Proverbs 12:3-4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 12:3

Note, 1. Though men may advance themselves by sinful arts, they cannot by such arts settle and secure themselves; though they may get large estates they cannot get such as will abide: A man shall not be established by wickedness; it may set him in high places, but they are slippery places, Ps. 73:18. That prosperity which is raised by sin is built on the sand, and so it will soon appear. 2. Though good men may have but little of the world, yet that little will last, and what is honestly got... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 12:4

Note, 1. He that is blessed with a good wife is as happy as if he were upon the throne, for she is no less than a crown to him. A virtuous woman, that is pious and prudent, ingenious and industrious, that is active for the good of her family and looks well to the ways of her household, that makes conscience of her duty in every relation, a woman of spirit, that can bear crosses without disturbance, such a one owns her husband for her head, and therefore she is a crown to him, not only a credit... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 12:3

A man shall not be established by wickedness ,.... Not any man, though he may be established in his wickedness, so as not to be rooted out of it; yet he cannot be so established by it as not to be removed from a prosperous state and condition into an unhappy and distressed one; he may seem to be in a firm and settled state of prosperity, amidst all his wickedness; be like a green bay tree, spreading itself, and seemingly immovable, when on a sudden it is blown down and rooted up, and is no... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 12:4

A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband ,.... One that is loving and chaste, constant and faithful, obsequious and submissive to him; that is diligent in the affairs of her house, takes care of her family, brings up her children, and keeps up a good order and decorum among her servants, is an honour and credit to her husband. Such is the true church of Christ, who is compared to a woman, Revelation 12:1 ; to a woman of purity and chastity, whose members are virgins, not defiled with... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 12:3

A man shall not be established by wickedness - Evil is always variable: it has no fixed principle, except the root that is in the human heart; and even that is ever assuming new forms. Nothing is permanent but goodness; and that is unchangeable, because it comes from God. The produce of goodness is permanent, because it has God's blessing in it: the fruit of wickedness, or the property procured by wickedness, is transitory, because it has God's curse in it. The righteous has his root in God;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 12:4

A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband - חיל אשת esheth chayil , a strong woman. Our word virtue (virtus) is derived from vir, a man; and as man is the noblest of God's creatures, virtue expresses what is becoming to man; what is noble, courageous, and dignified: and as vir, a man, comes from vis, power or strength; so it implies what is strong and vigorous in principle: and as in uncivilized life strength and courage were considered the very highest, because apparently the most... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 12:1-3

Primary truths I. THE WISDOM OF SUBMISSION , THE FOLLY OF RESISTANCE , TO REPROOF . As self-knowledge is the most precious and indispensable, and as it comes to us by chastisement, i.e. by disappointment, humiliation, pain of various kinds,—to welcome correction, to be willing and anxious to know our faults, is the mark of true wisdom. To fret at reproof, to be angry with the counsellor, to hate the revealing light, is the worst folly and stupidity. II. THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 12:1-15

The downward and the upward paths Whether we are daily ascending or descending depends very much on whether we are ready or are refusing to learn The man of open mind is he who moves up, but the man whose soul is shut against the light is he who is going down. I. THE DOWNWARD PATH . We strike one point in this path when we come to: 1 . The forming of a false estimate of ourself. When "our way is right in our own eyes" ( Proverbs 12:15 ), and that way is the wrong one,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 12:3

A man shall not be established by wickedness. Man is metaphorically compared to a tree, especially the olive. Wickedness gives him no firm hold for growth or life (comp. Proverbs 10:25 ). The root of the righteous shall not be moved. The righteous are planted in a good soil, are "rooted and grounded in love" ( Ephesians 3:17 ), and the root being thus well placed, the tree is safe, and brings forth much fruit (comp. Proverbs 12:12 ; Job 14:7-9 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 12:3

The instability of wickedness I. WICKEDNESS MAY BRING TEMPORAL PROSPERITY . It is important to observe the limitations of our subject. The Bible is not an unreasonable book; it does not ignore the patent facts of life; it does not deny that there are pleasures of sin. The very statement that "a man shall not be established by wickedness" implies that he may be lifted up, and may really enjoy prosperity for a season. Though not built up, he may be puffed up. This is to be borne... read more

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