Proverbs 20:1 KJV

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 20:1

Proverbs 20:1"Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise."Alcoholic beverages are today ruining America. It is not only unwise to err in the use of them, but it is sinful also. Yes, Jesus used wine. It had a 4 percent alcoholic content, and even then was, in all probability diluted. See pp. 102,103 in my commentary on Proverbs. The high-powered wine marketed today has up to 18 percent alcoholic content. Nothing is any more misleading than the allegation... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Proverbs 20:1

Proverbs 20:1. Strong drink is raging— The first precept in this chapter is against drunkenness, as an enemy to wisdom even in common things, much more in those of everlasting concernment; for that commonly expels out of men's minds all reverence both to God and to others; inclining them to say or do any thing without restraint or discretion. And what unruly passions it excites when the brain is disturbed with it, is universally known. The word המה homeh, here translated raging, includes them... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Proverbs 20:1

1. mocker—scorner. Such men are made by wine. strong drink—made by spicing wine (compare Isaiah 5:11; Isaiah 5:22); and it may include wine. raging—or boisterous as a drunkard. deceived—literally, "erring," or reeling. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 20:1-30

1. Raging] RV ’a brawler.’ Is deceived] RM ’reeleth.’ It makes a man sneer, quarrel and reel about. 2. Fear] the ’terror’ which he causes. Soul] RV ’life.’4. Read, ’In the autumn.. therefore when he seeketh,’ etc.: the first season begins about October, the second about April. 5. A clever cross-questioner elicits one’s plans. 8. Scattereth away] RM ’winnoweth’ (1 Kings 3:28).9. ’What mortal when he saw,Life’s voyage done, his heavenly Friend,Could ever yet dare tell Him fearlessly:“I have kept... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Proverbs 20:1

XX.(1) Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging—i.e., producing these effects in those who subject themselves to their power. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Proverbs 20:1-30

The Sluggard in Harvest Proverbs 20:4 I. First, let us try to bring out the principles which are crystallized in this picturesque saying. 1. The first thought evidently is: present conduct determines future conditions. Life is a series of epochs, each of which has its destined work, and that being done, all is well; and that being left undone, all is ill. The mystic significance of the trivialities of life is that in them we largely make destiny, and in them we wholly make character. 2. The... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Proverbs 20:1-30

CHAPTER 21IDLENESS"After the autumn gathering the slothful does not plough; he asks in the harvest, and there is nothing."- Proverbs 20:4WE have already in the sixth lecture caught a glimpse of the sluggard; and in the ninth we have seen in passing that diligence in work is enjoined by the teacher; but we must give a more concentrated attention to this subject if we would realize the stress which this book of Wisdom lays on work as the grand condition of life in this earnest world. They who... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Proverbs 20:1-30

CHAPTER 20 Proverbs as to Personal Conduct Proverbs of warning and instructions as to personal conduct are found mostly in this chapter; a number of them are of special interest if applied to Solomon. The first one is concerning wine and strong drink. As the use of wine among the people of Israel was legitimate the warning is against intemperance Deuteronomy 14:26 ). The Bible gives many illustrations of the truth of this proverb-warning. We may think of Noah, Lot, Nabal, Ben-hadad, Belshazzar... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Proverbs 20:1

20:1 {a} Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whoever is deceived by it is not wise.(a) By wine here is meant him that is given to wine, and so by strong drink. read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Proverbs 20:1-30

In these chapters we have a series of exhortations to a life of godliness expressed in general terms about as follows: 1. Confidence in God as a wise ruler (chap. 16) 2. A disposition of peacefulness and contentment (chap. 17) 3. The virtues of affability, fidelity, and others of a social nature (chap. 18) 4. Humility and meekness (chap. 19) 5. Sobriety, diligence and kindness (chap. 21) 6. Justice, patience, submission (chap. 21) 7. The attainment and preservation of a good name (chap. 22) 8.... read more