"Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.""Better face a she-bear robbed of her cubs than a stupid man in his folly."[20] This is an impressive warning against conflict with a foolish, wicked man. read more
"Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.""If a man repays evil for good, evil will never quit his house."[21] This warning frequently expressed in Proverbs simply means, "You reap what you sow,"[22] a principle strongly reiterated in the New Testament (Galatians 6:7-8). read more
"The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; Therefore leave off contention before there is quarreling."Toy noted that the, "Language here is somewhat indefinite";[23] whatever the precise meaning, the passage is a warning against strife. "The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention before it be meddled with."[24] "If you start an argument, it is like breaking a hole in a dam; so stop the argument before it becomes bigger and... read more
Proverbs 17:12. Let a bear robbed, &c.— Bochart observes four things concerning the bear: the first every one knows, that the bear is an exceedingly fierce creature; the second, that the female is more fierce than the male; the third, that she is more fierce than ordinary when she has whelps; and lastly, when she is robbed of them, the is fiercest of all. See 2 Samuel 17:8. Hos 13:8 and Bochart de Animal. Sacr. lib. 3: cap. 9. read more
Proverbs 17:14. The beginning of strife, &c.— Those who begin a quarrel are like those who make a breach in a bank, and give an opening to the waters of a rapid river; which they can never be sure to stop before it produces the most fatal and calamitous events. This painting admirably represents the effects of lying and false reports, and supplies us with an excellent lesson to avoid the contagion, and prevent the beginnings of contention. See Calmet and Poole. read more
12. They are less rational in anger than wild beasts. read more
13. (Compare Psalms 7:4; Psalms 35:12). evil—injury to another (Proverbs 13:21). read more
14. letteth . . . water—as a breach in a dam. before . . . meddled with—before strife has become sharp, or, by an explanation better suiting the figure, before it rolls on, or increases. read more
2. Peacemakers and troublemakers ch. 17 read more
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E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 17:14
beginning of strife. Illustrations: Ephraimites (Judges 12:1-6 ); Abner (2 Samuel 2:14-17 ); Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 10:1-16 ); Jeroboam (2 Chronicles 13:17 ); the Twelve (Matthew 20:24 ). when one letteth out = the letting loose (as by making a breach in a dam). be meddled with = gathereth volume. read more