Notes on Proverbs

Est Job Psa Prv Ecc SoS Isa

Proverbs

Prv 1:11a proverbs 1 Kings 4:32; Prov. 10:1; 25:1; Eccl. 12:9
[ par. 1 2 ]
Prv 1:11 [1] Heb. mishle, meaning similitudes, proverbs, parables, to represent general truths. Proverbs is a collection of the words of the wise. It stresses the wisdom that man receives of God through his contacting of God and that teaches man how to behave and build up his character in his human life. Since the proverbs were collected mainly by two kings of Judah (Solomon and Hezekiah) in the age of the law, the book of Proverbs may be considered a subsidiary to the law. The law is the portrait of God; as such, it demands that God’s people keep it so that they may be made copies of God for His expression and glorification (see note 11 in Exo. 20). Proverbs, as a subsidiary to the law, instructs people how to behave and how to build themselves up according to God’s attributes, i.e., according to what God is.
Prv 1:11 [2] As a part of the holy word in God’s Holy Scriptures, Proverbs should be considered the breath of God for us to breathe in that we may receive the life supply from God (2 Tim. 3:16). Hence, we should read Proverbs by being filled with the fullness of God in our spirit (Eph. 5:18; 3:19). Furthermore, we should read Proverbs in the New Testament Spirit of life (Rom. 8:2), with our regenerated spirit, mingling prayer with our reading (Eph. 6:17-18) in order to mingle the words with spirit and life (cf. John 6:63). While we are still living in this body, we need Proverbs to give us instructions on how to live rightly in many aspects. However, according to God’s economy Proverbs should not be used to build up the old man by cultivating our self and our natural man. Rather, we should reject self-cultivation and condemn the building up of the natural man (cf. Matt. 16:24; Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:20) and come to Proverbs as a new man (Eph. 4:22-24) by exercising our spirit with the Spirit to contact the word in the spirit of prayer. Then the word in Proverbs will become spirit and life to us, not to cultivate our natural man but to cultivate our regenerated new man. We must be persons who love the Lord and pursue Christ, not self-perfection (cf. Phil. 3:3-14), and who love the Lord’s word in the entire Bible and read it with a praying spirit, not to seek the doctrine of letters but to seek the Spirit and word of life (cf. John 5:39-40; 2 Cor. 3:6), and not to gain any help for self-cultivation but to nourish our spirit that we may live a Christian life that is perfect in the divine virtues, which are the expressions of the divine attributes. If we are such persons, this book will render us nuggets and gems to strengthen our life of pursuing Christ for the fulfillment of God’s economy in producing and building up the Body of Christ, which consummates the New Jerusalem as God’s heart’s desire and ultimate goal.

Prv 1:71a fear Job 28:28; Psa. 111:10; Prov. 9:10; 1 Pet. 2:17
[ par. 1 2 ]
Prv 1:71 [1] Proverbs presents the principles for man to live a proper human life. The major principles are revering God (1:7; 3:5-10), needing wisdom (vv. 20-33; 3:13-24; 4:5-9), honoring one’s parents (1:8-9; 3:1-2; 6:20; 30:17), and holding marriage in honor (5:1-20; 31:10-31).
Prv 1:71 [2] To revere God is to consider and regard Him in everything, never forgetting that He is the wonderful God who created us. To revere God is to fear God (1:7; 2:4-5; 8:13; 9:10; 10:27; 14:2, 26-27; 15:16, 33a), to trust in Him (3:5-8, 26; 16:20; 30:5-6), and to honor Him (3:9-10). Revering God stops us from doing evil. It also causes us to be touched by the sufferings of others and to show mercy and compassion to them.

Prv 1:81a father Prov. 4:1; 6:20
Revering God and honoring one’s parents are mentioned together in Proverbs (vv. 7-9). In the Ten Commandments the fifth, concerning honoring one’s parents, is ranked with the first four, concerning God (see note 121 in Exo. 20). To honor one’s parents is nearly equal to revering God. If we revere God, we will honor our parents. See Eph. 6:2 and notes.

Prv 1:121 Sheol
See note 231 in Matt. 11.

Prv 1:16a feet Isa. 59:7; Rom. 3:15

Prv 1:201 Wisdom
Man’s need of wisdom to live a proper human life is one of the main principles in Proverbs. See note 71, par. 1.

