Proverbs 10:21-11:8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 10:20-21

We are here taught how to value men, not by their wealth and preferment in the world, but by their virtue. I. Good men are good for something. Though they may be poor and low in the world, and may not have power and riches to do good with, yet, as long as they have a mouth to speak, that will make them valuable and useful, and upon that account we must honour those that fear the Lord, because out of the good treasure of their heart they bring forth good things. 1. This makes them valuable: The... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 10:21

The lips of the righteous feed many ,.... Not their bodies; words are but wind, and will not feed; it is not enough to say to the distressed, "be ye warmed and filled", and give nothing; unless this can be understood of obtaining food for others by their prayers, as Jarchi interprets it: but the souls of many; these the righteous feed, by communicating the spiritual knowledge and understanding of divine things they are partakers of; by setting before them the bread of life, the honey and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:1-32

The service of speech, etc "Man is a talking animal," we say. But if we are distinguished from the brute creation by the mere fact of speech, how truly are we divided from one another by the use we make of that human faculty! To what height of worthiness one man may rise, and what inestimable service he may render, but to what depth of wrong another man may fall, and what mischief he may work, by the use of his tongue! I. THE SERVICE OF SPEECH . "By our words" we may do great... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:15-21

A sevenfold strain of experience For the most part these sayings relate to earthly goods—their value, and the means for their acquisition. Godliness has the promise of both lives. Equally incredible would a religion which ignored the future be with one which ignored the present. Equally one-sided is the expectation only of earthly good from wisdom, and the expectation only of heavenly good. We must beware of a false materializing and of a false spiritualizing of religion. I. THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:21

Feed many. The righteous by wise counsel teach, support, and guide others ( Ecclesiastes 12:11 ; Jeremiah 3:15 ). So the clergy are the shepherds of their flocks ( John 21:15 ; Acts 20:28 ; 1 Peter 5:2 ). The LXX . has a different reading, "know high things." Fools die for want of wisdom. Far from "feeding" others, they bring ruin on themselves ( Proverbs 5:23 ). Others translate, "die through one who wanteth understanding;" but if the Hebrew will bear this rendering, it is... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 10:20-21

Proverbs 10:20-21. The tongue of the just is as choice silver Of great worth and use, bringing credit to himself, and great benefit to others; the heart of the wicked is little worth And consequently his tongue, which speaketh out of the abundance of the heart, Matthew 12:34. The lips of the righteous feed many By their wise and pious discourses, counsels, and comforts, which are so many evidences of their wisdom: but fools die for want of wisdom They have not wisdom to preserve... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 10:1-32

10:1-22:16PROVERBS OF SOLOMONThe proverbs in this section are usually written in a simple two-line form, each proverb usually being equal to one verse in our Bible. Although the editor of the book has in parts brought together proverbs dealing with a similar subject or principle, each proverb must be considered by itself.Clearly there is not enough space in a commentary of this size to explain each separate proverb. Readers will gain most benefit from Proverbs by reading it over a period (for... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 10:21

feed = shepherd: i.e. instruct. Illustrations: Job (Proverbs 4:3 , Proverbs 4:4 ; Proverbs 29:21 , Proverbs 29:22 ); David (Psalms 78:70-72 ); Peter (Acts 4:1-4 ); Philip (Acts 8:5-8 ); Paul and Barnabas (Acts 11:26 ; Acts 14:22-28 ); Judas and Silas (Acts 15:32 , Acts 15:33 ). for = through. wisdom: Hebrew "heart", put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 , for understanding. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 10:21

"The lips of the righteous feed many; But the foolish die for lack of understanding."The kind of food with which the lips of the righteous may feed others is, "The food that abideth unto eternal life" (John 6:27), namely, the blessed Truth of the holy gospels, without which, "the foolish die for lack of understanding." read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Proverbs 10:21

Proverbs 10:21. The lips of the righteous feed many— i.e. Instruct many: and so it is rendered in several of the versions. read more

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