Posted by Jeff Short on December 28, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
– Proverbs 20:12
The
hearing ear and
seeing eye are expressions of understanding and obedience (Isaiah 6:9-10; Mark 4:9-12). The second phrase shows these faculties to be gifts of God’s grace and therefore accountable to him. So not only does wisdom come from God, but the understanding of wisdom as well. This proverb also reveals the sovereign attribute of omniscience, since the
hearing ear and
seeing eye come from God, he possesses these in greater degree (Psalm 94:9).
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Posted by Jeff Short on December 16, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
– Proverbs 20:5
The word for
counsel means purpose and refers to inner intentions, or motives. The image of
deep water is also used in Proverbs 18:4, and the meaning is consistent here. It refers to what is hidden, or beneath the surface. (For further explanation of the image, see
commentary on Proverbs 18:4). What lies in the heart of men is hidden, but a
man of understanding discovers it. The word for
understanding means discernment. The point of proverbs is “To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion” (Proverbs 1:4). In other words, Proverbs teaches wisdom to those who will receive it. Wisdom discerns motives and true character hidden behind facades, or in this image, in deep water.
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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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Posted by Jeff Short on November 9, 2017 · Leave a Comment
He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
– Proverbs 19:8
The word for
wisdom here means heart and is sometimes translated
mind, or
understanding. It can be thought of as good sense. The word for
understanding refers to ability to discern and distinguish between (1 Kings 3:9). Though wisdom brings many benefits, acquiring wisdom is its own reward (Proverbs 8:35-36). The proverb means you do yourself well by seeking, acquiring, and retaining wisdom (Proverbs 3:18).
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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 September 27, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
– Proverbs 17:24
Solomon repeatedly told his son to hear instruction of wisdom, in order to gain wisdom, in the opening fatherly addresses of Proverbs. A man of
understanding pursues
wisdom and keeps it
before him in the sense of concentrating on instruction (Proverbs 15:14; 18:15). The
fool is not fixed on the instruction of wisdom. He has no sense of the value of it, nor the patient and diligent search required to obtain it (Proverbs 17:16; 2:3-5).
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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 23, 2017 · Leave a Comment
He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
– Proverbs 15:32
The word for
instruction means discipline and it is the tutelage of wisdom. To refuse it is to harm oneself (Proverbs 8:33-36). The word for
heareth means to hear intelligently, or listen attentively. To hear
reproof is to acquire and grow in wisdom (Proverbs 15:14; 18:15). It is a mark of the wise to receive reproof and grow in wisdom (Proverbs 9:9-10; 17:10; 19:25). It is not that the wise enjoy reproof or correction, but it has its intended effect and they rejoice in gained wisdom (Proverbs 21:11; Hebrews 12:11).
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Posted by Jeff Short on July 12, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.
– Proverbs 15:21
Foolishness in Proverbs is a choice, or it is a consequence of rejecting wisdom’s instruction and correction. This proverb identifies
folly as
joy to those who are
destitute of wisdom, or without understanding. Fools delight in folly as a sport and pleasure (Proverbs 10:23; 14:9). The word for
understanding means intelligence and reason. It describes one who is skilled in discernment. The word for
upright means straight, or direct. The discerning ones deliberately choose the way that is good (Proverbs 14:16; 16:17). This is a man who has good sense and considers the end (Proverbs 22:3).
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Proverbs 20:12
Posted by Jeff Short on December 28, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
The hearing ear and seeing eye are expressions of understanding and obedience (Isaiah 6:9-10; Mark 4:9-12). The second phrase shows these faculties to be gifts of God’s grace and therefore accountable to him. So not only does wisdom come from God, but the understanding of wisdom as well. This proverb also reveals the sovereign attribute of omniscience, since the hearing ear and seeing eye come from God, he possesses these in greater degree (Psalm 94:9).– Proverbs 20:12
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