Proverbs 22:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 22:4

See here, 1. Wherein religion does very much consist?in humility and the fear of the Lord; that is, walking humbly with God. We must so reverence God's majesty and authority as to submit with all humility to the commands of his word and the disposals of his providence. We must have such low thoughts of ourselves as to behave humbly towards God and man. Where the fear of God is there will be humility. 2. What is to be gotten by it?riches, and honour, and comfort, and long life, in this world,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 22:4

By humility and the fear of the Lord ,.... Some render it, "the reward of humility, which is the fear of the Lord" F18 עקב ענוה יראת יהוה "praemium mansuetudinis, quae est reverentia Jehovae", Schultens; "merces humilitatis timor Domini", Baynus; "praemium humilitatis est timor Domini": Tigurine version; so Vatablus, Mercerus, Cocceius. ; so the Targum; an humble man is blessed with it. Jarchi's note is, "because of humility, the fear of the Lord comes;' humility leads... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 22:1-5

The general conditions of a good name I. WHAT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE ITS FOUNDATION . 1 . Riches . ( Proverbs 22:1 .) Riches have their worth; reputation has its worth; but the latter is of an order altogether different from the former. The former gives a physical, the latter a moral, power. It is right that we should have regard to the opinion of good men. "An evil name shall inherit disgrace and reproach," says Sirach 6:1. And we have, as Christians, clearly to think... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 22:1-16

The theme of the earlier part of the chapter may be said to be the good name: the blessings in the possession of it, and the conditions for the acquirement of it—partly negatively, partly positively, described. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 22:4

By humility and the fear of the Lord, etc. This does not seem to be the best rendering of the original. The word rendered "by" ( עֵקֶב ekeb ), "in reward of," is also taken as the subject of the sentence: "The reward of humility ['and,' or, 'which is'] the fear of God, is riches," etc. There is no copulative in the clause, and a similar asyndeton occurs in Proverbs 22:5 ; so there is no reason why we should not regard the clause in this way. Thus Revised Version, Nowack, and others.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 22:4

Two graces, and their reward I. TWO GRACES . 1 . The social grace. "Humility." This is becoming in all men, but it is especially seemly where its attainment is most difficult; e.g. among the high in station, the wealthy, the famous, the gifted, the popular. It is as difficult for the demagogue to be humble as for the lord—perhaps more difficult, for the former is more conscious of his own powers, and more recently lifted above his fellows. Humility is difficult to acquire,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 22:4

Proverbs 22:4. By humility Hebrew, עקב ענוה , because of humility; or, as some render the expression, the reward of humility, that reward which God has graciously promised, and will confer on humility, which is a grace of great price in his eyes, Isaiah 57:15; James 4:6; and the fear of the Lord By which he distinguishes true and Christian humility from counterfeit and merely moral humility: for the former arises from a deep sense of God’s greatness, purity, and perfection, compared... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 22:1-16

Children and adults (22:1-16)People vary in reputation and status, but they should respect one another as being equally God’s creatures (22:1-2). Wise people will act with caution and humility. They will bring up their children in a way that prepares them for the experiences they will face in the life ahead (3-6). Those who borrow will fall into the power of the lenders, and this can lead to unjust treatment of the poor by the rich. Such oppression will be punished, but generosity will be... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 22:4

By humility, &c. = The reward of humility [that is] the fear of the Jehovah, will be, &c. the fear of the LORD. See note on Proverbs 1:7 . life: i.e. resurrection and eternal life. See note on Leviticus 18:5 ; not necessarily long life on earth. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 22:4

"The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah Is riches, and honor, and life."This verse, which stresses humility and the fear of the Lord, "Sums up several of the principal lessons of Proverbs."[4] As a matter of fact, it gives a brief summary of the chief obligations of human life on earth. read more

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