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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 10:12

Here is, 1. The great mischief-maker, and that is malice. Even where there is no manifest occasion of strife, yet hatred seeks occasion and so stirs it up and does the devil's work. Those are the most spiteful ill-natured people that can be who take a pleasure in setting their neighbours together by the ears, by tale-bearing, evil surmises, and misrepresentations, blowing up the sparks of contention, which had lain buried, into a flame, at which, with an unaccountable pleasure, they warm their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 10:12

Hatred stirreth up strifes ,.... A man, whose heart is full of hatred and malice against his neighbour, will stir up, or awake, as the word F4 תעורר . signifies, contentions and quarrels which were happily laid asleep; these he renews by tale bearing, and whisperings, and evil surmises; by raising lies, spreading false reports and calumnies, and by virulent reproaches and slanders; but love covereth all sins ; not its own, but others; in imitation of the pardoning love and grace... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 10:12

Hatred stirreth up strifes - It seeks for occasions to provoke enmity. It delights in broils. On the contrary, love conciliates; removes aggravations; puts the best construction on every thing; and pours water, not oil, upon the flame. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:1-32

The service of speech, etc "Man is a talking animal," we say. But if we are distinguished from the brute creation by the mere fact of speech, how truly are we divided from one another by the use we make of that human faculty! To what height of worthiness one man may rise, and what inestimable service he may render, but to what depth of wrong another man may fall, and what mischief he may work, by the use of his tongue! I. THE SERVICE OF SPEECH . "By our words" we may do great... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:11-14

A fourfold opposition I. SPEECH THAT QUICKENS AND SPEECH THAT KILLS . ( Proverbs 10:11 .) 1 . The speech of the wise and good is sound, "seasoned with salt;" that of the wicked is hollow or else poisonous. 2 . The former edifies, builds up and strengthens the good principle in the minds of those who convene with him; the bluer destroys the good, and sows evil in its stead. II. QUARRELSOMENESS AND AMIABILITY . ( Proverbs 10:12 ; see on Proverbs 6:14 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:12

Hatred stirreth up strife ( Proverbs 6:14 ). Love covereth all sins ( Proverbs 17:9 ). The reference is primarily to the blood feud, the existence of which led to the establishment of the cities of refuge. Hatred keeps alive the old feeling of revenge, and seeks opportunities of satisfying it; but love puts aside, forgets and forgives all offences against itself. This sentiment comes very near the great Christian principle, "Love covereth a multitude of sins". The Talmud pronounces,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:12

The cloak of charity One of the devices of the parallelism or rhythm of ideas, which is the general characteristic of Hebrew poetry, is the alternative treatment of the same thought from two opposite points of view—from positive and negative poles. The value of some good thing is emphasized by contrasting it with the repulsive nature of its contrary, as Venetian ladies tried to appear the more fair by having negro pages to attend them. Thus the beautiful work of love, in covering of sins,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:12

The conquest of love "Love covereth all sins." It does this in that— I. IT CARRIES THE WEIGHT OF MANY SHORTCOMINGS . 1 . On the one band, many proprieties will not atone for the absence of love. We are wholly unsatisfied if one who sustains to us a very near relationship (husband, wife, son, daughter, etc.) is scrupulously correct in behaviour if love be wanting from the heart. Nothing can compensate for that. The kindness that is not prompted by affection is of a... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 10:12

Proverbs 10:12. Hatred stirreth up strife Upon every slight occasion, by filling men’s minds with suspicions and surmises, whereby they imagine faults where there are none, and aggravate every small offence; but love covereth all sins Either doth not severely observe, or willingly forgives and forgets the injuries and offences of others, and so prevents contention and mischief. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 10:1-32

10:1-22:16PROVERBS OF SOLOMONThe proverbs in this section are usually written in a simple two-line form, each proverb usually being equal to one verse in our Bible. Although the editor of the book has in parts brought together proverbs dealing with a similar subject or principle, each proverb must be considered by itself.Clearly there is not enough space in a commentary of this size to explain each separate proverb. Readers will gain most benefit from Proverbs by reading it over a period (for... read more

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