proverbs-30

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:23

For an odious woman when she is married; or, under an unloved woman when she is married . The sentence does not refer to an unbeloved wife, a Leah, becoming the favourite, a Rachel; the expression, "when she is married," can hardly have this sense; but the gnome speaks of a woman who has passed much of her life without love, having nothing about her attractive either in looks, attainments, or manner, and is consequently soured and ill-tempered. If such a one does at last win a husband,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:24

There be four things which are little upon the earth , in contrast with the intolerable pretensions of the last group. The Vulgate has minima ; but the original is not superlative, which would not be true of some of the creatures named. But they are exceeding wise; "quick of wit, wise," the participle מְחֻכִּמִים meaning "rendered wise, cunning" (Delitzsch). The Septuagint and Vulgate translate in the comparatives. "These are wiser than the wise," the instincts of these animals... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:24-28

Four things small and weak, and yet wise. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:24-28

Four weak things, and the greatness of them The four little creatures that are here mentioned all illustrate the wonderful way in which the disadvantages of weakness may be overcome by some countervailing quality. In the spiritual world Christianity teaches us to look for the triumph of weakness—the weak things of the world confounding the things which are mighty ( 1 Corinthians 1:27 ). Now, we have illustrations from nature for the same principle. Each of the four creatures teaches us... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:24-28

The significance of little things I. EXAMPLES . 1 . The ant ( Proverbs 30:25 ); tiny in frame, yet full of providence, making wise provision against the rainy day. 2 . The hedgehog ("coney," Proverbs 30:26 ); though feeble, finds compensation in the strength of the dwelling it selects. 3 . The locust ( Proverbs 30:27 ); a creature, as an individual, easily crushed, yet gaining immense force by union with others. Joel 4 . The lizard (verse 28); another tender... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:24-28

Success within success Many things go to make a man successful, in a true and large sense of that word. A man may have many elements of success, and yet, for want of one more, he may fail. The best part of our succeeding is this—that if we are labouring for some present and visible reward, we are, whilst so doing and in the very act, securing a deeper and a larger good, as the schoolboy seeking the prize is really storing up knowledge and power. We may learn from some of the least and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:25

The ants are a people not strong. The ant is proposed as an example to the sluggard ( Proverbs 6:6 , etc.). He calls the ants a people, am , because they live in a community, and have authorities which they obey, and their actions are regulated by certain definite laws. So Joel ( Joel 1:6 ) calls the locusts a nation, and Homer ('Iliad,' 2.87) speaks of ἔθνεα μελισσάων ἀδινάων , "the tribes of thronging bees." Yet they prepare their meat in the summer. In countries where... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:26

The conies are but a feeble folk. The term "coney" ( cuniculus ) is applied to the rabbit, but this is not the animal here intended; and indeed rabbits are not found in Palestine. The word shaphan designates the Hyrax Syriacus , called by some the rock badger. The coney, says Dr. Geikie ('Holy Land and Bible,' 2.90), "abounds in the gorge of the Kedron, and along the foot of the mountains west of the Dead Sea. It is of the size of the rabbit, but belongs to a very different order... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:27

The locusts have no king ( Proverbs 6:7 ), yet they show discipline, guidance, and order. They go forth all of them by bands; so that Joel ( Joel 2:7 , Joel 2:8 ) speaks of them as a well-ordered army, as it were men of war, marching every one on his ways, not entangling their ranks, walking every one in his path. Septuagint, "The locusts are without a king, yet march at one command in good order." read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:28

The spider taketh hold with her hands. Semamith or shemamith is some sort of lizard, probably the gecko. καλαβώτης , Septuagint; stellio , Vulgate. The Authorized Version alludes either to its fanlike foot, which enables it to run up walls and to cling to ceilings, or to its power of exuding from its feet a certain poisonous humour by which it catches flies and other insects. But the above translation, as well as that of the Septuagint and the Vulgate manibus nititur , is... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:23

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:24

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:24-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:24-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:24-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:24-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:25

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:26

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:27

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 30:28

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