Proverbs 26

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 26:2

As the bird - צפור tsippor is taken often for the sparrow; but means generally any small bird. As the sparrow flies about the house, and the swallow emigrates to strange countries; so an undeserved malediction may flutter about the neighborhood for a season: but in a short time it will disappear as the bird of passage; and never take effect on the innocent person against whom it was pronounced. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 26:3

A whip for the horse - Correction is as suitable to a fool, as a whip is for a horse, or a bridle for an ass. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 26:4

Answer not a fool - On this and the following verse Bishop Warburton, who has written well on many things, and very indifferently on the doctrine of grace, has written with force and perspicuity: "Had this advice been given simply, and without circumstance, to answer the fool, and not to answer him, one who had reverence for the text would satisfy himself in supposing that the different directions referred to the doing a thing in and out of season; The reasons given why a fool should not... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 26:6

Cutteth off the feet - Sending by such a person is utterly useless. My old MS. Bible translates well: Halt in feet and drinking wickednesse that sendith wordis bi a foole messager. Nothing but lameness in himself can vindicate his sending it by such hands; and, after all, the expedient will be worse than the total omission, for he is likely to drink wickedness, i.e., the mischief occasioned by the fool's misconduct. Coverdale nearly hits the sense as usual: "He is lame of his fete, yee... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 26:8

As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honor to a fool - It is entirely thrown away. This, however, is a difficult proverb; and the versions give but little light on the subject. The Hebrew may be translated, "As a piece of precious stone among a heap of stones, so is he that giveth honor to a fool." Or, As he that putteth a precious stone in a heap of stones. See Parkhurst: but on this interpretation the meaning would rather be, "It is as useless to throw a jewel... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 26:10

The great God that formed all things - Or, A great man grieveth all, and he hireth the fool, he hireth also transgressors , where this verse is very differently translated. I shall add that of Coverdale: "A man of experience discerneth all thinges well: but whoso hyreth a foole, hyreth soch one as wyl take no hede." The רב rab may mean either the great God, or a great man: hence the two renderings, in the text and in the margin. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 26:11

As a dog returneth to his vomit - See note on 2 Peter 2:22 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 26:13

The slothful man saith - See the note on Proverbs 22:13 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 26:16

Than seven men that can render a reason - Seven here only means perfection, abundance, or multitude. He is wiser in his own eyes than a multitude of the wisest men. "Than seven men that sytt and teach." - Coverdale; i.e., than seven doctors of the law, or heads of the schools of the prophets, who always sat while they taught. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 26:17

He that passeth by - This proverb stands true ninety-nine times out of a hundred, where people meddle with domestic broils, or differences between men and their wives. read more

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