proverbs-9:8-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:7-10

These verses form a parenthesis, showing why Wisdom addresses only the simple and foolish. She giveth not that which is holy unto dogs, nor casteth pearls before swine ( Matthew 7:6 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:8

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee (see the last note, and comp. Proverbs 15:12 , and note there). There are times when reproof only hardens and exasperates. "It is not proper," says St. Gregory, "for the good man to fear lest the scorner should utter abuse at him when he is chidden, but lest, being drawn into hatred, he should be made worse" ('Moral.,' 8.67). "Bad men sometimes we spare, and not ourselves, if from the love of those we cease from the rebuking of them. Whence it is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:8

Reproof I. HOW TO GIVE REPROOF . The duty of reproving is one of the most difficult and delicate ever attempted. The people who are most rash in adventuring upon it too often fall into the greatest blunders, while those who are really fitted to undertake it shrink from the attempt. The mere utterance of a protest is generally worse than useless. It only raises anger and provokes to greater obstinacy. Unless there is some probability of convincing a man of the wrongness of his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:9

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser. The Hebrew is merely "give to the wise," with no object mentioned; but the context suggests "instruction," even though, as in Proverbs 9:8 , it takes the form of rebuke. Vulgate and Septuagint, "Give an opportunity to a wise man, and he will be wiser" (comp. Matthew 13:12 ; Matthew 25:29 ). To make the best use of all occasions of learning duty, whether they present themselves in a winning or a forbidden shape, is the part of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:9

An open mind There are two classes of minds that seem to be armour proof against the invasion of new light. One contains those people who, to use the phraseology of the Roman Catholic Church, are in a state of "invincible ignorance." The other contains the much more numerous people who know just enough to feel s pride of superiority to their fellows, and who wrap themselves up in the infallibility of self-conceit. To these persons Pope's often misapplied maxim may be fairly appropriated - ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:10

Wisdom returns to the first apothegm and principle of the whole book ( Proverbs 1:7 ). Without the fear of God no teaching is of any avail. The knowledge of the holy is understanding. The word translated "the holy" is קְדשִׁים , a plural of excellence (see on Proverbs 30:3 ) like Elohim, and equivalent to "the Most Holy One," Jehovah, to which it answers in the first hemistich. God is called "Holy, holy, holy" ( Isaiah 6:3 ), in his threefold nature, and as majestic beyond... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:10-11

Digging deep rising high, lasting long (See homilies on Proverbs 1:7 and Proverbs 3:1-4 .) The fact that we meet with the opening sentence of the text in no less than three other places ( Job 27:1-23 :28; Psalms 111:10 ; Proverbs 1:7 ), gives to it a peculiar significance. It indicates that the Divine Author of the Bible would impress deeply on our minds the truth— I. THAT ON THE FEAR OF GOD , AS ON A SOLID ROCK , ALL HUMAN WISDOM RESTS . Nothing... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:10-12

Recurrence to first principles Life is made up of circles. We are ever coming back to whence we started. As history repeats itself, so must morality and religion. The shining points of wisdom appear and reappear with the regularity of the heavenly bodies. The vault of heaven has its analogue in the star-besprinkled vault of the moral relations. Iteration and repetition of first principles are constantly necessary, ever wholesome, peculiarly characteristic of Semitic thought. Wherever life... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 9:8-9

Proverbs 9:8-9. Reprove not a scorner An incorrigible sinner, who despises and scornfully rejects the means of amendment. Thus physicians deny physic to persons in a desperate condition; lest he hate thee Whereby thou wilt not only expose thyself, without necessity, to his malice and rage, but also make thyself utterly incapable of doing that good, which, possibly, thou mightest do by other more prudent and proper means. Rebuke a wise man Who is opposed to the scorner, to intimate that... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 9:10-12

Proverbs 9:10-12. The fear of the Lord, &c. The very first, and, indeed, the principal thing which is to be instilled into all men’s minds, (without which they will make no progress in true wisdom,) is a serious sense of the Divine Majesty, and an awful regard toward him. And next, that no knowledge deserves the name of understanding but that which disposes us to devote ourselves, in holy obedience, to God; or the knowledge and practice of true religion, and the duties of it: see... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:7-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:10

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:10-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:10-12

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 9:8-9

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 9:10-12

Verse of the Day

Daily Devotional

Group of Brands