Prv 1:20a cries vv. 20-21: Prov. 8:1-4; cf. John 7:37

Prv 1:202 She
See note 121 in ch. 8.

Prv 1:23a pour Isa. 44:3; Joel 2:28; Zech. 12:10

Prv 1:24a called Isa. 65:12; Jer. 7:13; cf. Matt. 11:17

Prv 2:1a My Prov. 7:1

Prv 2:6a gives 1 Kings 3:9, 12; James 1:5

Prv 2:19a paths Psa. 16:11; Prov. 5:6; 10:17

Prv 2:21a land Psa. 37:9, 11, 22, 29, 34

Prv 3:3a tablet Prov. 7:3; 6:21; Jer. 17:1; 2 Cor. 3:3; cf. Deut. 6:8; 11:18

Prv 3:41 favor
Or, grace.

Prv 3:42 a
The Septuagint translates, exercise foresight for what is honorable (cf. Rom. 12:17; 2 Cor. 8:21).

Prv 3:5a Trust Psa. 37:3-5

Prv 3:7a wise Rom. 12:16

Prv 3:9a firstfruits Exo. 23:19; Deut. 26:2

Prv 3:10a barns Deut. 28:8

Prv 3:111a chastening Job 5:17; Psa. 94:12; Heb. 12:5
Or, instruction, as in v. 1.

Prv 3:12a For Heb. 12:6

Prv 3:131 Blessed
Or, Happy.

Prv 3:15a She Prov. 8:11

Prv 3:18a tree Gen. 2:9; 3:22; Prov. 11:30; 13:12; 15:4

Prv 3:191 wisdom
This One by whom Jehovah founded the earth and established the heavens is Christ, who is the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24). See note 121 in ch. 8.

Prv 3:19a earth Psa. 104:24; 136:5; Prov. 8:27-29; Jer. 10:12; cf. John 1:3

Prv 3:20a depths Gen. 7:11

Prv 3:20b dew Deut. 33:28

Prv 3:25a be 1 Pet. 3:6

Prv 3:27a to Rom. 13:7; Gal. 6:10

Prv 3:34a humble James 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5; cf. Luke 1:52

Prv 3:351 honor
Or, glory.

Prv 3:352 But
The Hebrew text is obscure. Another rendering may be, But shame will be the promotion of fools.

Prv 4:1a Hear Prov. 1:8

Prv 4:3a Tender 1 Chron. 29:1

Prv 4:5a wisdom Prov. 2:2

Prv 4:18a light Judg. 5:31; 2 Sam. 23:4; Dan. 12:3; Matt. 13:43

Prv 4:181 dawn
The light of dawn, the sunrise, signifies Christ in His coming (Luke 1:78; 2 Pet. 1:19). This figure may also signify our being revived every morning. The Christian life is like the dawning of the sun (Judg. 5:31; Matt. 13:43). As Christians we should follow the sun to be revived and to have a new beginning every morning. Then we should continue to rise and shine brighter and brighter until the full day.

Prv 4:19a stumble 1 John 2:10

Prv 4:20a My Prov. 5:1

Prv 4:22a healing Prov. 12:18; 13:17; 16:24

Prv 4:23a Keep cf. Deut. 4:9; Phil. 4:7; 1 Thes. 3:13

Prv 4:23b from Matt. 12:35; cf. Matt. 15:19

Prv 5:1a My Prov. 4:20

Prv 5:31 strange
The charge in vv. 1-20 is to hold marriage in honor (Heb. 13:4 and note 1). In holding marriage in honor, the man’s faithfulness is the base, and the woman’s virtues are the building up (12:4a; 14:1a; 31:10-31). This is one of the principles in Proverbs for man to live a proper human life (see note 71, par. 1, in ch. 1).

