Proverbs 30

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:23

For an odious woman , when she is married ,.... Odious for her person, her ugliness, and the deformity of her body; or rather for the ill qualities of her mind, which, while single, she endeavours to conceal, but, being married, hides them no longer; but becomes imperious, proud, scornful, and malicious, and behaves in an ill natured way to her husband and all about her, to such a degree, that there is no bearing the place where she is; and an handmaid, that is heir to her mistress ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:24

There be four things which are little upon the earth ,.... Small in bulk, that have little bodies, are the lesser sort of animals; but they are exceeding wise ; show a great deal of art and wisdom in what they do; or "but they are wise, made wise" F5 חכמים מחכמים "sapientia, sapientia imbuta"; Heb. "sapientificata", Piscator, Gejerus. by the instinct of nature, by the direction of Providence, by which they do things that are surprising. Some versions, that have no regard to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:25

The ants are a people not strong ,.... Far from it; what is weaker than an ant? a multitude of them may be destroyed at once, with the crush of a foot. Pliny calls it "minimum animal", the least animal; and the Arabians use it as a proverb, to call a weak man one weaker than an ant: and there is one sort of ants called "dsar", so small that one hundred of them will not weigh more than a barley corn F7 Bochart. Hierozoic. par. 2. l. 4. c. 22. col. 598. : they are called a people,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:26

The coneys are but a feeble folk ,.... Or "rabbits"; though some think these creatures are not intended, because they are not so little as those with which they are ranked, the ant, the locust, and spider; and because of the places in which they burrow and make their houses, which though in holes and caverns of the earth, yet not in rocky but sandy places; rather therefore it is thought that the mountain mouse, or bear mouse F15 שפנים οι χοιρογρυλλιοι , Sept. "choerogryllii",... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:27

The locusts have no king ,.... These are small creatures also, yet very devouring ones; and consume the fruits of the earth, wherever they come and light; see Exodus 10:13 ; they are very numerous, and move in large bodies, and yet with great regularity and order; which shows the wisdom there is in them by natural instinct, though they have no king to command, guide, and direct them: in this the mystical locusts differ from them, who have a king, whose name is Abaddon, Revelation 9:11 ; ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:28

The spider taketh hold with her hands ,.... On the thread she spins, or on the flies and bees she catches in her web. This is a small creature, yet very wise; what a curious thread does she spin! what a fine web does she weave! with what exactness and proportion is it framed! as if she understood the rules of mathematics and architecture; and is in kings' palaces ; as well as in the houses of poor people, and in temples also; we read F25 Aelian. Var. Hist. l. 12. c. 57. of one in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:29

There be three things which go well ,.... In a very orderly and composed manner; with constancy and cheerfulness, with great stateliness and majesty, intrepidly, and without fear; yea, four are comely in going ; very beautiful and lovely to look at as they walk. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:30

A lion, which is strongest among beasts ,.... For what is stronger than a lion, or more courageous and undaunted? it walks with great majesty, very slowly, step by step, the left foot first; shaking its shoulders as it goes, as the philosopher F8 Aristot. Hist. Animal. l. 2. c. 1. & Physog. c. 5. describes its going, and as here intended, and this without fear; and turneth not away for any ; it does not go out of its way for any creature it meets with; nor does it hasten its... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:31

A greyhound ,.... So Gersom interprets the word; but Jarchi owns he does not know what is meant; and Aben Ezra only says, it is the name of a living creature, but does not say what; but observes, that some interpret it of the "bee", and others of the "eagle". The words of the original text only describe something "girt about the loins" F15 זרזיר מחנים "accinctus lumbis equus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cartwright, Glassius, Bochart, Buxtorf; "infibulatus lumbos equus",... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 30:32

If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself ,.... Against a king, against whom there is no rising up; by speaking evil of him, or rebelling against him; which is acting a foolish part, since it brings a man into troubles and difficulties inextricable; or by self-commendation, which is the height of folly, and the fruit of pride; or carried it in such a haughty and overbearing manner to others, as to provoke to wrath and anger; or if thou hast thought evil ; purposed and designed... read more

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