Posted by Jeff Short on October 9, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
– Proverbs 18:6
The word for
contention means strife, or controversy. A fool’s mouth gets him into trouble, eventually. He knows no restraint and often presses things until the dam bursts (Proverbs 29:11; 17:14). Where there is no controversy, the fool is itching to start one (Proverbs 16:27-28). The word for
strokes means blows and refers to beating, whether it is civil or domestic. The fool takes a dog by the ears and shouldn’t complain of being bit (Proverbs 26:17).
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Posted by Jeff Short on October 6, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
– Proverbs 18:4
Interpretations of this proverb vary. How you understand the parallel governs the interpretation. If the two phrases are antithetical, then “words of a man’s mouth” and “wellspring of wisdom” are opposites. Then, “deep waters,” has a negative meaning contrasted with the positive, “flowing brook.” If the parallel is complementary, then the second phrase continues and expands, or amplifies, the first. This makes “the words of a man’s mouth” and “the wellspring of wisdom” to be synonymous, and so on.
Many commentators take one of these two tracks with the proverb, and more seem to favor the complementary, positive interpretation. Alternatively, we can view this proverb as a conditional statement, an if/then statement. Then we take the first phrase as neutral, but stating a universal truth. The second phrase gives the result of a condition met. So let’s take this view and see the point of the proverb differently than the other two.
The figures used in this proverb are used elsewhere in Proverbs and usually with a positive meaning (Proverbs 10:11; 13:14; 16:22). The first phrase here has a couple of differences. The “words of a man’s mouth” is unqualified and unmodified. In Proverbs 10:11, it is the “mouth of a righteous man.” In Proverbs 13:14, it is the “law of the wise,” and in Proverbs 16:22, “understanding” is the “wellspring.” Also, the figure “deep waters” is not use in those other proverbs. It is used in one other place (Proverbs 20:5). If positive, it is assumed that “deep waters” refers to abundance and even an inexhaustible supply. However, the use in Proverbs 20:5 has a different gloss, where it means hidden and inaccessible.
Accounting for the lack of qualification and interpreting the figure consistently with Proverbs 20:5, the first phrase is not about the good or bad of the “words,” but rather is stating the truth that our words come from within. Our spoken words are connected to and come from the heart, or mind (Proverbs 12:23; 15:7, 28; 16:23; 18:2). The condition is met in the second phrase. If our hearts are a “wellspring of wisdom,” then our words will be refreshing and life-giving, as “a flowing brook.”
The point of the proverb is that our words will not rise above the level of our hearts. If foolishness or evil is in our hearts, then they will come out of our mouths (Proverbs 6:14, 18; 12:20, 23; 19:3; 26:25). When wisdom is in our hearts, our words will be wise and helpful (Proverbs 14:33; 15:7, 14, 28; 16:21, 23). The prescription is to get and keep wisdom in our hearts (Proverbs 2:2, 10; 3:3, 5; 4:4, 21; 6:21; 7:3; 10:8; et al).
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Posted by Jeff Short on October 4, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
– Proverbs 18:2
This proverb amplifies the point of Proverbs 17:28. Fools are described as having little to no control over their tongues throughout Proverbs, and this lack of control easily marks them a fool before others. The word for
delight means to take pleasure, or we could say, inclination. The word for
understanding means intelligence, but not innate mental capacity. It refers more to the skill of discernment, to distinguish between. Solomon instructs his son to seek it diligently as searching for hidden treasure (Proverbs 2:1-5). To acquire
understanding, one has to humble himself to be instructed (Proverbs 5:1). Acquiring
understanding is also a spiritual issue, since you must begin with the fear of the Lord and comprehend that
understanding comes “out of his mouth” (Proverbs 2:5-6), i.e., God’s word (Matthew 4:4). Acquiring
understanding is impossible independent of, or contrary to, God (Proverbs 21:30).
