He deviseth mischief - He plots schemes and plans to bring it to pass. He soweth discord - Between men and their wives, by seducing the latter from their fidelity. See the preceding quotation. read more
Suddenly shall he be broken - Probably alluding to some punishment of the adulterer, such as being stoned to death. A multitude shall join together, and so overwhelm him with stones, that he shall have his flesh and bones broken to pieces, and there shall be no remedy - none to deliver or pity him. read more
These six - doth the Lord hate - A proud look - exalted eyes; those who will not condescend to look on the rest of mankind. read more
The sixth chapter embraces four distinct discourses, each of which is a warning. The subjects treated of are The continuity of the subject treated of in the preceding chapter appears to be somewhat abruptly interrupted to make way for the insertion of three discourses on subjects which apparently have little connection with what precedes and what follows. Their unlooked for and unexpected appearance has led Hitzig to regard them as interpolations, but it has been conclusively pointed out... read more
A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. The teacher begins by stating in general terms the nature and character of the man whom he now holds up as a warning to others, dud then proceeds to point out the various features in his conduct and behaviour by which he may be known. In concise terms he is described as "a naughty person, a wicked man." This is pre-eminently his character, and the first feature in it is that his life is one of wilful and injurious... read more
A picture of spite I. THE SPITEFUL MAN DEFINED GENERALLY . ( Proverbs 6:12 .) He is "naughty," the old English word being expressive; otherwise "a thing of naught," a "slight man" (Shakespeare); in German heilloss, "unsound," "unworthy," and so worthless. Gather up the sense and force of these adjectives, and we get the idea comprehensively of badness, the sensuous counterpart of which is rottenness, corruption. II. HIS CHARACTERISTICS . ( Proverbs 6:13 , ... read more
The character and doom of the abandoned Perhaps there is no word which more aptly designates the man who is here described than the word "abandoned." The "man of Belial" ("the naughty man") is he who is abandoned, who has abandoned himself, to the promptings of his own evil nature, to the fascinations and tyrannies of sin. Here we see the features of his character and his doom. I. THAT IN SPEECH HE IS UTTERLY UNPRINCIPLED . "He walks with a froward mouth." He... read more
11. Eleventh admonitory discourse. Warning against mischievousness as a thing hateful to God. The connection of this with the preceding discourse is not at first sight very clear, but it may be found in the fact, attested only too unhappily by experience, that sloth leads those who indulge in it to such vices as are next enumerated. The sluggard may develop into a treacherous and deceitful man, and even if such should not happen, the characteristics of the two are nearly allied, and their... read more
He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers. He employs his other members for the same nefarious purpose. In the language of St. Paul, he yields his members to uncleanness, and to iniquity unto iniquity ( Romans 6:19 ). "To wink with the eye ( karats ayin ) , " as in Proverbs 10:10 and Psalms 35:19 , or "with the eyes ( karats b'eynayim )," is properly to compress or nip them together, and so to wink, and give the signal to others not to... read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 6:13
He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers - These things seem to be spoken of debauchees, and the following quotation from Ovid, Amor. Iib. i., El. iv., ver. 15, shoots the whole process of the villany spoken of by Solomon: Cum premit ille torum, vultu comes ipsa modesto Ibis, ut accumbas: clam mihi tange pedem. Me specta, nutusque meos, vultum que loquacem Excipe furtivas, et refer ipsa, notas. Verba superciliis sine voce loquentia dicam Verba... read more