Proverbs 1:7-10, Proverbs 1:20-23, Proverbs 1:33 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. This proposition is by some commentators regarded as the motto, symbol, or device of the book (Delitzsch, Umbreit, Zockler, Plumptre). Others, following the Masoretic arrangement of the Hebrew text, consider it as forming part of the superscription (Ewald, Bertheau, Elster, Keil). As a general proposition expressing the essence of the philosophy of the Israelites, and from its relation to the rest of the contents of this book, it seems... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:7

The relation of religion to knowledge "The fear of the Lord" being the most common Old Testament name for religion, we must take it here in its large and general sense, and understand that religion in all its relations is set forth as the true basis of knowledge; though it may welt be that awe and reverence for the majesty and mystery of God have a special prominence in regard to the pursuit of truth. I. RELIGION IS AN IMPORTANT REQUISITE FOR THE ACQUISITION OF ALL ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:7

Religion the true beginning This is the motto of the book. It is often found ( Proverbs 9:10 ; Sirach 1:16, 25, 26; Psalms 111:10 ). The Arabs have adopted it at the head of their proverbial collections. I. THE OLD TESTAMENT DESIGNATION OF RELIGION . It is the fear of Jehovah. That is reverence for him who is One, who is eternal, incomparable with any of the gods of the heathen, the Deliverer of Israel in the past and ever, the All-holy, just and merciful One. Such... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:7

The foundation truth These words invite our attention to— I. THAT WHICH CONSTITUTES THE FEAR OF GOD . "The fear of the Lord" was the chief note of Hebrew piety. It expressed itself in that form (see Genesis 42:18 ; Exodus 18:21 ; Le Exodus 19:14 ; Nehemiah 5:15 ; Psalms 66:16 ; Ecclesiastes 12:13 , etc.). What did it signify? Evidently something more and other than mere dread. The piety of the Jews was an immeasurably higher thing than the abject terror with... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:8

My son, hear the instruction of thy father . The transition in this verse from what may be regarded as filial obedience towards God to filial obedience towards parents is suggestive of the moral Law. The same admonition, in a slightly altered form, occurs again in Proverbs 6:1-35 ; "My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother" (cf. also Proverbs 4:1 ). My son ; בְּנִבי ( beni ) from בֵּן ( ben ), "a son." The form of address here adopted... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:8-9

Filial piety The teacher speaks under the assumed form of a father, like St. Paul ( 1 Corinthians 4:15 ; Philemon 1:10 ), to give the more affectionate zest to his appeal. And the word "mother" is brought in by poetical parallelism, enhancing the parental image, We may include the parent and the teacher in one conception. The duty owed to both is analogous. And the teacher may be at the same time the parent. I. DUTY TO PARENTS AND EARLY TEACHERS COMES NEXT TO ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:8-9

The duty and the beauty of filial piety The wise teacher here commends to us the excellency of the filial spirit. And it is worthy of notice that he exhorts the young to be obedient to their mother as well as mindful of the counsels of their father. We think of— I. THE DUTY OF FILIAL PIETY , based upon and arising from: 1 . The relation itself. It is enough that our parents are our parents, and that we are their offspring. On that simple ground it behoves us to listen and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:8-19

1. First admonitory discourse. Warning against enticements to robbery and bloodshed. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:9

For they (shall be) an ornament of grace unto thy head. The sentiment here expressed is put forward as an inducement to youth to observe obedience towards the instruction of the father and the law of the mother, and the meaning is that, just as in popular opinion ornaments and jewels are supposed to set off the personal form, so obedience towards parents in the ways of virtue embellishes the moral character (Bayne, Cartwright, Holden). An ornament of grace ; Hebrew, לִוְיַת ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:10

My son, if sinners entice thee. (As to the form of address, see Proverbs 1:8 .) It is here used because the writer is passing to a warning against bad company, and hence the term is emphatic, and intended to call especial attention to what is said. It is repeated again in Proverbs 1:15 , at a further stage in this address, with the same view. Sinners ; חַטָּאִים ( khattaim ) , the plural of חַטָּא ( khatta ) , from the root חָטָּא ( khata ) , properly "to... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:8-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:8-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:8-19

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:10

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