Proverbs 14:3-5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 14:3

See here, 1. A proud fool exposing himself. Where there is pride in the heart, and no wisdom in the head to suppress it, it commonly shows itself in the words: In the mouth there is pride, proud boasting, proud censuring, proud scorning, proud commanding and giving law; this is the rod, or branch, of pride; the word is used only here and Isa. 11:1. It grows from that root of bitterness which is in the heart; it is a rod from that stem. The root must be plucked up, or we cannot conquer this... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 14:4

Note, 1. The neglect of husbandry is the way to poverty: Where no oxen are, to till the ground and tread out the corn, the crib is empty, is clean; there is no straw for the cattle, and consequently no bread for the service of man. Scarcity is represented by cleanness of teeth, Amos 4:6. Where no oxen are there is nothing to be done at the ground, and then nothing to be had out of it; the crib indeed is clean from dung, which pleases the neat and nice, that cannot endure husbandry because... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 14:5

In the administration of justice much depends upon the witnesses, and therefore it is necessary to the common good that witnesses be principled as they ought to be; for, 1. A witness that is conscientious will not dare to give in a testimony that is in the least untrue, nor, for good-will or ill-will, represent a thing otherwise than according to the best of his knowledge, whoever is pleased or displeased, and then judgment runs down like a river. 2. But a witness that will be bribed, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 14:3

In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride ,.... A proud tongue, or a tongue speaking proud and haughty things; with which foolish or wicked men smite others and wound and hurt their reputation and credit, and in the issue hurt themselves also; their tongue is not only a rod to others, but a scourge to themselves, or is the cause of evil coming upon them; such was the tongue of Pharaoh, as Jarchi on the place observes, Exodus 5:2 ; and of those the psalmist speaks of, Psalm 73:9 ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 14:4

Where no oxen are the crib is clean ,.... Or "empty" F26 בר "vacuum", V. L. Munster, Pagninus, Mercerus, Gejerus, Amama; so the Syriac version. , so Jarchi and Aben Ezra. Oxen were used in Judea in several parts of husbandry; in ploughing the land, bringing home the corn, and in threshing or treading it out, Deuteronomy 22:10 . Now where these are not, or not used, where husbandry is neglected, there is no straw in the crib for beasts, and much less food for men; or rather, no... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 14:5

A faithful witness will not lie ,.... For that would be contrary to his character as faithful; and as he will not witness to a falsehood upon oath in a court of judicature, so neither will he tell a lie in common conversation. This may be applied to Gospel ministers, who are witnesses of Christ; the Gospel they preach is a testimony concerning him, and they bear a faithful witness to the truth; nor will they, knowingly and willingly, deliver out a falsehood, or a doctrinal lie, since "no lie... read more

Adam Clarke

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

The mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride - The reproofs of such a person are ill-judged and ill-timed, and generally are conveyed in such language as renders them not only ineffectual, but displeasing, and even irritating. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 14:4

But much increase is by the strength of the ox - The ox is the most profitable of all the beasts used in husbandry. Except merely for speed, he is almost in every respect superior to the horse. He is longer lived. Scarcely liable to any diseases. He is steady, and always pulls fair in his gears. He lives, fattens, and maintains his strength on what a horse will not eat, and therefore is supported on one third the cost. His manure is more profitable. When he is worn out in his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:1-7

Traits of wisdom and folly I. FEMININE WISDOM . ( Proverbs 14:1 .) 1 . Its peculiar scope is the home. Women are physically and morally constructed with a view to the stationary life and settled pursuits of home. Its comfort, the strength of the race, the well being of society, are rooted, more than in any other human means, in the character, the principle, the love and truth of the wife and mother. 2 . The absence of it is one of the commonest causes of domestic misery.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:3

In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride. חֹטֶר ( choter ) , "rod," or "shoot," is found also in Isaiah 11:1 . From the mouth of the arrogant fool proceeds a growth of vaunting and conceit, accompanied with insolence towards others, for which he is often chastised. So the tongue is compared to a sword ( e.g. Psalms 57:4 ; Psalms 64:3 ; Jeremiah 18:18 ; Revelation 1:16 . St. Gregory ('Mor. in Job.,' 24) applies this sentence to haughty preachers, who are anxious to... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 14:3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 14:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 14:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 14:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 14:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 14:5

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 14:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 14:3

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