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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 25:2-3

Here is, 1. An instance given of the honour of God: It is his glory to conceal a matter. He needs not search into any thing, for he perfectly knows every thing by a clear and certain view, and nothing can be hidden from him; and yet his own way is in the sea and his path in the great waters. There is an unfathomable depth in his counsels, Rom. 11:33. It is but a little portion that is heard of him. Clouds and darkness are round about him. We see what he does, but we know not the reasons. Some... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 25:2

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing ,.... Secret things belong unto him, and they are kept so by him: many things which he does reveal, yet the "modus" or manner of them remains hidden; as what relates to his own being, and manner of subsisting; the trinity of Persons in the Godhead; the filiation or the Son, and the procession of the Spirit; the incarnation of Christ, and the like: the predestination of men to life and death, though that there is such a thing is certain, yet who... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 25:3

The heaven for height, and the earth for depth ,.... These are eminent for what are ascribed to them; nothing is higher than the heavens, nor anything deeper than the earth; the height of the heavens cannot be reached, and the centre of the earth cannot easily be got unto; the heavens above cannot be measured, and the foundation of the earth cannot be searched beneath; at least not by common persons, whatever may be done in their way by astronomers and geometricians. And thus, as the heavens... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 25:2

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing - This has been understood as referring to the revelation of God's will in his word, where there are many things concealed in parables, allegories, metaphors, similitudes, etc. And it is becoming the majesty of God so to publish his will, that it must be seriously studied to be understood, in order that the truth may be more prized when it is discovered. And if it be God's glory thus partially to conceal his purposes, it is the glory of a king to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 25:3

The heaven for height - The simple meaning of this is, the reasons of state, in reference to many acts of the executive government, can no more be fathomed by the common people, than the height of the heavens and the depth of the earth. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 25:2

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing. That which is the chief glory of God is his mysteriousness, the unfathomable character of his nature and attributes and doings. The more we search into these matters, the more complete we find our ignorance to be; finite faculties are utterly unable to comprehend the infinite; they can embrace merely what God chooses to reveal. "Secret things belong unto the Lord our God" ( Deuteronomy 29:29 ), and the great prophet, favoured with Divine... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 25:2

God's glory in concealing A contrast is here drawn between the glory of God and the honour of man, especially of one class of men—the order of kings. I. THE HONOUR OF MAN IN INVESTIGATING . 1 . The honour of royalty . This is "to search out a matter." The king is acting in a way that honours him when 2 . The honour of mankind generally . This is to "search out" and become practically familiar with II. THE GLORY OF GOD IN CONCEALING . The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 25:2-5

Kings: their attributes and duties I. CONTRAST BETWEEN DIVINE AND HUMAN GOVERNMENT . Divine government is a mystery in its principles and its ends. Partial revelation only is given of its method in the Scriptures and in the actual course of the world. Actual relations are one thing, their secret spring another. The former may be known, the latter is veiled from our scrutiny. On the contrary, human government should be founded on principles intelligible to all and commendable... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 25:3

This proverb is connected with the preceding by the idea of "searching" ( chakar ) common to both. Such emblematic proverbs are common in this second collection (see Proverbs 25:11 ). Three subjects are stated, of which is predicated the term unsearchable, viz. The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings. As you can never rise to the illimitable height of the heavens, as you can never penetrate to the immeasurable depth of the earth, so you can never fathom... read more

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