Proverbs 19:22

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 19:22

Note, 2c6c 1. The honour of doing good is what we may laudably be ambitious of. It cannot but be the desire of man, if he have any spark of virtue in him, to be kind; one would not covet an estate for any thing so much as thereby to be put into a capacity of relieving the poor and obliging our friends. 2. It is far better to have a heart to do good and want ability for it than have ability for it and want a heart to it: The desire of a man to be kind, and charitable, and generous, is his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:22

The desire of a man is his kindness ,.... Either the grace and kindness of God, which is, desirable by every sensible man, as being most excellent, and better than life and anything in it; or it is his desire to show kindness. A good man is desirous of riches, that he might have it in the power of his hands to do good to others; and a beneficent man, who has it in his power, is desirous of an opportunity of showing kindness to his fellow creatures and friends; and such a disposition and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 19:22

The desire of a man is his kind. nose. The Revised Version rather paraphrases the clause, The desire of a man is the measure of his kindness ; i.e. the wish and intention to do good is that which gives its real value to an act. The word for "kindness" is chesed, "mercy;" and, looking to the context, we see the meaning of the maxim to be that a poor man's desire of aiding a distressed neighbour, even if he is unable to carry out his intention, is taken for the act of mercy. "The desire... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 19:22-29

Mixed maxims of life-wisdom I. HUMAN KINDNESS . ( Proverbs 19:22 .) There is no purer delight than in the feelings of love and the practical exercise of universal kindness. If the mere pleasure of the selfish and the benevolent life be the criterion, without question the latter has the advantage. II. TRUTHFULNESS . ( Proverbs 19:22 , Proverbs 19:28 .) So the honest poor outweighs the rich or successful liar in intrinsic happiness as well as in repute. The worthless... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 19:22-23

Proverbs 19:22-23. The desire of a man is his kindness This expression is obscure, and will admit of several interpretations. The Seventy render it, Καρπος ανδρι ελεημοσυνη , alms-giving, or charity, is fruit to a man. The meaning, Le Clerc thinks, is, that there is no virtue a man ought to be so desirous of as benignity, or a generous, charitable spirit, as it is the greatest ornament of human nature, and the strongest bond of human society; which if any one wants, however rich he may... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 19:1-29

Lessons heeded and ignored (19:1-29)Moral uprightness is more important than wealth, and wise action is more important than hasty action. People are foolish when they blame God for the trouble they bring upon themselves through their own mistakes (19:1-3).Often the reason the rich have many friends is that these ‘friends’ hope to gain personally from their wealth or influence (4-6). The poor lose their friends, though in a sense they are rich if they maintain their understanding (7-8). People... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 19:22

man. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 . This word stands in relation to 'ish in Proverbs 19:21 , and to a poor man in next clause = here, the commonest sort of man, or ordinary man. is, &c. = is [measured by] his kindness. better. See note on Proverbs 8:11 . a liar. Hebrew an 'ish [a man of the better sort who is] a liar. This proverb does not "remain a riddle". The structure above is addressed to "My Son" Proverbs 19:27 , Proverbs 23:15 , Proverbs 23:19 , Proverbs 23:26 ; Proverbs 24:13 ,... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 19:22

"That which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness; And a poor man is better than a liar."This is the kind of proverb that sends the scholars seeking for some kind of `an emendation' or `various reading.' The two legs of this biped seem to have no connection whatever. This rendition attempts to pair two desirable things thus: "What is desirable in a person is loyalty, and it is better to be poor than a liar."[17] Another: "Mercy is a fruit to a man, and a poor man is better than a rich... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Proverbs 19:22

Proverbs 19:22. The desire of a man is his kindness— This will admit of several interpretations. The LXX read, Alms-giving, or charity, bringeth fruit to a man; and a poor just man is better than a rich man who is a liar. Le Clerc gives this meaning of the first clause, That there is no virtue which a man should labour after more than beneficence, as it is the greater ornament of human nature, and the bond of society. But if we consider it as connected with the verse following, the most natural... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Proverbs 19:22

22. desire—that is, to do good, indicates a kind disposition ( :-); and the poor thus affected are better than liars, who say and do not. read more

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