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James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 20:24

"A man's goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way?""The steps of a man are guided by the Lord. But who is the man that can understand his own way."[17] Although the freedom of the human will and the individual responsibility of every mortal are continually affirmed throughout Proverbs, "This verse stresses the absolute sovereignty of God."[18] There is indeed a sublime mystery in every life. "The order of a man's life is a mystery even to himself. He knows not whither he is... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 20:25

"It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy, And after vows to make inquiry."Again, we have a proverb in which the Hebrew text, "Is not clear."[22] The `inquiry' mentioned in the second line apparently refers to a situation in which a man, after making a rash and vow, begins to seek some loophole, "So as to escape payment."[23]Sometimes, people, under a sudden impulse will make pledges for benevolent or religious purposes, which are really beyond their means; and this proverb is a warning... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 20:26

"A wise king winnoweth the wicked, And bringeth the threshing-wheel over them."Commentators usually try to soften the words here, suggesting that, "The words may be figurative."[27] James Moffatt accepted that theory in his rendition: "A wise king scatters wicked men; he drives hard over them."[28] However, the mention of threshing instruments here brings to mind Amos 1:3, where it is said that God brought judgment upon Damascus, "Because they threshed Gilead with threshing-instruments of... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Proverbs 20:25

Proverbs 20:25. It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy— It is a snare to a man, if he swallow down a vow, or an oath. Or, as Houbigant renders it, The man is ensnared who rashly vows a holy thing, and shall delay, retracting his vow. The verse is generally understood to be directed against sacrilege. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Proverbs 20:26

Proverbs 20:26. A wise king scattereth the wicked— The plain meaning seems to be, that a good king separates the bad from the good by a due execution of his laws; which is like the winnowing the corn after the chaff is separated from it, by drawing the wheel over it. See Isa 28:27-28 and Fuller's Miscellanies, book 6: chap. 12. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Proverbs 20:24

24. Man's goings—literally, "Stately steppings of a strong man." a man—any common man. understand—or, "perceive." read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Proverbs 20:25

25. devoureth . . . holy—or, better, "who rashly speaks promises," or "devotes what is holy," consecrating any thing. This suits better the last clause, which expresses a similar view of the results of rashly vowing. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Proverbs 20:26

26. (Compare :-). bringeth . . . over them—The wheel was used for threshing grain. The figure denotes severity (compare Amos 1:3). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Proverbs 20:25

The situation in view here is that of a person who impulsively pledges something to God and then, upon reconsidering, wishes that he had not done so (cf. Ecclesiastes 5:5; Mark 7:11). It is better to wait to make the pledge, until one thinks through the implications of the decision carefully. In a larger application, we should avoid all unconsidered action. [Note: Whybray, The Book . . ., p. 116.] "Too many people will make promises under the inspiration of the hour only later to realize that... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 20:1-30

1. Raging] RV ’a brawler.’ Is deceived] RM ’reeleth.’ It makes a man sneer, quarrel and reel about. 2. Fear] the ’terror’ which he causes. Soul] RV ’life.’4. Read, ’In the autumn.. therefore when he seeketh,’ etc.: the first season begins about October, the second about April. 5. A clever cross-questioner elicits one’s plans. 8. Scattereth away] RM ’winnoweth’ (1 Kings 3:28).9. ’What mortal when he saw,Life’s voyage done, his heavenly Friend,Could ever yet dare tell Him fearlessly:“I have kept... read more

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