The fool has no delight in the instruction and correction of wisdom. Rather his joy rests in speaking his own thoughts and feelings. The word for heart often means mind, but the context is appropriate to say thoughts and feelings. The word for discover itself means to expose, or uncover. The fool doesn’t want to be taught, but is rather always waiting for opportunities to empty his emotional bucket (Proverbs 15:2). Fools have no joy in life until they’ve exposed themselves in some manner (Proverbs 13:16), and Solomon elsewhere described them as always advertising their folly (Ecclesiastes 10:3).
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Posted by Jeff Short on October 2, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
– Proverbs 17:28
This proverb is a companion to the previous one about the restraint of the tongue. Solomon noted elsewhere, “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes 3:7), but fools are “full of words” (Ecclesiastes 10:14) and ready to pour out their speech (Proverbs 15:2). Solomon’s point is made with irony that a fool can appear wise if he holds his tongue. He gives a different angle on the value of silence and restraint. He doesn’t intend to teach fools how to put on a good show.
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Posted by Jeff Short on October 1, 2017 · Leave a Comment
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
– Proverbs 17:27
The word for
spareth means restrain, as you would expect. The proverb commends careful speech. The sparing of words is not an effort to appear to have knowledge, or to acquire it. The word for
knowledge means discernment and skill. Knowledge controls the tongue, rather than spewing out what comes to mind (Proverbs 15:28). The person without control of the tongue invites destruction (Proverbs 13:3). Control of the tongue can keep us from damaging relationships and even sin (Proverbs 11:12-13; 10:19). The second phrase expands the control to the temper (Proverbs 16:32). Wisdom is seen in appeasing and dampening strife, but folly excites it, and often through the tongue (Proverbs 14:29; 15:18; 19:11).
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Posted by Jeff Short on September 23, 2017 · Leave a Comment
He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
– Proverbs 17:20
The wicked are described as having a
froward heart (Proverbs 3:32; 6:12-15; 11:20). This means a perverse mind, bent toward folly and away from wisdom. All their plans are plans of wickedness and abominations before the Lord. The wicked are also described as having a
perverse tongue (Proverbs 8:13; 10:10; 18:6-7). The word for
perverse means to turn about or over. This refers to a false tongue, saying one thing and doing another. One who thinks and talks this way cannot expect to find
good and can expect to find
mischief, or evil (Proverbs 10:31; 13:17).
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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 September 6, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
– Proverbs 17:4
Evil speech can be anywhere from slanderous to plotting and is here represented by
false lips and a
naughty tongue. This proverb isn’t so much about evil speech as it is about those who listen and delight in hearing it. For evil speech to spread, it has to have a ready ear (Proverbs 26:20). Delighting in bad talk reveals the hearer as bad also. The word for
wicked doer means a spoiler, or destroyer. The word
liar indicates a habitual liar. The law forbid taking part in talebearing, whether as a spreader or hearer (Leviticus 19:16-17).
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Posted by Jeff Short on August 26, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
– Proverbs 16:28
The word for
froward means perverse, or fraudulent. The use of
soweth means to broadcast or spread, as a sower does with his seed. The perverse man spreads around
strife, or contention (Proverbs 6:14, 19; 15:18). A
whisperer is a gossip, talebearer, or slanderer. The sowing of strife and spreading of slander causes a rift between even
chief friends. Those who are close with a good relationship can be separated by strife and contention. The proverb focuses on the damage done by sowing strife and whispering (Proverbs 17:9; 18:8).
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Proverbs 18:6
Posted by Jeff Short on October 9, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
The word for contention means strife, or controversy. A fool’s mouth gets him into trouble, eventually. He knows no restraint and often presses things until the dam bursts (Proverbs 29:11; 17:14). Where there is no controversy, the fool is itching to start one (Proverbs 16:27-28). The word for strokes means blows and refers to beating, whether it is civil or domestic. The fool takes a dog by the ears and shouldn’t complain of being bit (Proverbs 26:17).– Proverbs 18:6
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