Prv 5:4a two-edged cf. Heb. 4:12; Rev. 1:16

Prv 5:7a And Prov. 7:24

Prv 5:18a wife Mal. 2:14

Prv 5:19a hind Gen. 49:21; 2 Sam. 22:34; S.S. 2:7; 3:5; Hab. 3:19

Prv 5:21a eyes Jer. 16:17; Heb. 4:13

Prv 6:4a sleep Psa. 132:4

Prv 6:6a ant Prov. 30:25

Prv 6:10a A vv. 10-11: Prov. 24:33-34

Prv 6:14a heart Matt. 15:19

Prv 6:18a Feet Isa. 59:7; Rom. 3:15

Prv 6:19a discord Prov. 6:14

Prv 6:20a My Prov. 1:8

Prv 6:21a Bind Prov. 3:3; 7:3

Prv 6:22a walk Prov. 3:23-24; cf. Deut. 6:6-8; 11:18-20

Prv 6:23a lamp Psa. 19:8; 119:105

Prv 6:32a adultery 1 Cor. 6:18; Heb. 13:4

Prv 7:1a My Prov. 2:1

Prv 7:3a tablet Prov. 3:3

Prv 7:24a And Prov. 5:7

Prv 8:1a call Prov. 1:20; 9:3

Prv 8:8a words Psa. 12:6; Isa. 45:23

Prv 8:11a For Prov. 3:15

Prv 8:121 I
Or, I, wisdom, make prudence my dwelling. In certain portions of this book the wisdom of God is personified (1:20; 3:19; 4:5-9; 7:4; 8:1-36; 9:1-11). This personification of God’s wisdom is a reference to the second of the Divine Trinity, Christ, the Son of God (1 Cor. 1:24; Col. 2:3; Matt. 11:19 and note 3), who became wisdom from God to all the New Testament believers (1 Cor. 1:30).

Prv 8:15a reign cf. Dan. 2:21; Rom. 13:1

Prv 8:17a seek 1 Chron. 28:9; 2 Chron. 15:2; Jer. 29:13; Matt. 7:7

Prv 8:20a way Psa. 23:3; Matt. 21:32

Prv 8:22a beginning John 1:1

Prv 8:24a brought John 1:14, 18; 3:16

Prv 8:27a established Psa. 33:6; 136:5; Jer. 10:12; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2

Prv 8:27b circle Isa. 40:22

Prv 8:28a firm Gen. 1:6-7

Prv 8:29a boundary Gen. 1:9-10; Job 38:8-11; Psa. 104:9

Prv 8:30a delight Matt. 3:17; Col. 1:13

Prv 8:35a life Prov. 21:21; John 3:36

Prv 9:5a wine Prov. 9:2; S.S. 5:1; Isa. 55:1

Prv 9:10a The Psa. 111:10; cf. Job 28:28; Prov. 1:7

Prv 10:1a A Prov. 15:20

Prv 10:2a Treasures Psa. 49:6; Prov. 11:4; Luke 12:19-20

Prv 10:61 But
Or, But violence conceals the mouth of the wicked. So also in v. 11.

Prv 10:12a covers Prov. 17:9; 1 Cor. 13:4, 7; 1 Pet. 4:8

Prv 10:15a The Prov. 18:11

Prv 10:19a restrains Prov. 17:27-28; James 1:19; 3:2

Prv 11:1a balance Lev. 19:35-36; Deut. 25:13-16; Prov. 20:10, 23

Prv 11:4a Riches Prov. 10:2

Prv 11:13a He Lev. 19:16; Prov. 20:19

Prv 11:14a multitude Prov. 15:22; 24:6

Prv 11:17a merciful Matt. 5:7

Prv 11:18a sows Hosea 10:12; Gal. 6:8-9; James 3:18

Prv 11:211 Be
Lit., Hand to hand; a Hebrew idiom indicating great certainty.

Prv 11:24a scatters Psa. 112:9; 2 Cor. 9:6-10

Prv 11:25a blessing 2 Cor. 9:6-10

Prv 11:28a trusts Job 31:24; Psa. 52:7; Mark 10:24; 1 Tim. 6:17

Prv 11:30a souls Dan. 12:3; James 5:20

Prv 11:31a recompensed Jer. 25:29; 1 Pet. 4:17-18

Prv 12:4a worthy Prov. 31:10

Prv 12:4b crown cf. 1 Cor. 11:7

Prv 12:11a He Gen. 3:19; Prov. 28:19

Prv 12:15a own Prov. 3:7; 21:2

Prv 12:161 at
Lit., today.

