good from the bad and the true from the false, and that true wisdom doesn’t come easily or quickly.
Proverbs 1:1
The first seven verses of chapter 1 give an introduction to the Proverbs and to wisdom. This opening section uses a dozen different synonyms or related words for wisdom. Each one conveys a special aspect that colors the meaning of the general term of wisdom in the Bible. The book as a whole uses several different terms for wisdom and each one emphasizes some aspect of wisdom in general.The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel.
– Proverbs 1:1
The word for proverb means to be like and has the basic meaning of comparison. Through usage over time, the word came to refer to any wise saying or statement. It referred more specifically to the form of the saying than necessarily the substance. Proverbs are usually metaphorical, short sayings layered with rich meaning. They typically have a metrical form consisting of two beats. For example: “As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly” (Proverbs 26:11). That is a proverb in every sense of the word—both form and substance.
The first nine chapters of Proverbs are mostly not written in this form that is so common from the tenth chapter onward. The first nine chapters are like an introduction that prepares us for the proverbs in the rest of the book.
Solomon was the son of David and Bathsheba. As pointed out in the introduction to this book, the majority of the proverbs in this book were spoken or written by Solomon. Solomon was one of the holy men of old who spoke as moved along by God’s Spirit, so he has given us Divine wisdom (2 Peter 1:21).
Proverbs 1:6
Posted by Jeff Short on April 12, 2016 · 1 Comment
To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
Verse 6 comes back to the purpose of the book of Proverbs, which is to increase our wisdom or our ability to understand. Proverbs, words of the wise, and dark sayings are such that require interpretation. Dark sayings refers to riddles or puzzles. They require thought and study. The richness of their meaning is not always immediately obvious. This is a form of teaching that is more difficult to grasp than a simple step-by-step instruction.– Proverbs 1:6
Solomon gives us an example of the kind of interpretive wisdom he endeavors to teach us in Proverbs 24:30-34. He went by a field and was able to study and think and learn wisdom from what he saw. This example shows us that wisdom is equipment for life. Not everything comes to us in the form of step-by-step instructions. We need wisdom to be able to learn and interpret what we see around us all the time.
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Share this:
Filed under 1, Proverbs, Short Comments · Tagged with Commentary, Proverbs, Wisdom