Proverbs 1:7-9 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 1:7-9

Solomon, having undertaken to teach a young man knowledge and discretion, here lays down two general rules to be observed in order thereunto, and those are, to fear God and honour his parents, which two fundamental laws of morality Pythagoras begins his golden verses with, but the former of them in a wretchedly corrupted state. Primum, deos immortales cole, parentesque honora?First worship the immortal gods, and honour your parents. To make young people such as they should be, I. Let them have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge ,.... Here properly the book begins, and this is the first of the proverbs, and an excellent one; it is such an one as is not to be found in all the writings of the Heathens. By "the fear of the Lord" is not meant a servile fear, a fear of punishment, of hell, wrath, and damnation, which is the effect of the first work of the law upon the conscience; but a filial fear, and supposes knowledge of God as a father, of his love and grace in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 1:8

My son, hear the instruction of thy father ,.... This is not to be understood of God the Father of mankind, and of that law which he has given them, as Jarchi and Gersom interpret it, but of Solomon and his son in a literal sense; and of anyone that came to him for instruction, any pupil, hearer, or reader of his; and it is a direction to all children to hearken to the instruction of their parents, and obey their commands; so, next to the fear and worship of God, he exhorts to obedience to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 1:9

For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head ,.... The instructions and laws of parents being attended unto and obeyed by children, render them more lovely and amiable than any beautiful ornament whatever that can be put upon their heads; and chains about thy neck ; be that unto them as chains of gold are to the neck, beautify and adorn them; so good works, done in obedience to God and parents, are ornaments of great price, and preferable to any outward adorning whatever; see ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord - In the preceding verses Solomon shows the advantage of acting according to the dictates of wisdom; in the following verses he shows the danger of acting contrary to them. The fear of the Lord signifies that religious reverence which every intelligent being owes to his Creator; and is often used to express the whole of religion, as we have frequently had occasion to remark in different places. But what is religion? The love of God, and the love of man; the former... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 1:8

My son, hear - Father was the title of preceptor, and son, that of disciple or scholar, among the Jews. But here the reference appears to be to the children of a family; the father and the mother have the principal charge, in the first instance, of their children's instruction. It is supposed that these parents have, themselves, the fear of the Lord, and that they are capable of giving the best counsel to their children, and that they set before them a strict example of all godly living. In... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 1:9

An ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains - That is, filial respect and obedience will be as ornamental to thee as crowns, diadems, and golden chains and pearls are to others. Political dignity has been distinguished in many nations by a chain of gold about the neck. Solomon seems here to intimate, if we follow the metaphor, that the surest way of coming to distinguished eminence, in civil matters, is to act according to the principles of true wislom, proceeding from the fear of God. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. This proposition is by some commentators regarded as the motto, symbol, or device of the book (Delitzsch, Umbreit, Zockler, Plumptre). Others, following the Masoretic arrangement of the Hebrew text, consider it as forming part of the superscription (Ewald, Bertheau, Elster, Keil). As a general proposition expressing the essence of the philosophy of the Israelites, and from its relation to the rest of the contents of this book, it seems... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:7

The relation of religion to knowledge "The fear of the Lord" being the most common Old Testament name for religion, we must take it here in its large and general sense, and understand that religion in all its relations is set forth as the true basis of knowledge; though it may welt be that awe and reverence for the majesty and mystery of God have a special prominence in regard to the pursuit of truth. I. RELIGION IS AN IMPORTANT REQUISITE FOR THE ACQUISITION OF ALL ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:7

Religion the true beginning This is the motto of the book. It is often found ( Proverbs 9:10 ; Sirach 1:16, 25, 26; Psalms 111:10 ). The Arabs have adopted it at the head of their proverbial collections. I. THE OLD TESTAMENT DESIGNATION OF RELIGION . It is the fear of Jehovah. That is reverence for him who is One, who is eternal, incomparable with any of the gods of the heathen, the Deliverer of Israel in the past and ever, the All-holy, just and merciful One. Such... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 1:7-9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 1:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 1:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 1:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 1:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 1:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 1:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:7

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