Proverbs 10:20 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 10:20-21

We are here taught how to value men, not by their wealth and preferment in the world, but by their virtue. I. Good men are good for something. Though they may be poor and low in the world, and may not have power and riches to do good with, yet, as long as they have a mouth to speak, that will make them valuable and useful, and upon that account we must honour those that fear the Lord, because out of the good treasure of their heart they bring forth good things. 1. This makes them valuable: The... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 10:20

The tongue of the just is as choice silver ,.... Which utters things precious, pure, pleasant, and profitable; things for worth and value as choice silver; the doctrines of the Gospel, the power of which he has felt upon his heart; the precious promises of it, which have been applied unto him; and the rich experience of grace he has been favoured with: things pure and incorrupt, like silver free from dross; as the doctrines of grace, fetched out of the mines of the sacred Scripture, free... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 10:20

The heart of the wicked is little worth - כמעט kimat , is like little or nothing; or is like dross, while the tongue of the just is like silver. A sinner's heart is worth nothing, and is good for nothing; and yet because it is his most hidden part, he vaunts of its honesty, goodness, etc.! Yes, yes; it is very honest and good, only the devil is in it! that is all. 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 10:15-21

A sevenfold strain of experience For the most part these sayings relate to earthly goods—their value, and the means for their acquisition. Godliness has the promise of both lives. Equally incredible would a religion which ignored the future be with one which ignored the present. Equally one-sided is the expectation only of earthly good from wisdom, and the expectation only of heavenly good. We must beware of a false materializing and of a false spiritualizing of religion. I. THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:20

Choice ( Proverbs 8:10 , Proverbs 8:19 ); tested, purified by fire; πεπυρωμένος , Septuagint. Is little worth; mere dross, in contradistinction to choice silver. So the tongue is contrasted with the heart, out of whose abundance it speaketh (Ec Proverbs 21:26 , "The heart of fools is in their mouth; but the mouth of the wise is in their heart"). Septuagint, "The heart of the godless shall fail ( ἐκλείψει )." read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 10:20-21

Proverbs 10:20-21. The tongue of the just is as choice silver Of great worth and use, bringing credit to himself, and great benefit to others; the heart of the wicked is little worth And consequently his tongue, which speaketh out of the abundance of the heart, Matthew 12:34. The lips of the righteous feed many By their wise and pious discourses, counsels, and comforts, which are so many evidences of their wisdom: but fools die for want of wisdom They have not wisdom to preserve... 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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 10:20

tongue. Put by Fig;. Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for what is spoken by it. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 10:20

"The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver: The heart of the wicked is little worth."Dod's paraphrase of the second clause is, "Sinful persons make a great show on the outside, but there's nothing within them that's worth anything"![21] Peter said to the lame man, "Silver and gold have I none," but his words were life, health and strength to the cripple.[22">Acts 3:6f.">[22] read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 10:20-21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 10:20

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 10:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:1-32

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:15-21

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:20

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 10:20-21

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 10:1-32

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 10:20

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 10:20

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