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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 8:12-21

Wisdom here is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; it is Christ in the word and Christ in the heart, not only Christ revealed to us, but Christ revealed in us. It is the word of God, the whole compass of divine revelation; it is God the Word, in whom all divine revelation centres; it is the soul formed by the word; it is Christ formed in the soul; it is religion in the purity and power of it. Glorious things are here spoken of this excellent person, this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 8:13

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil ,.... All evil in general, evil thoughts, evil words, evil actions, evil company, evil worship, and evil doctrines; and by "the fear of the Lord", which shows itself in an hatred of evil, because of the loathsome nature of it, and being contrary to God and his will, and as it appears in the glass of the law, and especially in the glass of pardoning love, is meant not the fear of his judgments and wrath, or a distrust of his grace and goodness, much less... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 8:13

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil - As it is impossible to hate evil without loving good; and as hatred to evil will lead a man to abandon the evil way; and love to goodness will lead him to do what is right in the sight of God, under the influence of that Spirit which has given the hatred to evil, and inspired the love of goodness: hence this implies the sum and substance of true religion, which is here termed the fear of the Lord. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 8:1-21

The excellency of Divine wisdom: No. 1 In these verses we have portrayed to us the surpassing excellency of the wisdom of God. I. IT IS AUDIBLE TO EVERY ONE . "Doth not Wisdom cry," etc.? ( Proverbs 8:1 ; see homily on Proverbs 1:20-23 ). II. IT IS URGENT AND IMPORTUNATE . ( Proverbs 8:2-4 ; see homily on Proverbs 1:20-23 .) III. IT MAKES ITS APPEAL TO UNIVERSAL MAN . ( Proverbs 8:4 , Proverbs 8:5 .) "Unto you, O men, I call,"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 8:1-21

Christ the Wisdom of God: No. 1 Though it is not to be supposed that Jesus Christ was in the mind of the writer of this passage, yet as he does personify wisdom, and as wisdom was incarnated in that Son of man who was the Son of God, we should expect to find that the words of the wise man in the text would apply, in large measure, to the Lord Jesus Christ. They do so, and suggest to us— I. THE MANNER OF HIS TEACHING . ( Proverbs 8:1-3 ) He "spake openly to the world, …... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 8:1-36

14. Fourteenth admonitory discourse concerning Wisdom—her excellence, her origin, her gifts. She is contrasted with the strange woman of Proverbs 7:1-27 ; and the exceeding greatness of the blessings which she offers exhibits in the most marked manner the nothingness of the deceiver's gifts. One is reminded of the celebrated episode of the choice of Hercules, delineated by Xenophon, 'Memorab.,' 2.1. 21, etc. The chapter divides itself into four sections. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 8:10-21

Wisdom's pleadings She has nothing novel to say concerning her nature, value, and blessings. Preaching must in the main be repetition; the iteration of the old, not with dry and sterile monotony, but with that freshness which comparison with everyday facts and illustrations gives. New combinations of facts are ever arising in which to frame the old precepts and set them forth. Besides, love gives novelty to old truth, as the old song is enjoyed from the lips of the latest sweet singer. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 8:13

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. Wisdom here enunciates the proposition which is the foundation of all her teaching, only here, as it were, on the reverse side, net as the beginning of wisdom ( Proverbs 1:7 ; Proverbs 9:10 ), but as the hatred of evil; she then proceeds to particularize the evil which the Lord hates. Taking the clause in this sense, we have no need to alter the persons and forms of the verbs to "I fear the Lord, I hate evil," as Dathe and others suggest; still less... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 8:13

Hatred of evil I. RELIGION INCLUDES MORALS . This is the broad lesson of the text. It should be accepted as a self-evident truism. Yet it has been often obscured by dangerous sophisms. Thus some have regarded religion as consisting in correctness of creed or in assiduity of devotion—things treated by God as worthless unless accompanied by righteousness of conduct ( Isaiah 1:10-17 ). There is a common impression that religious merits may be pleaded as a set off against moral... read more

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