Posted by Jeff Short on June 10, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
– Proverbs 14:24
The wording of this proverb is difficult. The first phrase speaks of the rewards of wisdom as
riches. This is consistent with the call of wisdom and the promise to those who acquire it (Proverbs 3:16; 4:7-9; 8:18). The point of wisdom is not temporal wealth but spiritual riches (Proverbs 11:4). The contrast emphasizes the reward of
fools is
folly.
Foolishness is sown by
fools and
folly is harvested. The point could be the irremediable nature of the fool in his folly (Proverbs 17:10; 27:22). He is joined to it and always returns to it (Proverbs 26:11).
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 2, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
– Proverbs 14:16
Proper fear marks a
wise man. Through wisdom and fear he identifies
evil and departs from it to go in the way that is upright (Proverbs 22:3; 3:7; 16:6, 17). The contrasted mark of the
fool is confidence. He is overconfident in his own wisdom and way (Proverbs 26:12; 14:12), so he
rageth, or passes on his determined way despite warnings or counsel (Proverbs 7:22).
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Posted by Jeff Short on May 19, 2017 · Leave a Comment
In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
– Proverbs 14:3
The phrase,
rod of pride, is difficult with various interpretations. The words,
mouth and
lips, are here put for speech, so the proverb is speaking to the fruits of our speech. In that light, the rod of pride speaks of some hurt that comes to the
foolish for their foolish speech. Solomon wrote foolish words call for punishment (Proverbs 18:6) and that punishment will be reaped (Proverbs 22:8). The
wise shall be kept or delivered from trouble through wise speech (Proverbs 12:6).
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Posted by Jeff Short on May 11, 2017 · Leave a Comment
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
– Proverbs 13:20
Proverbs speaks often about the influence, for good or bad, of others upon one’s life. The fatherly addresses in the opening chapters alert to the presence of evil influences and instruct and warn to avoid them (Proverbs 1:10; 2:12; 4:14). The proverbs proper also warn this way (Proverbs 16:29; 22:24-25; 23:20; 28:7). The first phrase commends the good of walking with
wise men. The result is becoming wise oneself (Proverbs 2:20). The second phrase warns that to flock with
fools, which the word for companion means, will to be inherit the same end as fools (Proverbs 1:11-19; 2:12-19; 9:6).
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Posted by Jeff Short on May 5, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
– Proverbs 13:14
The word for
law means direction or instruction. It can refer to any instruction, though it often refers to God’s law-word. Here it is qualified as the
law of the wise. The wise have the fear of the Lord and have acquired wisdom (Proverbs 14:27). Their wise instruction functions two ways. The
fountain of life imagery suggests they are a source of life as well as refreshment. Their law also teaches
to depart from the snares of death, or delivers from death (Proverbs 15:24; 16:6, 17).
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Posted by Jeff Short on April 8, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
– Proverbs 12:15
The
fool in Proverbs isn’t necessarily unintelligent but rather he refuses instruction and correction. In fact, he despises it (Proverbs 1:7; 15:5). Solomon uses another description that parallels this proverb when he speaks of not being “wise in thine own eyes” (Proverbs 3:7). The fool stubbornly clings to his own thoughts and ways. If he is willing to receive any counsel, it will only be that he already agrees with. The word for
hearkeneth means to hear intelligently. This is exactly what Solomon admonished his son to do and thus be wise. The only path presented to acquiring wisdom is to receive correction and instruction (Proverbs 1:5; 9:9; 19:20).
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 22, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
– Proverbs 11:30
The first phrase employs the
tree of life metaphor.
Fruit is something that is produced. The produce of the righteous is life-giving and nourishing to people. When taken with the second phrase, we know this is not coincidental. The righteous aim at doing good to others. The second phrase states that the
wise win
souls. The word for
winneth is used over 900 times in the Old Testament and can be used in a variety of ways. It means to take in the sense of take hold of or grasp. It is also used to mean to receive or accept something. It can be used to describe taking or capturing men as in conquest. It can also mean to capture in terms of thought or persuasion. The word is used 19 times in Proverbs.
• The most common use is in the sense of taking hold of wise instruction (Proverbs 1:3; 2:1; 4:10; 8:10; 10:8; 21:11; 24:32).
• The second most common use is in the sense of taking or acquiring an object or possession (Proverbs 7:20; 20:16; 22:27; 27:13; 31:16).
• The third use describes the taking of life by the wicked (Proverbs 1:19; 24:11).
• The fourth usage refers to receiving shame or a snare (Proverbs 9:7; 22:25).
• The fifth use of the term described the strange woman taking her victims (Proverbs 6:25).
• The sixth use is in the sense of taking a bribe to pervert justice (Proverbs 17:23).
• That leaves the last usage, which is in our text (Proverbs 11:30).
It’s obvious the usage in this proverb is akin to the most common use of the word, which describes the receiving of wisdom. The use is simply inverted here. Rather than commanding or commending the receiving of wisdom, the word is describing the wise one who wins people to wisdom. The point of both phrases together is that the wise, those who have truly received wisdom, will seek to guide others into wisdom.
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Posted by Jeff Short on January 26, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
– Proverbs 10:8
Solomon here contrasts characteristics of the wise and foolish. The parallelism also speaks of the results of each. The
wise in heart, or mind, are teachable and will
receive commandments. Having wisdom in Proverbs never amounts to being a know-it-all but being a learner (Proverbs 1:5; 9:9). It is a distinct mark of wisdom. The
prating fool is literally the foolish of lips. It refers to talkativeness in volume of words but also being opinionated where the fool delights more in his own foolishness than the counsel of wisdom (Proverbs 12:23; Ecclesiastes 10:14). Because the fool won’t hear instruction and prefers his own vain thoughts, he will fall or come to ruin (Proverbs 18:6-7).
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Proverbs 14:24
Posted by Jeff Short on June 10, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
The wording of this proverb is difficult. The first phrase speaks of the rewards of wisdom as riches. This is consistent with the call of wisdom and the promise to those who acquire it (Proverbs 3:16; 4:7-9; 8:18). The point of wisdom is not temporal wealth but spiritual riches (Proverbs 11:4). The contrast emphasizes the reward of fools is folly. Foolishness is sown by fools and folly is harvested. The point could be the irremediable nature of the fool in his folly (Proverbs 17:10; 27:22). He is joined to it and always returns to it (Proverbs 26:11).– Proverbs 14:24
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