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Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Proverbs 18:16

"Gift" is not necessarily a "bribe." The Hebrew word here (mattan, cf. Proverbs 15:27; Proverbs 21:14) is not the same as the one translated "bribe" in Proverbs 17:8; Proverbs 17:12 (sohad). It can be an innocent courtesy. It means what a person gives to someone else (cf. Genesis 43:11). Waltke wrote that mattan describes a gift given for selfish reasons to gain an advantage over others, except in Proverbs 19:6. [Note: Ibid., p. 81.] Therefore it seems legitimate to apply it to one’s personal... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 18:1-24

1. Lit. ’One who separates himself seeks desire, quarrels with all wisdom.’ This would mean that a solitary recluse follows his own wishes and opposes everything reasonable. But LXX suggests, ’The alienated friend seeks an occasion of quarrel, seeks by all means to stir up strife.’2. He likes to talk about his own notions. 4. The second half of the v. shows that it is a wise man who is in view; his words are ’as deep waters,’ i.e. are inexhaustible; he is ever ready to give helpful answers.8.... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Proverbs 18:16

(16) A man’s gift.—Judicious liberality “maketh room for him,” helps him to make his way through life. (Comp. Luke 16:9, and the advice there given so to use temporal riches as to gain those of heaven.) read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Proverbs 18:1-24

The Deepest Stage of Calamity Proverbs 18:14 The idea is that a calamity affects us, not according to the weight of the stroke, but according to the state of our thoughts. The spirit of a man is his mental state as distinguished from his outward circumstances. I. The proverb says that an outward misfortune influences the life, not in proportion to its actual severity, but in proportion to the resources of the mind. I am profoundly convinced that this is true. Two men take a fever at the same... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Proverbs 18:1-24

CHAPTER 19THE EVIL OF ISOLATION"He that separates himself follows after his own desire, but against all sound wisdom he shows his teeth."- Proverbs 18:1FROM the value of friendship there is a natural and easy transition to the evil of isolation. We must try to fathom the profound meaning which is hidden under this simple but striking proverb. To begin with, what are we to understand by "one that separates himself"? This same word occurs in 2 Samuel 1:23 concerning Saul and Jonathan, that "in... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Proverbs 18:1-24

CHAPTER 18 Proverbs of Personal Instruction There is first a warning against separation produced by desire, that is for gratification and pleasure, and not for a righteous purpose. Such a one becomes an enemy of true wisdom and one who intermeddleth with all wisdom. This proverb finds a New Testament illustration in Alexander the coppersmith, as well as Hymenaeus and Philetus, and Diotrephes of whom John writes in his epistle. A fool foams out his own folly. This proverb in Proverbs 18:2 is... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Proverbs 18:16

18:16 A man’s gift {i} maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.(i) Gets him liberty to speak, and the favour of them that are esteemed. read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Proverbs 18:1-24

In these chapters we have a series of exhortations to a life of godliness expressed in general terms about as follows: 1. Confidence in God as a wise ruler (chap. 16) 2. A disposition of peacefulness and contentment (chap. 17) 3. The virtues of affability, fidelity, and others of a social nature (chap. 18) 4. Humility and meekness (chap. 19) 5. Sobriety, diligence and kindness (chap. 21) 6. Justice, patience, submission (chap. 21) 7. The attainment and preservation of a good name (chap. 22) 8.... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Proverbs 18:1-24

The Evils of Narrow-Mindedness, Etc. Proverbs 18:0 In connection with this thought we have always turned our attention to student life, fancying a man so burning with an unquenchable desire for wisdom as to betake himself from public highways and tumults that he might study in solitude and silence. Another rendering of the text, however, will show its true meaning: "The separatist seeketh after his own desire, and against all improvement he shows his teeth." We have here, then, a picture of... read more

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