Proverbs 21:14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 21:14

Here is, 1. The power that is commonly found to be in gifts. Nothing is more violent than anger. O the force of strong wrath! And yet a handsome present, prudently managed, will turn away some men's wrath when it seemed implacable, and disarm the keenest and most passionate resentments. Covetousness is commonly a master-sin and has the command of other lusts. Pecuniae obediunt omnia?Money commands all things. Thus Jacob pacified Esau and Abigail David. 2. The policy that is commonly used in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 21:14

A gift in secret pacifieth anger ,.... Appeases an angry man; humbles and "brings his anger down" F25 יכפה "deprimit", Piscator; so some in Mercerus; "subigit", Cocceius; "pensat nasum", Schultens. , as Aben Ezra and Gersom observe the word signifies; which before rose very high, and showed itself in big words and disdainful looks, as proud wrath does; or extinguishes it, as the Targum and Vulgate Latin version render it, and very fitly. Anger is a fire in the breast; and a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 21:14

A gift in secret pacifieth anger . We have had above various maxims about bribes and presents; e.g. Proverbs 17:8 , Proverbs 17:23 ; Proverbs 18:16 . The word translated "pacifieth" is from the ἅπαξ λεγόμενον verb כֵפָה , "to turn away," "avert." Septuagint, ἀνατρέπει ; Vulgate, extinguit ; Venetian, κάμψει . A gift offered secretly to one incensed, whether personal enemy, judge, or prince, averts the consequences of the offence. The next hemistich is parallel... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 21:14-17

Lights and shades of the earthly scene I. THE POWER OF GIFTS . ( Proverbs 21:14 .) They are neither good nor evil in themselves, but may be employed for good or evil ends. Let us make a good use of this text. We learn that gifts should be quiet, unobtrusive, unobserved ; and the same is true of all acts of kindness which are real gilts from the heart. They should neither irritate pride nor depress independence. By such little attentions and marks at love, how much evil may... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 21:14

Proverbs 21:14. A gift Bestowed on a person offended and angry with us, as the following words show; in secret That is, given in secret, which makes it more acceptable; for gifts openly given savour of ostentation in the giver: and cause some shame to the receiver; pacifieth anger Removes all resentment, and conciliates love; and a reward in the bosom Secretly conveyed into the bosom; strong wrath Will extinguish that wrath which was thought implacable. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 21:1-31

God at work in people’s lives (21:1-31)As God directs the course along which a stream flows, so he guides the decisions of national rulers according to his plan (21:1). God knows people’s motives and he will not accept their sacrifices if their thoughts and actions are wrong (2-4). Prosperity that comes through diligence is a fitting reward, but prosperity that comes through greed, lying and violence is a deadly trap (5-8). Some people make life unpleasant for those who live in the same house,... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 21:14

"A girl in secret pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath."Here is another proverb regarding bribery. The statement here corresponds with the others. "Bribery works"! But this should not be interpreted to mean that God approves of it. The word `pacifieth' is understood in the second line. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Proverbs 21:14

14. The effect of bribery ( :-) is enhanced by secrecy, as the bribed person does not wish his motives made known. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 21:1-31

1. The ’watercourses’ (RV) are the artificial irrigation channels of Egypt and Babylon (Isaiah 58:11). 4. There is no connexion between the two halves of the v. RM ’The tillage of the wicked is sin,’ i.e. the result of his labour is sin. 5. One who is in a hurry to be rich hastens to want. 6. By a very slight alteration of the Hebrew text we get the greatly improved rendering of RM, ’Is a vapour driven to and fro; they are snares of death.’9. A small room is often built on the flat roof of an... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Proverbs 21:14

(14) A gift in secret.—Comp. Abigail and David (1 Samuel 25:18). read more

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