Proverbs 18:2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 18:2

A fool may pretend to understanding, and to seek and intermeddle with the means of it, but, 1. He has no true delight in it; it is only to please his friends or save his credit; he does not love his book, nor his business, nor his Bible, nor his prayers; he would rather be playing the fool with his sports. Those who take no pleasure in learning or religion will make nothing to purpose of either. No progress is made in them if they are a task and a drudgery. 2. He has no good design in it, only... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 18:2

A fool hath no delight in understanding ,.... In natural understanding, and in the improvement of his mind in it; he delights not in books, nor in the conversation of men of learning and sense: or in spiritual understanding, in the understanding of spiritual things; these are foolishness to a natural man; nor does he delight in reading the Scriptures, nor in hearing the word, and attendance on it in the house of God, but is weary of such exercises; but that his heart may discover itself ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 18:2

But that his heart may discover itself - It is a fact that most vain and foolish people are never satisfied in company, but in showing their own nonsense and emptiness. But this verse may be understood as confirming the view already given of the preceding, and may be translated thus: "But a fool doth not delight in understanding, though it should even manifest itself:" so I understand בהתגלות אם כי ki im behithgalloth . The separated person seeks understanding in every hidden thing, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 18:1-9

Unsocial vices There is an inner connection between them all. I. MISANTHROPY . ( Proverbs 18:1 .) If this verse be more correctly rendered, this is the meaning yielded. From a diseased feeling the man turns aside to sullen solitude, and thus rejects wisdom. This affords a fine meaning. It is one thing to feel the need of occasional solitude, another to indulge the passion for singularity. II. OBTRUSIVENESS . ( Proverbs 18:2 .) Contrast Proverbs 18:4 . The talkative fool... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 18:2

A fool hath no delight in understanding. This may mean that he takes no pleasure in the wisdom of others, is self-opinionated; or, it may be, does not care for understanding in itself, apart from the use which he can make of it. Vulgate, "The fool receives not the words of wisdom;" Septuagint, "A man of no sense has no need of wisdom." To try to teach a fool is to cast pearls before swine, and to give that which is holy unto dogs. But that his heart may discover itself; i.e. his only... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 18:2

(See homily on Proverbs 17:16 , Proverbs 17:24 .)—C. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 18:1-2

Proverbs 18:1-2. Through desire, a man having separated himself, &c. According to this translation, the sense of this controverted proverb is, Through desire of wisdom, a man, having separated himself from the company, and noise, and business of the world, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom Uses all diligence that he may search and find out all solid knowledge and true wisdom. But this verse is otherwise rendered in the margin of our Bible, and in divers other versions, and... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 18:1-24

Real strength (18:1-24)When people become too confident in their own opinions, they are liable to break away from former friends. They become unreasonable in discussion and blind to the viewpoints of others. Those who despise others will themselves be disgraced (18:1-3). The words of the wise bring refreshment, but those of a fool or a gossip bring destruction (4-8).Those who leave work undone are almost as bad as those who wreck what already has been done (9). Those who trust in God know they... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 18:2

fool. Hebrew. keslt. See note on Proverbs 1:7 . Same word as in verses: Proverbs 18:6 , Proverbs 18:7 ; not the same as in Proverbs 18:13 . discover = vent. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 18:2

"A fool hath no delight in understanding, But only that his heart may reveal itself.""A fool has no pleasure in what is reasonable, but only in self-display."[4] What is evident here is the inherent selfishness of the unregenerated soul. read more

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