Verse 1
instruction = correction, or discipline.
Verse 2
man. Hebrew. "ish. App-14. eat = get his food: "eat" being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), App-6, for what is gained by effort.
soul. Hebrew. nephiesh. App-13.
transgressors = traitors, faithless ones. Hebrew. bagad, as in Proverbs 13:15; Proverbs 2:22; Proverbs 11:3, Proverbs 11:6; Proverbs 16:10; Proverbs 21:18, &c.
Verse 3
life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.
Verse 4
the diligent = diligent ones.
Verse 5
hateth lying. Illustrations: Joseph (Genesis 46:31-34); Samuel (1 Samuel 3:18); Mieaiah (1 Kings 22:13, 1 Kings 22:14; 1 Kings 14:5); Elihu (Job 32:22); Hezekiah (Psalms 119:29, Psalms 119:163); David (Psalms 101:7); Agur (Proverbs 30:8); Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:1-15); John Baptist (Matthew 14:4).
wicked = lawless one. Hebrew. rasha". App-44.
Cometh to shame. Illustrations: Jehoram (2 Chronicles 21:18, 2 Chronicles 21:19); Gehazi (2 Kings 5:27. 2 Kings 20:17); Jezebel (2 Kings 9:35); Manasseh(2 Kings 21:7-13. 2 Kings 17:15); Herod (Acts 12:21-23).
Verse 6
wickedness = lawlessness. Hebrew. rasha". App-44.
overthroweth = subverteth.
the sinner = the sin offering. Hebrew. chata =. sin. Always so rendered in Leviticus. App-43.
Verse 7
maketh himself rich: i.e. or pretendeth to be rich. Hebrew. "ashar. The Hithpael occurs only here.
poor = needy. Hebrew. rush. See note on Proverbs 6:11.
Verse 8
ransom = covering. Hebrew. kopher.
the poor, &c.: i.e. poor [becometh he that] heeded not rebuke.
Verse 9
the righteous = righteous ones.
lamp . . . put out. May mean that his family or line will become extinct.
the wicked = lawless ones.
Verse 10
by pride cometh contention = by pride only cometh, &c. Illustrations: Korah (Num 16); men of Ephraim (Judges 12:1-6); Rehoboam (1Ki 12); the Apostles (Luke 22:24).
well advised: or modest.
Verse 11
by labour = by the hand: "hand"being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, for the labour effected by it.
Verse 12
deferred = protracted.
maketh . . . sick = enfeebleth. Illustrations: Abraham (Genesis 15:2, Genesis 15:3); David (Psalms 42:1-3); the Jews (Lamentations 4:17); the two disciples (Luke 24:17, Luke 24:21).
a tree of life. See Genesis 2:9.
Verse 13
the word. Hebrew. dabar (no Art.) App-73.
shall be destroyed. Illustrations: the world (Gen 6; 1 Peter 3:20. 2 Peter 2:6); Israel (Deuteronomy 28:15-68); the lord (2 Kings 7:2, 2 Kings 7:17-20); Joash (2 Chronicles 24:17-25); Amaziah (2 Chronicles 25:16-27. 2 Chronicles 15:32); the priests and others (2 Chronicles 36:16); Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 26:20-24); the Jews (Jeremiah 44:17, Jeremiah 44:27).
shall be rewarded. Illustrations: Pharaoh"s servants (Exodus 9:20, Exodus 9:25); Amaziah (2 Chronicles 25:6-11); Ebed-melech (Jeremiah 39:15-18). Contrast Josiah (2 Chronicles 34:27, 2 Chronicles 34:30) with Jehoiakim his son (Jeremiah 36:23-30; Jeremiah 22:18, Jeremiah 22:19).
Verse 14
the wise = a wise one.
Verse 15
giveth favour. Illustrations: Abraham (Genesis 23:10, Genesis 23:11); Joseph (Genesis 39:2); Joshua (Joshua 6:27); David (1 Samuel 18:14); Abigail (1 Samuel 25:3, 1 Samuel 25:18-34); Daniel (Daniel 1:8, Daniel 1:9; Daniel 6:3); Samuel (1 Samuel 2:26. 1 Samuel 22:1).
hard = rough. This meaning may be substituted for its usual rendering "strong". See Genesis 49:24. Exodus 14:27. Numbers 24:21. Jeremiah 5:15. Amos 5:24. Micah 6:2, &c. Hebrew. "eythan.
Verse 16
fool. Hebrew. kesil. See note on Proverbs 1:7.
folly. Hebrew. "evil. See note on Proverbs 1:7. Illustrations: Balaam (Numbers 22:29, Numbers 22:30); Ahasuerus (Esther 3:10-15); Herod (Matthew 14:7. Mark 6:23).
Verse 17
mischief. Hebrew. ra"a". Same word as "evil" in Proverbs 13:19. App-44.
health = healing. Compare Proverbs 12:18.
Verse 18
Poverty. See note on "poor", Proverbs 13:7.
Verse 19
fools. Hebrew. kesil. See note on Proverbs 1:7. But some codices, with Septuagint and Syriac, read "lawless".
evil. Hebrew. ra"a", App-44.
Verse 20
shall be wise. Illustrations: Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:5); Joash (2 Chronicles 24:2); Ruth (Proverbs 1:16); Elisha (2 Kings 2:9); Andrew (John 1:40, John 1:41); Nathanael (John 1:45-51).
a companion, &c.: or he that feedeth (or entertaineth) fools shall be bankrupt.
shall be destroyed = shall be broken.
Verse 22
good. Figure of speech Anadiplosis (App-6). Hebrew text Proverbs 13:21 ends with "good", which is repeated at the beginning of Proverbs 13:22.
an inheritance. Not necessarily wealth; but a good name, &c.
children"s = sons". Illustrations: Jacob (Genesis 48:15, Genesis 48:16, Genesis 48:20); Caleb (Numbers 14:24. Joshua 14:14).
Verse 23
in the tillage of, &c.: i.e. with Jehovah"s blessing.
Verse 24
spareth = withholdeth. Illustrations: Eli (1 Samuel 3:13; 1 Samuel 4:11); David (2 Samuel 13:39; 2 Samuel 14:25. 1 Kings 1:6).
chasteneth him betimes = carefully seeketh correction (or discipline) for him: or, seeketh early, &c.