Prv 12:25a Anxiety cf. 1 Pet. 5:7

Prv 12:25b word Isa. 50:4

Prv 13:11 hears
Or, accepts his father’s correction.

Prv 13:3a mouth Psa. 39:1; Prov. 21:23; James 3:2

Prv 13:7a wealth cf. 2 Cor. 6:10; 8:9

Prv 13:14a fountain Psa. 36:9; Prov. 10:11; 14:27

Prv 13:20a companion 1 Cor. 15:33

Prv 13:24a chastens Prov. 3:12; 19:18; Heb. 12:7

Prv 14:91 A
Or, Guilt.

Prv 14:12a There Prov. 16:25; cf. Prov. 21:2

Prv 14:13a laughter Luke 6:25

Prv 14:17a anger James 1:19

Prv 14:20a rich Prov. 19:4

Prv 14:27a fountain Prov. 13:14

Prv 14:29a slow Prov. 15:18; 16:32; James 1:19

Prv 15:1a soft Prov. 15:4; 25:15

Prv 15:8a sacrifice Prov. 21:27; Isa. 1:11; Jer. 6:20

Prv 15:9a pursues Prov. 21:21; 1 Tim. 6:11

Prv 15:111 Abaddon
Meaning destruction.

Prv 15:13a joyful Prov. 17:22

Prv 15:16a Better Psa. 37:16; Prov. 16:8; 1 Tim. 6:6

Prv 15:18a slow Prov. 14:29

Prv 15:20a A Prov. 10:1

Prv 15:23a word Prov. 25:11

Prv 15:27a gain Prov. 28:20; 1 Tim. 6:9

Prv 15:29a prayer Psa. 145:18-19; James 5:16

Prv 15:33a The Prov. 1:7

Prv 16:2a All cf. Prov. 21:2

Prv 16:3a Commit Psa. 37:5; cf. Matt. 6:25; Luke 12:22; Phil. 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:7

Prv 16:4a made Isa. 43:7

Prv 16:5a Every Prov. 11:20-21; Luke 16:15

Prv 16:51 Be
Lit., Hand to hand; a Hebrew idiom indicating great certainty.

Prv 16:6a lovingkindness Zech. 7:9; Matt. 23:23

Prv 16:8a Better Prov. 15:16

Prv 16:11a just Lev. 19:36; Prov. 11:1

Prv 16:18a haughty Prov. 18:12

Prv 16:19a lowly Matt. 5:3

Prv 16:201 blessed
Or, happy.

Prv 16:25a There Prov. 14:12

Prv 16:27a fire James 3:6

Prv 16:32a slow Prov. 14:29; 15:18; James 1:19

Prv 16:32b spirit cf. 1 Cor. 14:32

Prv 16:33a lot Num. 26:55; Neh. 11:1; Jonah 1:7; Acts 1:26

Prv 17:1a Better Prov. 15:17

Prv 17:3a tries 1 Chron. 29:17; Psa. 7:9; 26:2

Prv 17:5a Whoever Prov. 14:31

Prv 17:6a crown cf. Phil. 4:1

Prv 17:9a covers Prov. 10:12; 1 Cor. 13:4

Prv 17:22a joyful Prov. 12:25; 15:13, 15

Prv 18:8a The Prov. 26:22

Prv 18:10a strong Psa. 61:3

Prv 18:11a The Prov. 10:15

Prv 18:12a But Prov. 15:33

Prv 18:15a The Prov. 15:14

Prv 18:18a lot Prov. 16:33

Prv 18:19a brother cf. Acts 15:39

Prv 18:21a power Matt. 12:37; James 3:6

Prv 18:22a wife Prov. 19:14; 31:10

Prv 18:23a answers James 2:3

Prv 18:24a friend Prov. 17:17

Prv 19:1a Better Prov. 28:6

Prv 19:5a A Prov. 19:9

Prv 19:13a contentions Prov. 21:9, 19; 25:24

Prv 19:14a wealth 2 Cor. 12:14

Prv 19:14b wife Prov. 18:22

Prv 19:17a poor Deut. 15:7, 9, 11; Prov. 18:23; 22:9; 28:27; 2 Cor. 9:9; James 2:2

