Category: Proverbs

An Ornament of Grace

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Proverbs 1:8-9 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. 

‘Hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.’ Scripture warns that children should obey their parents IN the Lord (Eph. 6:1; Col. 3:20), thus not against what God commands and never in any sinful way. Unsaved parents may still give good advice or instructions on basic matters of life that one can follow always bearing in mind the consequences of those decisions.

‘Hear the instruction.’ Five examples of hearing instruction: The Rechabites (Jer. 35:18-19). Samuel (1Sam. 1:28; 2:18; 3:19-21). Jesus Christ (Luke 2:51). Paul (Acts 9:1-43; 26:19). Timothy (2Tim. 1:5; 3:15; Acts 16:1).

‘An ornament of grace’ – When you ornament something, you’re beautifying, embellishing, or adorning it. So must whatever we learn from our parents be those things that give us a godly character with integrity and that equip us for life to be a blessing to others.

‘Chains about thy neck.’ Gold necklaces indicated political dignity (Gen. 41:42; Dan. 5:7, 16, 29), so this verse says that obedience to parents is the best way to become prominent among men (1:8-9) in the right way, not for one’s own status in life, but always for God’s glory (1Cor. 10:31).

Romans 12:3 warns us not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think, thus, not to be conceited and self-important, but to be humble.

A Wise Man Will…

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Proverbs 1:5-7 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 

‘A wise man will hear.’ Five examples of wise men hearing: The Eunuch (Acts 8:27, 39). Sergius Paulus (Acts 13:7). The Bereans (Acts 17:11-12). Apollos (Acts 18:24-28). Jesus Christ (Isa. 50:4-6).

‘Interpretation’ That is the point of what is said. 2Peter 1:20-21 states clearly that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation [thus one’s own opinion of what God might intend to have said], but prophecy came not by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 

‘Their dark sayings.’ Riddles, enigmas, and parables abounded in the East.

‘Fear’ [Hebrew: yir’ah] religious reverence. Translated as “fear” 14 times in Proverbs (1:7, 29; 2:5; 8:13; 9:10; 10:27; 14:26-27; 15:16, 33; 16:6; 19:23; 22:4; 23:17). In Proverbs 1:2-6 Solomon shows the advantage of acting according to the dictates of wisdom; in Proverbs 1:7-33 he shows the danger of acting contrary to them.

‘Beginning’ [Hebrew: re’shith] is the first principle. Religious reverence is the beginning, not the end of knowledge. True wisdom is to justify God and condemn self.

‘Fools’ [Hebrew: ’eviyl] Three Hebrew words translated as “fool” in Proverbs: [1] The Hebrew: ’eviyl means lax or careless habit of mind and body; to be perverse, silly, and a fool. Used 19 times in Proverbs (1:7; 7:22; 10:8, 10, 14, 21; 11:29; 12:15-16; 14:3, 9; 15:5; 16:22; 17:28; 20:3; 24:7; 27:3, 27:22; 29:9). [2] The Hebrew: keciyl means dense or stupid, manifesting itself in impiety and irreverence. Used 49 times in Proverbs (1:22, 32; 3:35; 8:5; 10:1, 18, 23; 12:23; 13:16, 19-20; 14:7-8, 16, 24, 33; 15:2, 7, 14, 20; 17:10, 12, 16, 21, 24-25; 18:2, 6-7; 19:1, 10, 13, 29; 21:20; 23:9; 26:1, 3-12; 28:26; 29:11, 20). [3] The Hebrew: nabal refers to a vile and vulgar person. Used 3 times in Proverbs (17:7, 21; 30:22; cp. Ps. 14:1; 53:1).

‘Despise wisdom.’ Five examples of despising wisdom: Cain (Gen. 4:6-8). Hophni and Phinehas (1Sam. 2:12, 25). Nabal (1Sam. 25:25). Rehoboam (1Kin. 12:13). Athenians (Acts 17:18, 32).

To Know… To Perceive…

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Proverbs 1:2-4 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. 

‘To know …’ The fifteenfold purpose of Proverbs: To know wisdom (1:2). To know instruction. To perceive understanding. To receive instruction in wisdom (1:3). To receive instruction in justice. To receive instruction in judgment. To receive instruction in equity. To give subtlety to the simple (1:4). To give young men knowledge. To give young men discretion. To attract the wise man (1:5). To increase learning. To help attain wise counsel. To make known the words of the wise in proverbial form (1:6). To express dark sayings.

