Proverbs 21:24 - Exposition

Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath. (For "scorner" ( לץ ), the esprit fort, the freethinking sceptic of Solomon's day, see notes on Proverbs 1:22 and Proverbs 14:6 .) The verse is better translated, A proud, arrogant man, scoffer is his name, who worketh in superfluity of pride . עֶבְרָה ( ebrah ), translated "wrath," denotes also want of moderation, excess, presumption (see note on Proverbs 11:23 ). The proverb explains the meaning of the name, letz , given to these rationalists; their contempt of revealed religion proceeds from pride of intellect, which refuses instruction, and blinds the eyes to the truth. The warning comes home to us in these times, when the "higher criticism" too often runs into gross scepticism and infidelity. Septuagint, "A bold and self-willed and insolent man is called a pest ( λοιμὸς ), and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor."