Proverbs 17:16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 17:16

Two things are here spoken of with astonishment:?1. God's great goodness to foolish man, in putting a price into his hand to get wisdom, to get knowledge and grace to fit him for both worlds. We have rational souls, the means of grace, the strivings of the Spirit, access to God by prayer; we have time and opportunity. He that has a good estate (so some understand it) has advantages thereby of getting wisdom by purchasing instruction. Good parents, relations, ministers, friends, are helps to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 17:16

Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom ,.... Natural wisdom and knowledge. By this "price" may be meant money, riches, worldly substance, of which a foolish man is possessed; by means of which he might purchase useful books for the improvement of his mind, and procure himself instructors that might be very useful to him; but instead of seeking after that which he most wants, and making use of his substance to furnish him with it, he spends it on his back and belly,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 17:6-25

Fatherhood and sonship Certainly, some of our very greatest mercies are those that come to us in our domestic relationships. I. THE JOY AND CROWN OF FATHERHOOD AND OF GRANDFATHERHOOD . Our Lord speaks of the mother forgetting her anguish "for joy that a man is born into the world" ( John 16:21 ). The joy of parentage is keen , and it is common; it may, indeed, be said to be universal. And it is pure and good; it elevates and enlarges the soul, taking thought... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 17:16

Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom? A fool thinks that there is a royal road to wisdom, and that it, like other things, is to be purchased with reentry. Vulgate, Quid prodest stulto habere divitias, cum sapientiam emere non possit? The rabbis in later time were not allowed to take fees for teaching; but it was customary to make offerings to seers and wise men, when their services were engaged or their advice was asked (see the case of Saul and Samuel, 1 Samuel... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 17:16-20

Light in the head, love in the heart I. MONEY USELESS WITHOUT SENSE . ( Proverbs 17:16 .) The true view of money is that of means to ends. But if the ends are not seen, or, being seen, are not earnestly desired, of what avail the means? If our heart be set upon the right objects of life, opportunities will always present themselves. If blind to life's meaning, no advantages wilt seem to be advantages. II. THE BEAUTY OF FRIENDSHIP . ( Proverbs 17:17 .) 1 . In... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 17:16-24

Use and neglect "There is everything in use," we say. And certainly a man's position at any time depends far less upon his bestowments and advantages than upon the use he has made of them. The wise man, in these verses, laments the fact that the price of wisdom should so often be in the hand of a man who fails to turn it to account ( Proverbs 17:16 ), and that the foolish man wastes his capacities by directing them to things at a distance instead of giving his attention to that which is... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 17:16

Proverbs 17:16. Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool, &c. The Hebrew is literally, Wherefore is this? A price in the hand of a fool to procure wisdom, and not a heart? The question implies, that the price is unworthily placed, and that it is to no purpose, or benefit of the possessor. All the ancient translators interpret the word מחיר , here rendered price, of possessions, or riches, of which the same word is used Isaiah 55:1, and elsewhere. It comprehends all... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 17:1-28

Friends and fools (17:1-28)A peaceful family life, no matter how simple, is a great blessing, but a son may miss out on his family inheritance through his own folly (17:1-2). God’s dealings with his people are always for a good purpose, to make them better than they were before (3). To listen to evil talk is as bad as to speak evil oneself; to take pleasure in another’s troubles is as bad as to cause those troubles (4-5).Other proverbs concern the appreciation that the old and the young should... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 17:16

Wherefore is there a price, &c. = Why is this ready money in the hand of a fool to get wisdom when he has no sense? Illustrations: Israel (2 Chronicles 30:10 ); the Jews (Luke 4:28 ); Herod Antipas (Luke 23:11 ); Jews (John 5:40 ; John 8:45 ); Athenians (Acts 17:32 , Acts 17:33 ); Felix (Acts 24:25-27 ); Agrippa (Acts 26:28 ). wisdom. Hebrew. chakmah. See note on Proverbs 1:2 . heart. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 , for the sense in it. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 17:16

"Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?"This is a down to earth recognition that teaching can be wasted on a fool. This is not a snobbish remark; because, as always in Proverbs, the fool gets himself into his situation by his own stubbornness and wickedness."[27] read more

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