Proverbs 8

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 8:10

Receive my instruction, and not silver ; i.e. acquire wisdom rather than silver, if ever the choice is yours. And knowledge rather than choice gold (comp. Proverbs 8:19 ; Proverbs 3:1-35 :140. (For "knowledge," daath, see on Proverbs 2:10 .) The comparison is implied rather than expressed in the first clause, while it is made clear in the second. Thus Hosea 6:6 , "I desired mercy, and not sacrifice," the second matter mentioned being, not necessarily of no importance, but... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 8:10-11

Wisdom and wealth The immeasurable preference of heavenly wisdom to earthly wealth may be seen if we consider— I. THE FAILURE OF WEALTH . Wealth is continually found to fail; for: 1 . It cannot even buy happiness. It may purchase a certain amount of excitement and jollity, but it will not secure contentment, even for one brief year. 2 . Much less can it buy blessedness. That happy state of which our Lord so often spoke as blessedness—the deep and true gladness of heart... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 8:10-21

Wisdom's pleadings She has nothing novel to say concerning her nature, value, and blessings. Preaching must in the main be repetition; the iteration of the old, not with dry and sterile monotony, but with that freshness which comparison with everyday facts and illustrations gives. New combinations of facts are ever arising in which to frame the old precepts and set them forth. Besides, love gives novelty to old truth, as the old song is enjoyed from the lips of the latest sweet singer. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 8:11

(See Proverbs 3:14 , Proverbs 3:15 , and notes.) read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 8:12

I wisdom dwell with prudence; rather, as in the Revised Version, I have made subtilty ( Proverbs 8:5 ) my dwelling. Wisdom inhabits prudence, animates and possesses that cleverness and tact which is needed for the practical purposes of life. So the Lord is said to "inhabit eternity" ( Isaiah 57:15 ). Septuagint, "I wisdom dwelt ( κατεσκήνωσα ) in counsel and knowledge," which recalls, "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt ( ἐσκήνωσεν ) among us" ( John 1:14 ). In 1 Timothy... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 8:12-21

Wisdom tells of her own excellence. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 8:13

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. Wisdom here enunciates the proposition which is the foundation of all her teaching, only here, as it were, on the reverse side, net as the beginning of wisdom ( Proverbs 1:7 ; Proverbs 9:10 ), but as the hatred of evil; she then proceeds to particularize the evil which the Lord hates. Taking the clause in this sense, we have no need to alter the persons and forms of the verbs to "I fear the Lord, I hate evil," as Dathe and others suggest; still less... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 8:13

Hatred of evil I. RELIGION INCLUDES MORALS . This is the broad lesson of the text. It should be accepted as a self-evident truism. Yet it has been often obscured by dangerous sophisms. Thus some have regarded religion as consisting in correctness of creed or in assiduity of devotion—things treated by God as worthless unless accompanied by righteousness of conduct ( Isaiah 1:10-17 ). There is a common impression that religious merits may be pleaded as a set off against moral... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 8:14

Having said what she hates, Wisdom now says what she is, and what she can bestow on her followers. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom. There is some doubt about the meaning of the word translated "sound wisdom" ( tushiyyah ) . The Vulgate has aequitas ; the Septuagint, ἀσφάλεια , "safety." The word occurs elsewhere in this book and in Job, but only in two other places of Scripture, viz. Isaiah 28:29 and Micah 6:9 . It means properly "elevation" or "furtherance," or, as others... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 8:15

By me kings reign . By possession of wisdom kings are enabled to discharge their functions duly and righteously. So Solomon prayed for wisdom to enable him to rule his subjects properly ( 1 Kings 3:9 ; Wis. 9:4). Princes ( rozenim , Proverbs 31:4 ); either those who are weighty, inflexible, or these who weigh causes; the latter explanation seems most suitable. Vulgate, legum conditores ; Septuagint, οἱ δυνάσται , These are said to decree justice; literally, to engrave just... read more

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