Proverbs 22:11

He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
– Proverbs 22:11

The word for pureness means clean and can refer to ceremonial, physical, or moral cleanness. The word for grace means kindness, or favor. Wise speech is marked by honesty (Proverbs 16:13), appropriateness (Proverbs 15:23), and beauty (Proverbs 10:20; 25:11). The first phrase indicates purity of motives and the second indicates purity of speech. The proverb teaches honest and gracious speech wins favor.

Listen to the Proverbs sermon series

Proverbs 22:10

Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
– Proverbs 22:10

The word for scorner means to make mouths at, or to talk arrogantly. The scorner is a hardened type of fool in Proverbs who is mentally obstinate and belligerent (Proverbs 9:7-8; 13:1; 15:12). His problem is neither a lack of intelligence or information. His mental arrogance means he cannot acquire wisdom and his dislike of correction ensures he will not acquire wisdom (Proverbs 14:6; 13:1). The scorner is a troublemaker (Proverbs 29:8). Wisdom teaches to recognize a scorner and remove him to end unnecessary strife.

Listen to the Proverbs sermon series

Proverbs 22:9

He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
– Proverbs 22:9

The word for bountiful means good. A good eye is linked with generosity, or a generous disposition. The figure of the eye is used to emphasize seeing needs. A good eye contrasts with the stingy and covetous, evil eye in the New Testament (Matthew 6:21-24; 20:1-16; Mark 7:22). The evil, or dark, eye is a figure of one who greedily hoards his own treasure and will not share, or shares begrudgingly, with those who have needs (Proverbs 23:6-7; 28:22). Wisdom teaches an open-handed, giving disposition to the poor will be blessed (Proverbs 11:24-26; 19:17).

Listen to the Proverbs sermon series

Proverbs 22:8

He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
– Proverbs 22:8

This proverb is one of the reap-what-you-sow proverbs. Wisdom teaches to consider the consequence and outcome of our way. Where will it all end? The word for iniquity means injustice. Sowing iniquity images a life lived by gains of oppression, and nothing but trouble can come of it (Proverbs 10:2; 11:18; 20:17; 21:6). The second phrase speaks of the sure end of his rod of anger through implied judgment. His iniquity will be stopped and he will be cut off (Proverbs 11:7; 14:32). Wisdom gives a warning to the wicked and also hope to the suffering righteous.

Listen to the Proverbs sermon series

Proverbs 22:7

The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
– Proverbs 22:7

Wealth brings independence as well as power, at least in terms of leverage. The rich have many friends and can call in many favors (Proverbs 19:4, 6). The wealthy are in power over the poor, whether directly or indirectly (Proverbs 18:23). We tend to look on poverty as a voluntary condition, and it can be so, as in the case of laziness (Proverbs 10:4; 12:11; 14:23; 20:13, 21). Poverty can also be a providential condition owing to no personal fault (Proverbs 14:31; 22:2). The second phrase states the direct dependence of the poor in terms of the borrower serving the lender. The law had many regulations for treatment of the poor, including provisions when a poor man became a slave to pay his debts (Exodus 21:1-7; Leviticus 25:40-43; Deuteronomy 15:12-15). Wisdom teaches to use all diligence to avoid this servitude, but does not guarantee it can be avoided.

Listen to the Proverbs sermon series

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
– Proverbs 22:6

The text of this proverb is difficult and translations and interpretations vary.[ref]Much could be said about the issues with this verse in terms of translations and the historical survey of interpretations. Commentaries present a range of options beyond the scope of this commentary to explore. I recommend the book, “God’s Wisdom in Proverbs” by Dan Phillips for further study. Phillips has an extensive discussion of this verse and his book is one of the best resources on Proverbs to own. You can find it here.[/ref] The proverb is clear enough when we keep the teaching of Proverbs as a whole in mind. The word for train up means to initiate, inaugurate, dedicate, or train. The word for way is common in Proverbs to refer to the course of one’s life. There are no words for he should in the Hebrew and the word for go literally means mouth. It is used figuratively for speech. John Gill rendered it literally: “according to the mouth of his way.” The word here indicates the beginning, or entrance. The sense of the first phrase is, “Start a child in his own way.”

The proverb is a warning to parents about neglecting the instruction and correction of their children to drive the natural foolishness from them (Proverbs 19:18; 20:30; 22:15; 23:14). It is neither a guarantee nor a promise that following certain steps with your children ensures they will mature to be wise. Wisdom warns parents not to leave their children to their own devices and wants (Proverbs 10:1, 5; 17:21, 25; 29:15). Parents must diligently bring up their children to be wise, but parents cannot make their children wise. A fool in Proverbs is one who rejects wisdom and goes his own way (Proverbs 1:30-32; 13:1; 15:20). A fool will also bear the consequences of his own folly (Proverbs 9:12; 19:3).

Listen to the Proverbs sermon series

Proverbs 22:5

Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
– Proverbs 22:5

The word for froward means crooked, perverse, and false. It describes a way bent away from the way of wisdom. The froward are described as speaking froward things, walking in dark ways, rejoicing to do evil, and taking pleasure in the frowardness of others (Proverbs 2:12-15; 19:1). They are described as having a froward mind, which speaks of the crookedness of their inmost being (Proverbs 11:20; 17:20). They also sometimes enjoy abundant fruit from their crooked activities (Proverbs 28:6). Despite the appearance of profit, the way of frowardness is fraught with pitfalls and ends in destruction (Proverbs 13:3, 15; 15:19; 19:16).

Wisdom contrasts the froward with the one who hedges, or guards his soul. Keeping means to guard the way of your life (Proverbs 16:17), and the commandments of wisdom (Proverbs 19:16). Just like the prudent man who takes refuge from danger (Proverbs 22:3), the soul keeper walks in security from the pitfalls of frowardness.

Listen to the Proverbs sermon series

Proverbs 22:4

By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honor, and life.
– Proverbs 22:4

The beginning by expresses a consequence. The condition is humility and fear of the Lord. The result, or reward, is riches, honor, and life. The word for humility means condescension, modesty, or meekness. The word is set opposite haughtiness in Proverbs 18:12. Pride brings destruction, but true honor is preceded by humility (Proverbs 11:2; 16:5, 18-19; 29:23). Fear and humility are the necessary conditions for acquiring wisdom (Proverbs 2:5; 8:13; 9:10). The rewards of wisdom are elsewhere expressed in these terms (Proverbs 3:16; 21:21).

Listen to the Proverbs sermon series

Proverbs 22:3

A prudent man foreseeth evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
– Proverbs 22:3

The word for prudent means shrewd, or sensible. The word can be used negatively in terms of crooked schemes, as seen in the three uses outside of Proverbs (Genesis 3:1; Job 5:12; 15:5). The word is used positively in Proverbs to refer to planning ability. Such wisdom is the result of receiving instruction, correction, and training. The prudent man has learned to look to the end of the way. He sees the potential for calamity and takes refuge from it. The word for simple means silly, or naïve. They plunge forward in life with little or no thought about what lies ahead. The word for punishment means penalty and here indicates the simple have to pay for their mistakes. Put plainly, the simple lack wisdom, but there is hope for the simple, if they will learn wisdom (Proverbs 1:2-5; 8:5; 9:4-6).

Listen to the Proverbs sermon series

« Previous PageNext Page »