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
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