Proverbs 3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 3:9

Honor the Lord with thy substance - The מנחה Minchah or gratitude-offering to God, commanded under the law, is of endless obligation. It would be well to give a portion of the produce of every article by which we get our support to God, or to the poor, the representatives of Christ. This might be done either in kind, or by the worth in money. Whatever God sends us in the way of secular prosperity, there is a portion of it always for the poor, and for God's cause. When that portion is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 3:11

Despise not the chastening of the Lord - The word מוסר musar signifies correction, discipline, and instruction. Teaching is essentially necessary to show the man the way in which he is to go; discipline is necessary to render that teaching effectual; and, often, correction is requisite in order to bring the mind into submission, without which it cannot acquire knowledge. Do not therefore reject this procedure of God; humble thyself under his mighty hand, and open thy eyes to thy own... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 3:12

Whom the Lord loveth - To encourage thee to bear correction, know that it is a proof of God's love to thee; and thereby he shows that he treats thee as a father does his son, even that one to whom he bears the fondest affection. The last clause the Septuagint translate μαστιγοι δε παντα υἱον ὁν παραδεχεται , "and chasteneth every son whom he receiveth;" and the apostle, Hebrews 12:6 , quotes this literatim. Both clauses certainly amount to the same sense. Every son whom he receiveth,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 3:13

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom - This refers to the advice given in Proverbs 2:4 ; (note); where see the note. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 3:14

For the merchandise - סחר sachar , the traffic, the trade that is carried on by going through countries and provinces with such articles as they could carry on the backs of camels, etc.; from סחר sachar , to go about, traverse. Chaffarynge ; Old MS. Bible. And the gain thereof - תבואתה tebuathah , its produce; what is gained by the articles after all expenses are paid. The slaves, as we have already seen, got their liberty if they were so lucky as to find a diamond of so... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 3:15

She is more precious than rubies - מפנינים mippeninim . The word principally means pearls, but may be taken for precious stones in general. The root is פנה panah , he looked, beheld; and as it gives the idea of the eye always being turned towards the observer, Mr. Parkhurst thinks that it means the loadstone; see the note on Job 28:18 ; (note), where this subject is considered at large. If the oriental ruby, or any other precious stone, be intended here, the word may refer to their... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 3:16

Length of days is in her right hand - A wicked man shortens his days by excesses; a righteous man prolongs his by temperance. In her left hand riches and honor - That is, her hands are full of the choicest benefits. There is nothing to be understood here by the right hand in preference to the left. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 3:17

Her ways are ways of pleasantness - These blessings of true religion require little comment. They are well expressed by the poet in the following elegant verses: - "Wisdom Divine! Who tells the price Of Wisdom's costly merchandise? Wisdom to silver we prefer, And gold is dross compared to her. Her hands are fill'd with length of days, True riches, and immortal praise; Riches of Christ, on all bestow'd, And honor that descends from God. To purest joys she all invites, ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 3:18

She is a tree of life - חיים עץ ets chaiyim , "the tree of lives," alluding most manifestly to the tree so called which God in the beginning planted in the garden of Paradise, by eating the fruit of which all the wastes of nature might have been continually repaired, so as to prevent death for ever. This is an opinion which appears probable enough. The blessings which wisdom - true religion - gives to men, preserve them in life, comfort them through life, cause them to triumph in death,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 3:19

The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth - Here wisdom is taken in its proper acceptation, for that infinite knowledge and skill which God has manifested in the creation and composition of the earth, and in the structure and economy of the heavens. He has established the order as well as the essence of all things; so that though they vary in their positions, etc., yet they never change either their places, or their properties. Composition and analysis are not essential changes; the original... read more

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