‘Wisdom’ [Hebrew: Chokmah] wisdom, prudence, shrewdness, skill. Translated as “wisdom” 145 times (1:2, 7; 2:2, 6, 10; 3:13, 19; 4:5, 7, 11; 5:1; 7:4; 8:1, 11-12; 9:10; 10:13, 23, 31; 11:2; 13:10; 14:6, 8, 33; 15:33; 16:16; 17:16; 24; 18:4; 21:30; 23:23; 24:3, 24:14; 28:26; 29:3, 15; 30:3; 31:26; Ex. 28:3; 31:3, 6; 35:26; 31, 35; 36:1-2; Ps. 37:30; 51:6; 90:12; 104:24; 111:10; Eccl. 1:13-18; 2:3-26; 7:11-25; 8:1, 16;). It is the predominant word for wisdom in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.

‘Instruction’ [Hebrew: muwcar] to understand; comprehend; chasten; discipline.

‘Understanding’ [Hebrew: biynah] discernment and discrimination. Translated as understanding (1:2; 3:5; 4:1-7; 7:4; 8:14; 9:6, 10; 16:16; 23:23; 30:2); wisdom (23:4); and knowledge (2:3).

‘Wisdom’ [Hebrew: sakal] prudence, good sense. Translated as “wisdom” (1:3); “wise” (10:5, 19; 14:35; 15:24; 17:2); “wisely” (16:20; 21:12); “teach” (16:23); “instruct” (21:11); “prosper” (17:18); “prudent” (19:14); and “understanding” (21:16).

‘Justice’ [Hebrew: tsedeq] righteousness, justice (1:3; 2:9; 8:15; Job 8:3; Ps. 89:14; etc.).

‘Judgment’ [Hebrew: mishpat] verdict; sentence; decree. Translated as “judgment” 296 times (Ex. 21:31; 23:2, 6; etc.).

‘Equity’ [Hebrew: meyshar] evenness. Translated as “equity” (1:3; 2:9; Ps. 98:9; 99:4) and “equal” (17:2).

‘Subtilty’ [Hebrew: ‛ormah] shrewdness. Translated as “subtilty” (1:4; cp. Gen. 3:1; Matt. 10:16); “guile” (Ex. 21:14); “wilily” (Jos. 9:4); “wisdom” (8:5); and “prudence” (8:12).

‘Simple’ [Hebrew: pethiy] inconsiderate; unwary; artless, guileless, and unsuspecting; those who, through lack of knowledge and experience, act rashly and unwisely (1:22, 32; 7:7; 8:5; 9:4, 16; 14:15, 18; 19:25; 21:11; 22:3; 27:12). Referring to those who are unsaved.

Proverbs

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Proverbs 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel

‘Proverbs’ [Hebrew: mashal] from a related word meaning “to rule,” in the sense of mental superiority. It is not a collection of human wisdom, but of divine rules to govern all of man’s conduct – his civil, religious, and business life. It is used for an allegory (Ezek. 17:2); a discourse (Num. 23:7-8); a taunt or triumph song (Isa. 14:4); an argument (Job 29:1); a byword (Ps. 44:14); a lament (Mic. 2:4); a proverb (Pro. 1:1; 1Kin. 4:32; 2Chr. 7:20; Ps. 69:11; Jer. 24:9); and a parable (Ezek. 20:49; cp. [Greek: parabole] as a type or figure in Heb. 9:9; 11:19). Proverbs is quoted nine times in the N.T. (1:16; 3:7, 11, 34; 11:31; 25:21; 26:11).

Date and place written: Except for Proverbs 30-31, the proverbs were spoken by Solomon about 1,000 B.C. Proverbs 1-24 were perhaps written by him in a book. Proverbs 25-29 were Solomon’s proverbs added to the first part of the book by Hezekiah about 730 B.C. The last 2 chapters were added at an unknown time.

Author: Solomon is the first sacred writer whose name is at the head of his work. “The Proverbs of Solomon” is the entire title (1:1; 10:1; 25:1; cp. 30:1; 31:1). He wrote the first 29 chapters. They are the only proverbs in existence of 3,000 uttered by him (1Kin. 4:32). He could not have borrowed much, if any, from men before him, as all uninspired ethical writers lived after his day. He could have quoted what he heard from his father David, for many of the same wisdom is mentioned in his writings in Psalms . The last 2 chapters were spoken by an unknown man and woman, and who added them to the proverbs of Solomon is not known unless it was Hezekiah (Pro. 25:1).

‘Solomon the son of David.’ He was the fourth son of David and Bathsheba (2Sam. 5:14).

Theme: Practical moral and spiritual truth in proverbial form for people of God (2Tim. 3:15-17).

Statistics: 20th book of the Bible; 31 chapters; 915 verses; 15,043 words; 49 questions; 27 verses of unfulfilled prophecy; 67 sins; 66 things about fools; 28 things about sluggards; 22 things about kings; 25 abominations; 215 commands; 120 promises; 27 blessings; 24 secrets of life; 17 “better” things; 560 proverbs.