Posted by Jeff Short on March 13, 2018 · Leave a Comment
The slothful man saith, There is lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
– Proverbs 22:13
Readers of Proverbs are well acquainted with the sluggard by this point. Despite all counsel and evidence to the contrary, the sluggard thinks he knows best (Proverbs 26:16). Here he justifies not working by the preposterous excuse of a lion in the street. The sluggard seeks the easier, more comfortable, route (Proverbs 20:4). The word for
slothful means lazy. He, of course, intends to get to work, but it is always after (Proverbs 6:9-10). He needs just a little more sleep and to give the lions time to clear out.
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 12, 2018 · Leave a Comment
The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
– Proverbs 22:12
The phrase,
eyes of the Lord, is used in Proverbs to refer to God’s sovereign and complete knowledge of the doings of man (Proverbs 5:21; 15:3). God’s omniscient observation is inescapable. The word for
preserve means guard, or watch. The word for
knowledge means perception, or understanding. The contrast with the second phrase gives us the sense of truth for
knowledge. The open, searching eyes of Yahweh sees the doings of man and preserves the truth, or right record, of events. The first phrase hints to Yahweh as judge and the second phrase makes that clear. The word for
transgressor means treacherous, or deceitful. Such falsehood will be overthrown, or destroyed, by the truth. The eyes of Yahweh not only see a man’s actions, but his thoughts and intentions in them as well (Proverbs 15:11; 16:2; 17:3; 21:2).
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 11, 2018 · Leave a Comment
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.
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 10, 2018 · Leave a Comment
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.
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 9, 2018 · Leave a Comment
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).
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 8, 2018 · Leave a Comment
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.
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 7, 2018 · Leave a Comment
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.
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 6, 2018 · Leave a Comment
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).
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 5, 2018 · Leave a Comment
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.
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Proverbs 22:13
Posted by Jeff Short on March 13, 2018 · Leave a Comment
The slothful man saith, There is lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
Readers of Proverbs are well acquainted with the sluggard by this point. Despite all counsel and evidence to the contrary, the sluggard thinks he knows best (Proverbs 26:16). Here he justifies not working by the preposterous excuse of a lion in the street. The sluggard seeks the easier, more comfortable, route (Proverbs 20:4). The word for slothful means lazy. He, of course, intends to get to work, but it is always after (Proverbs 6:9-10). He needs just a little more sleep and to give the lions time to clear out.– Proverbs 22:13
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