Bible Commentaries
Proverbs 13

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 (Numbers 16:0 ); men of Ephraim (Judges 12:1-6 ); Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:0 ); 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 . 2Ch 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; 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.