Proverbs 16:15 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 16:14-15

These two verses show the power of kings, which is every where great, but was especially so in those eastern countries, where they were absolute and arbitrary. Whom they would they slew and whom they would they kept alive. Their will was a law. We have reason to bless God for the happy constitution of the government we live under, which maintains the prerogative of the prince without any injury to the liberty of the subject. But here it is intimated, 1. How formidable the wrath of a king is:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:15

In the light of the king's countenance is life ,.... When he looks with a pleasant smiling countenance on a person that has been under his displeasure, and especially if under a sentence of death, it is as life from the dead: so the light of the countenance of God, the King of kings; the discoveries of his love, the manifestations of himself, his gracious presence, communion with him, the comforts of his Spirit, the joys of his salvation, are life unto his people, invigorate their graces,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 16:10-15

Divine and human authority I. THE DERIVATION OF AUTHORITY AND LAW FROM GOD . ( Proverbs 16:10 .) The true ruler is the representative of God. Royal decrees and legal statutes profess to rest, and must rest ultimately, if they are to be binding, upon the moral Law itself. Hence the reverence in old days for "the Lord's anointed," though in the person of a Charles Stuart, was the popular witness to a deep truth, which lies at the foundation of society. II. PRINCIPLES ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 16:15

In the light of the king's countenance is life ( Proverbs 15:30 ; Psalms 4:6 ). As the king's anger and the darkening of his countenance are death ( Proverbs 16:14 ), so, when his look is cheerful and bright, it sheds joy and life around, as the rain refreshes the parched ground. A cloud of the latter rain . The former rain in Palestine falls about the end of October or the beginning of November, when the seed is sown; the latter rain comes in March or April, and is absolutely... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 16:13-15

Proverbs 16:13-15. Righteous lips are the delight of kings All wise and good kings do, and all kings should, delight in employing such counsellors, judges, and officers, under them, as are just and faithful in their counsels, sentences, and actions; because such bring great honour and advantage to them. The wrath of a king is as messengers of death It strikes as great terror into those with whom he is offended, as if the sentence of death were pronounced against them, and officers were... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 16:1-33

Laying plans and making decisions (16:1-33)A person may make plans, but God is the one who determines their outcome. He knows the person’s unseen motives and controls events according to his purposes. It is important, therefore, always to bring God into one’s planning (16:1-4). God punishes the arrogant but has mercy on those who fear him (5-6). He protects them from harm and guides them on the right pathway (7-9).When a king’s wisdom comes from God, his decisions will be right. He will show no... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 16:15

cloud = heavy cloud, &c. Specially valuable, falling just before harvest. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 16:15

"In the light of the king's countenance is life And his favor is a cloud of the latter rain.""If a king's look is benevolent, this portends life, and his favor is like a cloud promising spring rain."[17] With a wise and righteous man upon the throne such a situation as this would be tolerable; but the record of earthly kings has reduced the very idea of royalty to shame and contempt on the part of the vast majority of the human race. The great historian Edward Gibbon extolled the monarchy as... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Proverbs 16:15

Proverbs 16:15. The latter rain— See Deu 11:14 and Joel 2:23. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Proverbs 16:15

15. light of . . . countenance—favor (Psalms 4:6). life—preserves it, or gives blessings which make it valuable. the latter rain—fell just before harvest and matured the crop; hence specially valuable (Deuteronomy 11:14). read more