Prv 19:17b lends Psa. 37:26; 112:5; Luke 6:35, 38

Prv 19:18a Discipline Prov. 13:24; 23:13; Heb. 12:7

Prv 19:19a wrath Psa. 37:8; Matt. 5:22

Prv 19:21a counsel Psa. 33:11; Isa. 46:10

Prv 19:23a fear Prov. 10:27; 14:27

Prv 19:24a sluggard Prov. 26:15

Prv 20:1a Wine Gen. 9:21; Prov. 23:29-30; Eph. 5:18

Prv 20:4a sluggard Matt. 25:26

Prv 20:10a Differing Prov. 11:1; 20:23

Prv 20:12a ear Exo. 4:11; Psa. 94:9

Prv 20:13a sleep Prov. 6:9; Rom. 12:11

Prv 20:16a Take Prov. 27:13

Prv 20:19a He Prov. 11:13

Prv 20:20a curses Exo. 21:17; Lev. 20:9; Matt. 15:4; Mark 7:10

Prv 20:22a not Matt. 5:39

Prv 20:23a Differing Prov. 20:10

Prv 20:24a steps Psa. 37:23; Jer. 10:23

Prv 20:271a spirit Rom. 8:16; 1 Cor. 2:11; 1 Thes. 5:23; Heb. 4:12
Heb. neshamah; translated breath in Gen. 2:7 (see note 5 there) and Job 32:8 (see notes there).

Prv 20:272 lamp
Man’s spirit is God’s lamp within man. The light shining within man’s regenerated spirit is God Himself (1 John 1:5). Just as a lamp contains light and expresses it, man’s spirit was created to contain God and express Him. In order for the divine light to shine into man’s inward parts, God’s Spirit as the oil must soak (mingle with) man’s spirit as the wick (cf. Rom. 8:16) and “burn” together with man’s spirit (Rom. 12:11).

Prv 21:1a king’s Ezra 7:27

Prv 21:2a way Prov. 16:2, 25; cf. Judg. 17:6; 21:25

Prv 21:2b hearts 1 Sam. 16:7; Psa. 7:9; Prov. 24:12; Jer. 17:10; Luke 16:15

Prv 21:3a sacrifice 1 Sam. 15:22; Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:6-8; Matt. 9:13; Mark 12:33

Prv 21:61 snare
Following the Septuagint; the Hebrew text reads, seekers.

Prv 21:9a It Prov. 25:24

Prv 21:13a closes James 2:13

Prv 21:17a loves Prov. 23:21; cf. 2 Tim. 3:4

Prv 21:19a It cf. Prov. 21:9

Prv 21:23a guards Prov. 13:3; Psa. 141:3; James 3:2

Prv 21:27a The Prov. 15:8

Prv 21:30a counsel Isa. 8:10; Acts 5:38

Prv 21:31a victory 1 Chron. 29:11; cf. 1 Sam. 17:47

Prv 22:2a maker Job 31:15; 34:19; Prov. 14:31

Prv 22:3a A Prov. 27:12

Prv 22:6a Train Eph. 6:4; 2 Tim. 3:15

Prv 22:8a sows Job 4:8; Hosea 10:13; Gal. 6:8

Prv 22:81
The Septuagint has the additional proverb: “God blesses a cheerful and liberal man, but a man will fully prove the vanity of his works.” The first part of this is the source of the quotation in 2 Cor. 9:7.

Prv 22:9a generous Prov. 11:25; 2 Cor. 9:6, 9

Prv 22:11a pureness Matt. 5:8

Prv 22:13a The Prov. 26:13

Prv 22:15a rod Prov. 13:24; 19:18

Prv 22:201 excellent
Or, thirty sayings, perhaps referring to thirty proverbs, from 22:22 through 24:22.

Prv 22:23a plead 1 Sam. 24:12, 15; Psa. 12:5; Jer. 50:34; 51:36

Prv 22:28a boundary Deut. 19:14; 27:17

Prv 23:11 who
Or, what.

Prv 23:4a rich Prov. 28:20; 1 Tim. 6:9-10

Prv 23:5a wealth Prov. 27:24; 1 Tim. 6:17

Prv 23:9a Do Prov. 9:8; cf. Matt. 7:6

Prv 23:10a Do Deut. 19:14; 27:17; Prov. 22:28