Posted by Jeff Short on July 28, 2022 · Leave a Comment
The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
– Proverbs 30:17
This saying continues the theme of the proud and rebellious generation in this collection. The image is vivid and grotesque. The eye is personified as an arrogant disrespectful youth being plucked and eaten by ravens and vultures. The Torah promised long life to those who honor their parents (Exodus 20:12), and here the curse is being cut off and fulfills the “eye for eye” justice demand of the old covenant law (Exodus 21:24). Being food for the carrion birds likely assumes the penalty for incorrigible children has been carried out (Deuteronomy 21:18-21).
Posted by Jeff Short on April 9, 2020 · Leave a Comment
Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.
– Proverbs 29:8
Verses 8-11 have sayings with anger as a common theme. A scorner is a determined fool among the wisdom sayings whose persistent resistance to correction (Proverbs 9:7-8; 13:1; 15:12) keeps him from acquiring wisdom (Proverbs 14:6). Kidner called the scorner a deliberate trouble-maker (Proverbs 21:24; 22:10), and here he inflames the city, as the word for
snare indicates. By contrast, the wise man is calming and turns wrath away. Wisdom understands and values the power of calm words (Proverbs 17:27; 15:1; 25:15).
Posted by Jeff Short on May 25, 2018 · Leave a Comment
The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
– Proverbs 24:9
The word for
thought means plan, and usually refers to bad plans. The word for
foolishness means silliness, or folly. The first phrase refers to scheming, which is decidedly not according to wisdom. Such folly refuses instruction, embraces death, and goes woefully astray (Proverbs 5:21-23). Through such folly a woman destroys her own home (Proverbs 14:1), a hot headed man is exposed (Proverbs 14:17, 29), the character of a fool is known by the foolishness poured out of his mouth (Proverbs 12:23; 15:2, 14), and a man’s whole way is corrupted (Proverbs 19:3). Therefore, his love of folly and planning foolishness is
sin.
The scorner, or scoffer, then, becomes an abomination to men. He becomes disgusting, or detestable, even in the eyes of men. The scorner is fixed in his evil ways because he will not receive correction (Proverbs 9:7-8; 13:1; 15:12). He is odious to men because he is a meddler and bringer of problems (Proverbs 21:24; 22:10; 29:8). Wisdom teaches us judgment is “prepared for scorners” (Proverbs 19:19), and he shall receive tooth for tooth (Proverbs 3:32-35).
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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 February 20, 2018 · Leave a Comment
Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.
– Proverbs 21:24
The wording of this proverb is awkward. The word for
name indicates the reputation or character of a person by figure. The
scorner, or scoffer, is at the far end of the spectrum of fools in Proverbs. They are not simple or ignorant, but
proud and
haughty, which means they obstinately refuse wisdom (Proverbs 9:7-8; 13:3; 15:12). The word for
wrath means outburst of passion. The
scorner is marked by arrogantly pouring out his anger. He is ripe for judgment (Proverbs 16:18; 18:12; 19:29).
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Posted by Jeff Short on February 3, 2018 · Leave a Comment
When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
– Proverbs 21:11
Teachability is a mark of maturing and growing in wisdom (Proverbs 1:5; 9:9). The proverb contrasts the
wise and the
simple. The wise receives instruction and the simple has to see the scorner punished to wise up. Proverbs teaches us wisdom is imparted by instruction, correction, warning, and punishment. The wiser we are, the less time we will spend toward the punishment end of that scale.
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Posted by Jeff Short on December 11, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.
– Proverbs 19:29
The word for
judgments means a sentence, or penalty. The word for
stripes means blows, or strokes as with a rod. When instructions, corrections, reproofs, rebukes, and warnings fail to turn a scorner or fool, stripes will be called for (Proverbs 10:13; 18:6). It is the only means of restraining such men (Proverbs 26:3). The warning of inevitable judgment goes out to fools and scorners. They will not go unpunished (Proverbs 19:5, 9). Though punishment of a fool seldom does him good (Proverbs 27:22), it can be corrective for others who see it (Proverbs 19:25).
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Posted by Jeff Short on December 9, 2017 · Leave a Comment
An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
– Proverbs 19:28
The word for
witness means testimony, or evidence. Proverbs has several warnings or condemnations of a false witness (Proverbs 6:19; 12:17; 14:5; 19:5, 9; 21:28; 25:18). Here it is an
ungodly witness, or witness of Belial. He is a thoroughly wicked and deceitful witness. Deliberately twisted testimony
scorneth, or mocks,
judgment, or justice in the sense of a verdict. The word for
devoureth means to swallow, or we would say gulp down. The second phrase pictures the ungodly witness as enjoying and greedily devouring
iniquity, or wickedness. It reminds us of how the fool laps up foolishness (Proverbs 15:14).
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Posted by Jeff Short on December 6, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
– Proverbs 19:25
The scorner, the simple, and the man of understanding feature in this proverb. The distinction revolves around how correction is received. The word for
scorner means to mock and scoff. Scorning is where the simple will end up if they do not receive correction and instruction (Proverbs 14:18). The word for
simple means foolish, or naïve. Proverbs paints the simple as thoughtless and easily led (Proverbs 14:15; 15:21). Reproof alone will seldom correct the simple. They need stronger demonstration (Proverbs 21:11). The word for
understanding means to separate mentally, or discern. Wise men have understanding and so instructions and reproofs are more effective and profitable for them (Proverbs 9:9-10; 15:5; 17:10).
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Proverbs 30:17
Posted by Jeff Short on July 28, 2022 · Leave a Comment
The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
This saying continues the theme of the proud and rebellious generation in this collection. The image is vivid and grotesque. The eye is personified as an arrogant disrespectful youth being plucked and eaten by ravens and vultures. The Torah promised long life to those who honor their parents (Exodus 20:12), and here the curse is being cut off and fulfills the “eye for eye” justice demand of the old covenant law (Exodus 21:24). Being food for the carrion birds likely assumes the penalty for incorrigible children has been carried out (Deuteronomy 21:18-21).– Proverbs 30:17
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Filed under 30, Proverbs, Short Comments · Tagged with Children, Commentary, Parents, Proverbs, Rebellious, Scorner