Bible Commentaries
Proverbs 18

Verse 1

Through desire, &c. = Seeking his own pleasure, the recluse (or separatist) breaketh forth (or quarreleth) with everything that is stable.

intermeddleth = breaketh forth. Hebrew. gala'. See note on "meddle", Proverbs 17:14 .

all wisdom = everything that is stable. See note on Proverbs 2:7 .

Verse 2

fool. Hebrew. keslt. See note on Proverbs 1:7 . Same word as in verses: Proverbs 18:6 , Proverbs 18:7 ; not the same as in Proverbs 18:13 .

discover = vent.

Verse 3

the wicked = a lawless one. Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 .

ignominy = disgrace, or shame (i.e. outward).

reproach = reproachfulness.

Verse 4

words. Hebrew. dabar. App-73 .

wisdom. Hebrew. chakmah. See note on Proverbs 1:2 .

flowing brook = a gushing torrent. Hebrew. nahal.

Verse 5

not good. Figure of speech Tapeinosis ( App-6 ), meaning it is very bad.

to accept the person = to show partiality.

To. Repeat the Ellipsis: "[It is not good] to".

overthrow = turn aside: i.e. pervert. the righteous = a righteous one.

Verse 6

lips. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for what is spoken by them.

mouth. See above note. Illustrations: Judges 8:4-17 ; 2Ki 2:23 , 2 Kings 2:24 ; Luke 19:22 .

Verse 7

soul = own self. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 8

talebearer = whisperer, or tattler.

are as wounds = are as dainty morsels: i.e. are greedily swallowed.

Verse 9

a great waster = a master of destruction: i.e. an absolute destroyer.

Verse 10

name = person. See note on Psalms 20:1 .

safe = set on high. Illustrations: Job (Job 19:25 , Job 19:26 ); Habakkuk (Habakkuk 3:17 , Habakkuk 3:19 ); Asa (2 Chronicles 14:11 ); Hezekiah (2 Kings 19:14-20 , 2 Kings 19:32-35 .Isaiah 38:1-8; Isaiah 38:1-8 ); Apostles (Acts 4:24-33 ).

Verse 11

as = [it is]as.

conceit = imagination. See note on Proverbs 25:11 .

Verse 12

is haughty. Illustration: Jezebel (2 Kings 9:30-33 ).

humility. Compare Proverbs 15:33 . Illustration: contrast Goliath ( 1Sa 17:8-10 , 1 Samuel 17:43 , 1 Samuel 17:44 ) with 1 Samuel 17:45 , 1 Samuel 17:47 .

Verse 13

before he heareth it. Illustrations: David (2 Samuel 16:4 ; 2 Samuel 19:24-30 ); Ahasuerus (Esther 3:10 . Compare Proverbs 8:5 , &c.); Darius (Daniel 6:9 . Compare Proverbs 6:14 , Proverbs 6:18 ); magistrates (Acts 16:37-39 ).

Verse 14

spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

sustain, &c. Illustrations: Job (Job 1:20 , Job 1:21 ; Job 2:8 , Job 2:9 , Job 2:10 ); Paul (2 Corinthians 12:9 . Acts 22:24 .Romans 5:3-5; Romans 5:3-5 ); Paul and Silas (Acts 16:23-25 , Acts 16:37 ).

who can bear? Illustrations: Cain (Genesis 4:13 , Genesis 4:14 ); Eli's daughter-inlaw (1 Samuel 4:19-22 . Compare Proverbs 15:13 ); Saul (1 Samuel 28:20 ; 2 Samuel 1:9 ); Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23 ); Zimri (1 Kings 16:18 ); Pashur (Jeremiah 20:4 ); Judas (Matthew 27:5 ).

Verse 15

the prudent = a prudent one.

the wise = wise ones.

Verse 16

man's. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .

Verse 17

first in his own cause. Illustrations: Saul (1 Samuel 15:13 . Compare Pro 18:26 ); Ziba (2 Samuel 16:1-3 . Compare Proverbs 19:26 ).

Verse 19

offended = dealt falsely with.

Verse 21

power. Hebrew "hand", put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the power put forth by it.

the tongue. Illustrations: the ten spies (Numbers 14:36 , Numbers 14:37 ); Doeg (1 Samuel 22:9 , 1 Samuel 22:10 ); Sennacherib (2 Kings 18:28 , 2 Kings 18:35 ; 2 Kings 19:22-35 . 2 Chronicles 32:21 ); Ammonites (Ezekiel 25:3-7 ); Sapphira (Acts 5:5-10 ); Esther (Esther 7:0 and Esther 8:0 ); Paul (Acts 16:28-34 ); the Gospel (Romans 1:16 . 2 Corinthians 2:16 ).

Verse 22

a wife. Some codices, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read, "a good wife". Compare Proverbs 19:14 .

Verse 23

The poor = a needy one. Hebrew. rush . See note on Proverbs 6:11 .

Verse 24

A man. A special various reading called sevir reads yesh, instead of ish , which means "there is", or "there are "instead of "a man". It occurs three times: here, 2 Samuel 14:19 , and Micah 6:10 .

friends. Hebrew. re'im = feeders, from ra'ah to feed (Psalms 23:1 , shepherd).

must shew himself friendly = who break in pieces. Hebrew. Hithipolel of ra'a' ( App-44 .)

there is. Hebrew. yesh, as in preceding line.

a friend = a lover (who loves "without cause"). Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ) in these words, which may be thus represented in English: "There are friends who rend us, But there is a lover who is closer than a brother. "