Proverbs 4:1-27 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 4:1-13

Here we have, I. The invitation which Solomon gives to his children to come and receive instruction from him (Prov. 4:1, 2): Hear, you children, the instruction of a father. That is, 1. ?Let my own children, in the first place, receive and give good heed to those instructions which I set down for the use of others also.? Note, Magistrates and ministers, who are entrusted with the direction of larger societies, are concerned to take a more than ordinary care for the good instruction of their... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 4:14-19

Some make David's instructions to Solomon, which began Prov. 4:4; to continue to the end of the chapter; nay, some continue them to the end of the ninth chapter; but it is more probable that Solomon begins here again, if not sooner. In these verses, having exhorted us to walk in the paths of wisdom, he cautions us against the path of the wicked. 1. We must take heed of the ways of sin and avoid them, every thing that looks like sin and leads to it. 2. In order to this we must keep out of the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 4:20-27

Solomon, having warned us not to do evil, here teaches us how to do well. It is not enough for us to shun the occasions of sin, but we must study the methods of duty. I. We must have a continual regard to the word of God and endeavour that it may be always ready to us. 1. The sayings of wisdom must be our principles by which we must govern ourselves, our monitors to warn us of duty and danger; and therefore, (1.) We must receive them readily: ?Incline thy ear to them (Prov. 4:20); humbly bow... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:1

Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father ,.... Either of God their father, as Gersom interprets it; or rather of Solomon their father: and so he recommends his instruction from the relation he stood in to them; for, since he was their father, he would give them no bad instruction; and, since they were his children, they ought to receive it: by whom are meant, not his children in a natural sense, or the children of his body; but his disciples, such who applied to him for knowledge, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:2

For I give you good doctrine ,.... Whose author, matter, use, and tendency, are good, and therefore should be received; so the Gospel is called, 1 Timothy 4:6 ; and no other is here meant: it is the doctrine concerning Wisdom or Christ, as the following verses show; which serves to exalt him, and makes for the good and welfare of immortal souls; and such is the doctrine of the Scriptures, of Christ and his apostles, even all the doctrines and truths of the Gospel; forsake you not my law... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:3

For I was my father's son ,.... Or, "a son to my father" F16 בן הייתי לאבי "filius fui patri meo", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus, Gejerus, Michaelis; so Cocceius, Schultens. ; so Solomon was to God, his heavenly Father, 2 Samuel 7:14 ; which Jarchi observes, and gives as the sense of this place: but his father David is meant, whose son he was; though he was not his only one, he had others besides him. But the sense is, that he was his darling, his beloved son, whom he loved... read more

John Gill

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

He taught me also, and said unto me ,.... The Targum is, "they taught me,' his father and his mother; and so the Septuagint version, "who said and taught me;' and the Arabic version, "they both taught me, and said unto me;' but in the Hebrew it is singular, and is restrained to the father. He taught him when he was very young, and also gave him instructions when he was older, and a little before his own death; see 1 Chronicles 28:8 ; he taught him by the several psalms he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:5

Get wisdom, get understanding ,.... Not only moral and political wisdom and understanding, but that which is spiritual and evangelical; Christ, and the knowledge of him; he being the only happy man that has an interest in him, and is possessed of him by faith, which is the meaning of getting him; See Gill on Proverbs 3:13 ; by which it appears, that what Solomon had before delivered, and afterwards repeats and urges, was the same his father David, that wise, great, and good man, taught... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:6

Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee ,.... That is, Wisdom, or Christ. Men may be said to forsake Christ when they forsake the assembly of his church and people, which are his other self; when they forsake his ministers, his ambassadors, and representatives; when they forsake his word and ordinances; when they drop the doctrines of the Gospel, or depart from them; when they quit the profession they have formerly made. Nominal believers and formal professors may forsake him finally... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:7

Wisdom is the principal thing ,.... Or principal, one; the principal of persons and things; the principal of persons, angels or men: Christ is superior to angels, having a more excellent name and nature than they; he is the God, the Creator, and head of them, and is above them in the human nature; he is superior to men, to the greatest of men, he is King of kings and Lord of lords, and to the best of men the saints. Are they kings? he is their King: are they priests? he is the great High... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 4:1-13

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 4:14-19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 4:20-27

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:3

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 4:7

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