Proverbs 29:18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 29:18

See here, I. The misery of the people that want a settled ministry: Where there is no vision, no prophet to expound the law, no priest or Levite to teach the good knowledge of the Lord, no means of grace, the word of the Lord is scarce, there is no open vision (1 Sam. 3:1), where it is so the people perish; the word has many significations, any of which will apply here. 1. The people are made naked, stripped of their ornaments and so exposed to shame, stripped of their armour and so exposed to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 29:18

Where there is no vision, the people perish ,.... That is, "no prophecy", as the Vulgate Latin version renders it; and which is often the sense of the word, as the vision of Isaiah is the prophecy of Isaiah; and, in the New Testament, prophesying is often put for preaching; and here vision, or prophecy, signifies the public ministering of the word and ordinances, and want of persons to administer them; no expounder, as the Septuagint version; or interpreter, as the Arabic. This was the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 29:18

Where there is no vision - My old MS. Bible, following the Vulgate, translates: Whan prophecye schal failen, the peple schal ben to scatered. Where Divine revelation, and the faithful preaching of the sacred testimonies, are neither reverenced nor attended, the ruin of that land is at no great distance. But he that keepeth the law, happy is he - Go how it may with others, he shall be safe. So our Lord: "Blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it." read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 29:18

Where there is no vision, the people perish; rather, cast off restraint , become ungovernable, cannot be reined in ( Exodus 32:22 , Exodus 32:25 ). "Vision" ( chazon ), prophecy in its widest sense, denotes the revelation of God's will made through agents, which directed the course of events, and was intended to be coordinate with the supreme secular authority. The prophets were the instructors of the people in Divine things, standing witnesses of the truth and power of religion,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 29:18

No vision? The revelation of ancient prophecy was not continuous and uninterrupted, but it came in flashes, between which there were intervals of darkness. Sometimes those intervals were long and most distressing to a people that had learnt to draw its chief lessons from Divine oracles. Such a time was experienced in the days of Eli, for "the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no open vision" ( 1 Samuel 3:1 ); and another and longer period was that of the "four centuries... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 29:18

Spiritual ignorance and obedience . (See also homily on Proverbs 19:2 .) Two things are clear: 1 . That God has provided us with many sources of knowledge. We have, for materials to work with , a very complex and richly endowed nature; and we have, for materials to work upon , 2 . That these sources of wisdom, which are constant and common to our race, prove to be lamentably insufficient. Man, under the dominion and depression of sin, cannot read aright the lessons which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 29:18-23

Fatal defects in the social state I. THE WANT OF COMMANDING RELIGIOUS TEACHING . The great prophets of Israel were the great instructors of the people. They declared Jehovah's living oracles; they made clear the eternal principles of the moral law; they forecast what must be the future under moral conditions. The Christian preacher has succeeded to the office of the Jewish prophet. Woe to the nation if the supply of preachers ceases! if, sunk in material interests, they are... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 29:18

Proverbs 29:18. Where there is no vision That is, no prophecy, the prophets being anciently called seers; no public preaching of God’s word, called prophecy, Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 14:4, &c. Where the people are destitute of the means of instruction; the people perish Because they want the chief means of salvation; but he that keepeth the law He does not say, he that hath the law, or he that hath vision, which the rules of opposition to the preceding clause might have... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 29:1-27

Authority with justice (29:1-27)Many themes that we have already met in Proverbs are repeated in this section: stubbornness, good and bad government, family values, prostitution, justice, flattery, cunning and concern for the poor (29:1-7). Scoffers are more than just fools; they are trouble-makers. They are not open to reason and cannot control their temper (8-11).Unjust rulers oppress innocent citizens, and the rich persecute the poor, but good and bad alike receive the blessings that God... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 29:18

no vision, &c. Illustration: Israel ( 1Sa 3:1 . 1 Kings 12:28-32 ; 1 Kings 14:14-16 ). the = a. happy, &c. See note on Proverbs 3:13 . Illustrations: Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29:0 ); Josiah( Pro 34:33 ; Pro 35:18 . Jeremiah 22:16 ). read more

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