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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 17:11

Here is the sin and punishment of an evil man. 1. His sin. He is an evil man indeed that seeks all occasions to rebel against God, and the government God has set over him, and to contradict and quarrel with those about him. Quaerit jurgia?He picks quarrels; so some. There are some that are actuated by a spirit of opposition, that will contradict for contradiction-sake, that will go on frowardly in their wicked ways in spite of all restraint and check. A rebellious man seeks mischief (so some... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 17:11

An evil man seeketh only rebellion ,.... For he seeks nothing but what is evil; and all sin is rebellion against God, a contempt of his laws, and a transgression of them; a trampling upon his legislative power and authority; an act of hostility against him, and a casting off allegiance to him. Or rather the words may be rendered, "rebellion", that is, "the rebellious man", so the Targum, the abstract for the concrete, "verily" or "only seeketh evil" F13 אך מרי יבקש רע "profecto... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 17:6-25

Fatherhood and sonship Certainly, some of our very greatest mercies are those that come to us in our domestic relationships. I. THE JOY AND CROWN OF FATHERHOOD AND OF GRANDFATHERHOOD . Our Lord speaks of the mother forgetting her anguish "for joy that a man is born into the world" ( John 16:21 ). The joy of parentage is keen , and it is common; it may, indeed, be said to be universal. And it is pure and good; it elevates and enlarges the soul, taking thought... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 17:10-15

Dark phases of human character We may take Proverbs 17:10 as an introduction to what follows. Exhortations are to be given, and the preacher would prepare us to receive them. On the sensitive mind the censure of the good makes a deeper impression than a hundred blows on the back of the fool. Sincerity, love of truth and tender sympathy, become the exhorter, and humble docility the object of his warnings or rebukes. "Let the righteous smite me, and it shall be a kindness" ( Psalms 141:5 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 17:11

An evil man seeketh only rebellion. So the Greek and Latin Versions; but, as Nowack intimates, a bad man seeks many other things which do not come directly in the category of rebellion; and it is better to take meri, "rebellion," as the subject, regarding it as put for the concrete, thus: "A rebellious man striveth only for what is evil." From the point of view of an Eastern potentate, this is true enough. Absolute government looks upon any rising against constituted authority, any... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 17:11

Proverbs 17:11. An evil man seeketh only rebellion Seeketh nothing but his own will; and being so refractory that he hath shaken off all reverence for God and his governors, he is wholly bent upon mischief, and cannot be reclaimed; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him Some dreadful judgment or other, as a messenger from God; angels, God’s messengers, shall be employed as ministers of justice against him, Psalms 78:49. Satan, the angel of death, and the messengers of... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 17:1-28

Friends and fools (17:1-28)A peaceful family life, no matter how simple, is a great blessing, but a son may miss out on his family inheritance through his own folly (17:1-2). God’s dealings with his people are always for a good purpose, to make them better than they were before (3). To listen to evil talk is as bad as to speak evil oneself; to take pleasure in another’s troubles is as bad as to cause those troubles (4-5).Other proverbs concern the appreciation that the old and the young should... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 17:11

evil = evil worker. Same word as "wicked", Proverbs 17:4 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 17:11

"An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him."Of course, it is true, as Deane said, that, "An evil man seeks many things that do not exactly fit the term `rebellion'; but from the viewpoint of an Eastern potentate (like Solomon), any prominent crime by a subject would have been considered rebellion."[19] The cruel messenger would be the king's response to it. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Proverbs 17:11

Proverbs 17:11. An evil man, &c.— Houbigant renders it, A cruel man will seek only for evil; and therefore a most cruel messenger shall be sent to him. read more

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