Proverbs 3:14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 3:13-20

Solomon had pressed us earnestly to seek diligently for wisdom (Prov. 2:1), and had assured us that we should succeed in our sincere and constant pursuits. But the question is, What shall we get by it when we have found it? Prospect of advantage is the spring and spur of industry; he therefore shows us how much it will be to our profit, laying this down for an unquestionable truth, Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, that true wisdom which consists in the knowledge and love of God, and an... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 3:14

For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver ,.... The believer is a spiritual merchant; faith is a trading with and for Christ, and for spiritual and heavenly things by him; and because there is a parting with something for Christ, as a man's sinful lusts and pleasures, his own righteousness, his friends and relations, when set in opposition to or competition with him, and even life itself, when called for; and because he runs a risk of suffering reproach,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 3:14

For the merchandise - סחר sachar , the traffic, the trade that is carried on by going through countries and provinces with such articles as they could carry on the backs of camels, etc.; from סחר sachar , to go about, traverse. Chaffarynge ; Old MS. Bible. And the gain thereof - תבואתה tebuathah , its produce; what is gained by the articles after all expenses are paid. The slaves, as we have already seen, got their liberty if they were so lucky as to find a diamond of so... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:1-18

4. Fourth admonitory discourse. The third chapter introduces us to a group of admonitions, and the first of these ( Proverbs 3:1-18 ) forms the fourth admonitory discourse of the teacher. To all intents and purposes this is a continuation of the discourse in the preceding chapter, for inasmuch as that described the benefits, spiritual and moral, which follow from the pursuit of Wisdom, in promoting godliness and providing safety from evil companions, so this in like manner depicts the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:13-18

The teacher here enters upon the last part of this discourse. In doing so, he reverts to his main subject, which is Wisdom, or the fear of the Lord (see Proverbs 3:7 and Proverbs 1:7 ), and pronounces a panegyric upon her, comparing her, as in Job 28:1-28 ; with treasures whose value she exceeds, and showing wherein that value consists, viz. in the gifts which she confers on man. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:13-18

Wisdom the best investment I. WISDOM COMPARABLE WITH THE MOST PRECIOUS THINGS . Silver, gold, precious stones, everything eagerly coveted and warmly prized by the senses and the fancy, may illustrate the worth of the pious intelligence. Every object in the world of sense has its analogy in the world of spirit. The worth of the ruby is due to the aesthetic light in the mind of the observer. But wisdom is the light in the mind itself. II. WISDOM INCOMPARABLE WITH ALL... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:13-20

More precious than rubies. We must bear in mind that the wisdom here commended to us is not mere knowledge, science, philosophy. It has two important characteristics. First, it is religious ; it is based on the fear of God. Second, it is practical ; it assumes the direction of human conduct. It is the knowledge of Divine truth, and the application of it to life. Why is this to be accounted most precious? I. WISDOM IS VALUABLE ON ACCOUNT OF ITS OWN INHERENT ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:13-26

Wisdom's inestimable worth Here are found many strong recommendations of heavenly wisdom, and we might adopt the thirteenth verse as a refrain to each one of them: "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding." I. POSSESSORS OF IT , WE ARE SHAREHOLDERS WITH GOD HIMSELF . ( Proverbs 3:19 , Proverbs 3:20 .) Only by wisdom could the Divine Founder of all visible things make them what they are. His wonder workings in the heavens above... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:14

The merchandise ( sakh'rah ); Vulgate, acquisitio ; LXX ; ἐμπορεύεσθαι . The gain arising from trading in wisdom is better than that which arises from trading in silver. Sakh'rah is the gain or profit arising from merchandise, i.e. from trading. It denotes the act itself of gaining. The root sakrah, like the Greek ἐμπορευέσθαι , signifies "to go about for the sake of traffic," i.e. to trade. There may be an allusion here, as in Proverbs 2:4 , to the new commerce... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 3:13-15

Proverbs 3:13-15. Happy is the man Notwithstanding all his afflictions; that findeth wisdom Which supposes his diligent searching for it, expressed Proverbs 2:4. And the man that getteth Hebrew, יפיק , that draweth out, understanding Which expression implies two things: 1st, That man hath it not naturally in himself, but must have it from another, even from God and his word; 2d, That men should labour for it as those labour that dig and draw forth metals out of the earth. For the... read more

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