John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 26:12
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit ,.... Or "in his own eyes" F2 בעיניו "in oculis suis", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, &c.; ; as multitudes may be seen, by looking round; man is a creature but of small knowledge in things natural, civil, mechanical, philosophical, moral, or divine; yet greatly conceited for the most part of his knowledge and wisdom. As by a "fool" in this book is generally understood a wicked profane man, so by a wise man is meant a good and... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 26:12
Here is, 1. A spiritual disease supposed, and that is self-conceit: Seest thou a man? Yes, we see many a one, wise in his own conceit, who has some little sense, but is proud of it, thinks it much more than it is, more than any of his neighbours, have, and enough, so that he needs no more, has such a conceit of his own abilities as makes him opinionative, dogmatical, and censorious; and all the use he makes of his knowledge is that it puffs him up. Or, if by a wise man we understand a... read more