Proverbs 4:1-27 ESV

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:8

Exalt her, and she shall promote thee. The father here proceeds to point out some of the benefits which follow from the pursuit of Wisdom. Exalt her ( sal's'leah ); Vulgate, arripe illam ; LXX ; περιχαράκωσον αὐτὴν ; Targum, dilige eam ; Syriac, blandire illi ; Arabic, circumsepi eam. The Hebrew, sal's'leah, is the pilpel imperative of salal, "to lift up, exalt." It is equivalent to the kal form. The pilpel form only occurs here, but the kal participle is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:9

An ornament of grace ( liv'yath khen ). (On this, see Proverbs 1:9 .) A crown of glory shall she deliver to thee; or, as margin, she shall compass thee with a crown of glory. Deliver. The verb miggen, piel, since the kal, magan, is not used. is, however, properly, "to give, or deliver," as in Genesis 14:20 ; Hosea 11:8 . That this is the meaning is clear from the corresponding "she shall give" ( titten, but cf. nathan, "to give"). It is commonly found with an accusative... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:9

A coronation Wisdom is here represented as standing forth with garlands and crowns, rewarding her votary. The whole picture suggested to us by this brief verse may be taken as illustrative of the blessed experience of the people of God. I. THE CROWNING AUTHORITY . It is ridiculous to offer a crown except with the right and power to make the coronation effective. It was held that no one could be an emperor in the "holy Roman empire" of the Middle Ages unless he had been crowned by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:10

Many commentators, e.g. Jerome, Bede, Ewald, Bertheau, and Hitzig, suppose that the father's instruction closes in the preceding verse, but it seems more appropriate to consider the father as here passing to another branch of his instruction, which is to point out the way of wisdom, and so to prepare for his warnings which follow from Proverbs 4:14 to Proverbs 4:19 . Receive ; kakh, from lakah, "to receive" (on the force of this verb, see Proverbs 1:3 ). He who shows a delighter... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:11

The perfects, I have taught and I have led, in the original seem to have here the absolute signification of the past. The father recalls the instruction which he has given in times past. So Delitzsch. But Gejerus gives them the combined force of the past and future, "I have taught and I will more fully teach," and so with the other verb. The Vulgate renders, monstrabo, "I will show," and ducam, " I will lead." In the way of wisdom ( b'derek khok'mah ) may mean "in the way that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:12

In this verse the father depicts the benefits and advantages which shall follow from "receiving his words" ( Proverbs 4:10 ), i.e. from attending to his counsels and imbibing the principles of wisdom. The whole course of life shall be freed from obstacles or impediments, from anxiety, perplexity, or difficulty, or from vacillation. When thou goest may refer to the daily walk, to the common and ordinary events or circumstances incidental to life, just as the corresponding when thou... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:12

A free course Religion is looked upon too much in the light of a restraint, and the Christian is often regarded by the world as hampered and shackled by irksome bonds. But the very opposite is suggested by the words of our text. We see the servant of Divine Wisdom running with freedom on his course, and at the same time carefully guarded from misadventure. I. THE TRUTH OF GOD GIVES LIBERTY . Christ promised that the truth should make men free ( John 8:32 ). 1 . The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:13

The short but urgent admonitions in this verse may be explained by the knowledge which the father has of the temptations to which youth is exposed and the liability of youth to fall into them, as well as by the fact that Instruction, or Wisdom, is the bestower of life. This latter conviction is the reason why he urges "taking fast hold" of Wisdom. The tenacious grasp with which the shipwrecked sinking sailor lays hold on any spar or plank floating near will illustrate the kind of grasp with... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:13

Holding fast I. THE NECESSITY OF HOLDING FAST . This is to be in regard to instruction in Divine wisdom. There are difficulties in keeping to the truth of God. 1 . The knowledge of it is an attainment. It is not innate; it does not come by inevitable experience; it is not received without conscious effort. What has been won may be lost. That which is not naturally a part of our being may be detached from us. 2 . The truth is spiritual. Therefore it belongs to a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:14

From admonition the father passes to warning. The connection with the preceding section is obvious. There are two ways diametrically opposite—the way of wisdom and the way of evil; the one the way of life, the other fraught with death, because a way of darkness and violence. As the father has dealt with the former, so now he deals with the latter. With these warnings we may also comp. Proverbs 1:10-15 and Proverbs 2:10-15 , where much the same warning is given, and the way of the wicked is... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:10

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:11

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 4:14

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