Proverbs 26

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:11

As a dog returneth to his vomit ,.... Who being sick with what he has eaten, casts it up again, and afterwards returns unto it and licks it up; so a fool returneth to his folly , or "repeats" F1 שונה "qui iterat", Tigurine version, Michaelis; "iterans", Montanus, Mercerus, Cocceius, Gejerus; "duplicans", Schultens. it, time after time, many times, as Ben Melech; or a wicked man turns to his wickedness, who, having had some qualms upon his conscience for sin, for a while... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:12

Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit ,.... Or "in his own eyes" F2 בעיניו "in oculis suis", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, &c.; ; as multitudes may be seen, by looking round; man is a creature but of small knowledge in things natural, civil, mechanical, philosophical, moral, or divine; yet greatly conceited for the most part of his knowledge and wisdom. As by a "fool" in this book is generally understood a wicked profane man, so by a wise man is meant a good and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:13

The slothful man saith ,.... Within himself; or to such that excite him to diligence and industry, to go about the business of his calling, to till his field, and dress his vineyard. The Septuagint and Arabic versions add, "being sent into the way"; ordered by his master to go out to work, when he makes the following excuse: there is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets ; in the way to his field or vineyard, and in the streets, where his business lies or leads unto it: a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:14

As the door turneth upon his hinges ,.... And moves this way and that way, and opens and shuts, and yet hangs where it did, is not moved from its place: so doth the slothful upon his bed ; he turns himself from side to side, but is still on his bed, and does not move out of it, and go about his business. Aben Ezra makes mention of another reading and sense, "the door turneth upon his hinges", and is opened to let men out, one and another, to his work; "but yet the slothful man is ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:15

The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom ,.... To keep it warm; Jarchi's note is, "he puts his hand in a hot basin, because of the cold.' The word F3 בצלחת "in patina vel olla", Vatablus; "in patinam", Tigurine version; "lebete", Mercerus; "in paropside", Cocceius; "in paropsidem", Schultens. for "bosom" does sometimes signify a "pot" or basin. Or he hides it under his "arm holes", as some render it, not caring to make use of it for labour; or covers it out of sight in his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:16

The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit ,.... It is a sort of a solecism, a kind of a contradiction in terms for a sluggard to be wise, who is so slothful as to make no use of the means of getting wisdom and knowledge. And it must be a mere conceit in him that he is wise, and especially that he is wiser than seven men that can render a reason ; not alluding to the number of a king's counsellors, who return him an answer to what he inquires of them, as Aben Ezra thinks; such as were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:17

He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him ,.... One that going along the streets, and passing by the door, where two or more persons are quarrelling, and he thrusts himself in and intermeddles in the affair he has no concern in; and interests himself in the cause of the quarrel he has nothing to do with, on account of acquaintance, relation, or office; and especially when, instead of being a mediator and peacemaker, he takes on one side, and acts the angry part, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:18

As a mad man , who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death. Or the instruments of death, as Aben Ezra; or the sharp arrows of death, as the Targum and Syriac version; who casts firebrands into the houses and barns of his neighbours, to consume them; or arrows at their persons and cattle, to destroy them; or any other instruments of death, which none but a mad man, or one wickedly mad, would do. Or, "as one that makes himself mad" F5 כמתלהלה "ut se habet qui iunsanum ne simulat",... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:19

So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour ,.... By telling him a lie; or by reporting false things concerning him; or by cheating him in trade and commerce; or by taking his goods privately from him; and, when caught in either of these, and saith, Am not I in sport ? do not be angry, I designed no hurt; it is all in jest, a mere joke: but, had he not been apprehended, it would have been in earnest, as he was. This is only an excuse, and as absurd an one as if a man should set fire... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:20

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out ,.... Or "woods" F8 באפס עצים "deficientibus lignis", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "in deficientia lignorum", Michaelis; "quum expirarunt ligna", Schultens. ; where there is a large quantity of wood or fuel, the fire is kept up; but where there is little, scarce any or none at all, it goes out of course; So where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth ; or is silent F9 ישתק "silebit", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus,... read more

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