A soft, mild or gentle, answer, which may imply a foregoing charge or accusation, although the word is and may be rendered speech or discourse, turneth away wrath from the speaker. Grievous words, fierce and vexatious replies or speeches, stir up anger; kindle it, and cause it to flame forth. read more
Useth knowledge aright; expressing what he knows prudently and gracefully; taking due care both what, and when, and to whom, and in what manner he speaks. Poureth out, plentifully, continually, promiscuously, and vehemently, as a fountain doth waters, as this word signifies. read more
CRITICAL NOTES.—Proverbs 15:1. Grievous, “bitter,” “trying,” stir up; lit., “make to ascend,” like a flame fanned by bellows (Fausset). Proverbs 15:2. Useth knowledge aright, rather “makes knowledge attractive,” i.e., speaks so as to win the attention of the listeners; poureth out, or “bubbleth up.” MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 15:1-2THE USE OF KNOWLEDGEI. Knowledge is for use. The various gifts and acquirements of men in every grade of social life, of whatever kind they are, are intended by God... read more
Proverbs 15:1 I. It is a very hard thing to live through a month without being unkind or angry. Calm and sweet tempers are rare; and perhaps we may say, without disparaging their value or their beauty, that it is not to these to which we naturally look for the most conspicuous services in the cause of God. Their province is to heal, to calm, to sweeten life; but perhaps it is from more fiery yes, and more turbulent natures, that we must expect the initiative in works of good. II. "A soft answer... read more
Chapter 15Fifteen. I love this first one here.A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger ( Proverbs 15:1 ).How oftentimes a person comes just raging and a soft answer turns away wrath. If you rage back at them, then get out the gloves, you know, because you're soon going to be going at it. But a soft answer, how it can just mellow out a situation. Oh God, help us to respond with soft answers rather than with grievous words which only tend to stir up the whole scene.The... read more
Proverbs 15:1 . A soft answer turneth away wrath. It bows to the tempest, it names a mitigating circumstance, it gives a favourable turn to misconstruction, it proposes a better way. My father, said the wary Syrian, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldst thou not have done it? How much rather then, when he says, wash, and be clean? Rehoboam, for the want of this wisdom, lost the ten tribes; whereas the intelligent woman on the wall, who wished to speak with Joab, saved the... read more
Pro 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Ver. 1. A soft answer turneth away wrath. ] It is easier to stir strife than to stint it. Hard to hard, will never do; but lay a flint upon a pillow, and you may break it with ease. “Frangitur ira gravis quando est responsio suavis.” What is more boisterous than the winds? tamen iidem imbribus sopiuntur, saith Pliny, yet are they laid with soft showers. How soon was David disarmed by Abigail’s gentle apology, and... read more
Pro 15:2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. Ver. 2. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright. ] Heb., Deals kindly with her; offers her no abuse, by venting her unseasonably, and making her overly cheap, and little set by. Eloquence wisely ordered is very commendable, and avails much: but what a poor praise was that to the Duke of Buckingham, that speaking to the Londoners in the behalf of that usurper, Richard III, he gained the... read more
soft: Proverbs 25:15, Judges 8:1-Leviticus :, 1 Samuel 25:21-Micah : grievous: Proverbs 15:18, Proverbs 10:12, Proverbs 28:25, Proverbs 29:22, Judges 12:3-Joshua :, 1 Samuel 25:10, 1 Samuel 25:11, 1 Samuel 25:21, 1 Samuel 25:22, 2 Samuel 19:43, 1 Kings 12:13-Nehemiah : Reciprocal: Genesis 13:8 - Let Genesis 16:6 - Abram Genesis 32:4 - my lord Joshua 22:21 - answered Joshua 22:30 - it pleased them Judges 8:3 - Then Judges 12:4 - fugitives 1 Samuel 1:15 - my Lord 1 Samuel 17:29 - General 1... read more
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Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 15:1-33
Proverbs 15. This chapter makes no new departure. Proverbs concerning the moral government of the world again occupy the chief place. One ( Proverbs 15:11) is noteworthy as showing an extended conception of the sphere of God’ s government. Earlier Heb. religion regarded Sheol as outside the kingdom of God; there the dead do not praise or remember Him. We have also some more psychological proverbs dealing with the value of cheerfulness. Proverbs 15:2 . uttereth aright: paraphrase rather than... read more