Posted by Jeff Short on September 15, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
– Proverbs 17:12
Meeting such a
bear would be alarming and threatening, but the proverb shows it’s more dangerous to meet a
fool in his folly. A
bear robbed of her whelps is a figure in Scripture to express brute strength and terror (2 Samuel 17:8; Hosea 13:8). The proverb doesn’t necessarily liken the fool’s rage to the bear’s. Such a bear cannot be reasoned with, is consumed with venting, and cannot easily be stopped. So it is with a fool in his folly (Proverbs 17:10; 10:23; 18:6; 29:11).
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Posted by Jeff Short on September 13, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
– Proverbs 17:10
Proverbs consistently distinguishes the wise from the foolish by how they respond to correction (Proverbs 9:8-9; 15:5). The word for
entereth means to sink as we would say “sink in.” It’s like instructing someone and then telling them to let it sink in. The first phrase’s point is that the spoken word of
reproof sinks in deep to a
wise man. He hears
reproof, considers it, and is wiser for it (Proverbs 9:9). This contrasts with a
hundred stripes the
fool receives, but yet will still not amend his way. The term
fool is not a comment about mental capacity, but mental outlook that decidedly refuses wisdom (Proverbs 1:29). He won’t respond to the word of reproof, much less the beating of a rod (Proverbs 27:22). He prefers his folly and returns to it like a dog to its own vomit (Proverbs 26:11).
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Posted by Jeff Short on September 10, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
– Proverbs 17:7
The word for
excellent literally means overhanging. It implies excess and here describes
speech that is high and lofty. We would call it big talk, or even boasting. It could be pretentious putting on of airs, or arrogant prattle. The first phrase means such talk is not fitting, or appropriate, to a
fool (Proverbs 26:7). The word for
fool here is not only senseless but also wicked. The same word is used in Psalm 14:1 to describe one who has rejected the first principle of wisdom, the fear of the Lord. Similarly, as the second phrase points out,
lying lips are not becoming to a
prince. A
prince is a ruler and as such a minister of God for righteousness, or justice (Romans 13:1-4). Falsehood in one supposed to uphold truth is a travesty (Proverbs 16:10-13; 12:19).
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Posted by Jeff Short on August 18, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
– Proverbs 16:22
The word for
understanding means prudence, or good sense. It appears several times in Proverbs and throughout the Old Testament. It was the word used to describe Abigail in 1 Samuel 25:3. We would say she had a good head on her shoulders. Practical wisdom is a life giving blessing (Proverbs 3:22; 14:30), as
wellspring of life indicates (Proverbs 10:11; 13:14; 14:27; 18:4). The second phrase is a contrast to the life giving blessing of wisdom. The word for
instruction means chastisement, or reproof. Such correction coming from
fools is useless, worthless (Proverbs 15:2, 28). If we press the antithetical parallel further, rather than giving life, folly leads to destruction and death (Proverbs 5:23; 14:1).
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Posted by Jeff Short on July 5, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
– Proverbs 15:14
The word for
seeketh means to search out and indicates a deliberate search. The word for
knowledge means cunning, perception, and discernment. Proverbs presents wisdom as accessible to all (Proverbs 8:1-11; 9:1-6), but acquired only by those who seek for it (Proverbs 2:1-6). One of the marks of wisdom is to continue to seek for wisdom (Proverbs 1:5; 9:9). The contrast speaks of feeding on
foolishness rather than seeking wisdom. The word for
feedeth means to pasture, or graze. The word for
fools is the most common word in Proverbs for fools. The word means stupid and obstinate. The usage in Proverbs shows the word describes one who chooses the way of folly and not one who is mentally impaired. The fool gobbles up foolishness and spews it out freely (Proverbs 15:2). The fool has no heart or patience for acquiring wisdom (Proverbs 17:6, 24). He prefers his easy foolishness so much he returns to it like a dog to its own vomit (Proverbs 26:11).
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 28, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
– Proverbs 15:7
The contrast between
lips and
heart causes difficulty among commentators. The
heart is put for the mind and
lips obviously refer to speech. There is a similar contrast in Proverbs 10:20. The
wise will spread
knowledge with their
lips because they have wisdom (Proverbs 14:18). The
heart, or mind, of the
foolish is not filled with wisdom, so they obviously cannot speak or spread wisdom (Proverbs 10:21). Fools pursue folly and take delight in it (Proverbs 15:21). He takes in folly like a panting dog licking up water and dirt (Proverbs 15:14). He in turn pours out folly because that is what he has (Proverbs 13:16; 15:2).
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 26, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
– Proverbs 15:5
Proverbs teaches wisdom is had by instruction and correction (Proverbs 1:2-4, 23). The
prudent, or wise, will heed it (Proverbs 1:5; 9:9). The
fool despiseth, or scorns, sound correction and instruction (Proverbs 10:1; 13:1). They will not hear wise counsel (Proverbs 1:7; 10:8; 12:15) and they mock sin (Proverbs 14:9). Referring to
his father’s instruction shows his foolishness early on (Proverbs 22:15), which can lead to an irremediable scoffing fool (Proverbs 27:22). This proverb also reveals character by how we respond to correction and instruction.
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 23, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
– Proverbs 15:2
The
tongue and
mouth here are figures for speech, spoken words. The word for
useth … aright means skillfully, or to do well. The words a
wise man uses are thoughtful and deliberately chosen (Proverbs 15:28; 16:23). He has control over his tongue, which means his words will also be fewer (Proverbs 17:28). The contrast is with
fools who
poureth out, or gush forth,
foolishness. Fools are quick to speak, which means their words are thoughtless (Proverbs 29:20). Fools also pour out a great quantity of words without restraint (Proverbs 10:19; 15:28; 29:11; Ecclesiastes 10:14).
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 19, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.
– Proverbs 14:33
The word for
resteth means to settle down or repose. The
heart, or mind, of him who has discernment retains a store of
wisdom. In light of the parallel, the first phrase also indicates that wisdom is held within with reserve and quietness, not boasting. The contrast points to the
fools who thoughtlessly pour out what they believe is wisdom but is actually foolishness (Proverbs 12:16, 23; 13:16; 15:2, 28; 29:11). Solomon elsewhere noted that a fool’s words and actions continually identifies him as a fool (Ecclesiastes 10:3).
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Proverbs 17:12
Posted by Jeff Short on September 15, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Meeting such a bear would be alarming and threatening, but the proverb shows it’s more dangerous to meet a fool in his folly. A bear robbed of her whelps is a figure in Scripture to express brute strength and terror (2 Samuel 17:8; Hosea 13:8). The proverb doesn’t necessarily liken the fool’s rage to the bear’s. Such a bear cannot be reasoned with, is consumed with venting, and cannot easily be stopped. So it is with a fool in his folly (Proverbs 17:10; 10:23; 18:6; 29:11).– Proverbs 17:12
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