Proverbs 9:8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 9:1-12

Wisdom is here introduced as a magnificent and munificent queen, very great and very generous; that Word of God is this Wisdom in which God makes known his goodwill towards men; God the Word is this Wisdom, to whom the Father has committed all judgment. He who, in the chapter before, showed his grandeur and glory as the Creator of the world, here shows his grace and goodness as the Redeemer of it. The word is plural, Wisdoms; for in Christ are hid treasures of wisdom, and in his undertaking... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 9:8

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee ,.... For wicked men are apt to hate those that publicly rebuke them, Amos 5:10 . Hence minister's of the word are of all men most hated; though this also should be bore with, could it be thought, or there was any reason to believe, that the reproof would be of any service. The scorner here, and in the preceding verses, may not only design profane sinners, sensualists, and atheists, that despise all religion, and scoff at all that is good; but also... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:1-18

15. Fifteenth admonitory discourse, containing in a parabolic form an invitation of Wisdom ( Proverbs 9:1-12 ), and that of her rival Folly ( Proverbs 9:13-18 ). The chapter sums up in brief the warnings of the preceding part. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:4-12

Here follows the invitation of Wisdom, urging the attendance of guests at the sumptuous banquet which she has prepared (comp. Revelation 19:9 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:7-9

Warnings against refusal So, in connection with the preceding section, we may take these words. I. EVERY REFUSAL OF WISDOM IMPLIES THE PREFERENCE OF THE OPPOSITE . It implies that the associations of folly are more congenial than those of sound sense ( Proverbs 9:6 ), which is a preference of death to life, in its effect. II. THE SCOFFING HABIT IS AN INDICATION OF FOLLY . ( Proverbs 9:7 .) Under the general head of fools come scoffers and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:7-9

The penalty and promise of instruction It is not only the function of the minister of Christ to "reprove, rebuke, and exhort" ( 2 Timothy 4:2 ); the "man of God" is to be so furnished from Scripture as to be able to administer "reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness" ( 2 Timothy 3:16 .17). But instruction, especially when it takes the form of correction, has its penalty as well as its recompense. I. THE PENALTY OF INSTRUCTION . ( Proverbs 9:7 , Proverbs... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:7-10

These verses form a parenthesis, showing why Wisdom addresses only the simple and foolish. She giveth not that which is holy unto dogs, nor casteth pearls before swine ( Matthew 7:6 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:8

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee (see the last note, and comp. Proverbs 15:12 , and note there). There are times when reproof only hardens and exasperates. "It is not proper," says St. Gregory, "for the good man to fear lest the scorner should utter abuse at him when he is chidden, but lest, being drawn into hatred, he should be made worse" ('Moral.,' 8.67). "Bad men sometimes we spare, and not ourselves, if from the love of those we cease from the rebuking of them. Whence it is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 9:8

Reproof I. HOW TO GIVE REPROOF . The duty of reproving is one of the most difficult and delicate ever attempted. The people who are most rash in adventuring upon it too often fall into the greatest blunders, while those who are really fitted to undertake it shrink from the attempt. The mere utterance of a protest is generally worse than useless. It only raises anger and provokes to greater obstinacy. Unless there is some probability of convincing a man of the wrongness of his... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 9:8-9

Proverbs 9:8-9. Reprove not a scorner An incorrigible sinner, who despises and scornfully rejects the means of amendment. Thus physicians deny physic to persons in a desperate condition; lest he hate thee Whereby thou wilt not only expose thyself, without necessity, to his malice and rage, but also make thyself utterly incapable of doing that good, which, possibly, thou mightest do by other more prudent and proper means. Rebuke a wise man Who is opposed to the scorner, to intimate that... read more

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