Proverbs 10:26 KJV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 10:26

Observe, 1. Those that are of a slothful disposition, that love their ease and cannot apply their minds to any business, are not fit to be employed, no, not so much as to be sent on an errand, for they will neither deliver a message with any care nor make any haste back. Such therefore are very unmeet to be ministers, Christ's messengers; he will not own the sending forth of sluggards into his harvest. 2. Those that are guilty of so great an oversight as to entrust such with any affair, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 10:26

As vinegar to the teeth ,.... Which, with its coldness and sourness, blunts the teeth, and makes it troublesome to eat: the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, render it, "as the sour grape is hurtful to the teeth;' sets them on edge; and as smoke to the eye ; dims the sight, causes the eye to water, and is very pernicious and vexatious: so is the sluggard to them that send him : that is, the slothful messenger, as the Targum explains it; who, being sent on an errand, is... read more

Adam Clarke

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

As vinegar to the teeth - The acid softening and dissolving the alkali of the bone, so as to impair their texture, and render them incapable of masticating; and as smoke affects the eyes, irritating their tender vessels, so as to give pain and prevent distinct vision; so the sluggard, the lounging, thriftless messenger, who never returns in time with the desired answer. 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 10:26

Vinegar ( Ruth 2:14 ; Psalms 69:21 ). As sour wine sets the teeth on edge. Septuagint, "as the unripe grape is harmful to the teeth" ( Ezekiel 18:2 ). Smoke . In a country where chimneys were unknown, and the fuel was wood or some substance more unsavoury, the eyes must have often been painfully affected by the household fire. Thus lacrimosus , "tear-producing," is a classical epithet of smoke (see Ovid, 'Metam.,' 10.6; Her; 'Sat.,' 1.5, 80). To these two annoyances is compared the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:26

The lazy man a nuisance I. HE IRRITATES HIS EMPLOYERS . The images of the teeth set on edge, the blinded, smarting eyes, give the thought with great force and great naivete. II. HE IS WORSE THAN USELESS . The Bible shows a great aversion from idleness, sluggishness ( Proverbs 6:6 , seqq .; Proverbs 12:27 ; Proverbs 19:24 ; Proverbs 22:13 ). 1 . Laziness is a vice and the parent of worse. 2 . The swift discharge of duty is acceptable to God and... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 10:26

Proverbs 10:26. As vinegar to the teeth Which, by its coldness and sharpness, it offends; and as smoke, &c., so is the sluggard Unserviceable and vexatious. “A negligent, dilatory servant vexes those who send him, just as keen vinegar gives pain to the teeth, and bitter smoke torments the eyes.” Schultens. 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 10:26

smoke. In Eastern tents and houses, wood or charcoal fires, and no chimneys. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 10:26

"As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke in the eyes, So is the sluggard to them that send him."The message here is that there is no worse messenger that can be sent than a lazy one. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 10:26

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 10:26

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

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:1-32

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:26

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:26

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 10:26

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 10:1-32

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 10:26

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 10:26

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