Bible Commentaries
Proverbs 25

Verse 1

of Solomon = by Solomon, as author: i.e. written by him. Characterizing this section of the book.

the men of Hezekiah. Evidently a special guild of scribes employed in the work of editing and putting together the O.T. books. At the end of each book are three Majuscular letters, Cheth (= H), Zayin ( = Z) , and Koph (= K), which are the initials of Hezekiah, and his sign-manual, confirming the work done. This tri-grammaton is found in all MSS. and printed editions up to the end of 2 Kings. After the death of Hezekiah it obtains varied forms and additions; subsequent writers and editors having lost the origin and meaning of these three letters, and taken it as a word which means "Be strong", put there for their encouragement. See App-67 .

Verse 2

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 . Compare Job 37:14-24 ; Job 37:38-41 .

honour = glory, as in preceding line.

Verse 4

finer = refiner.

Verse 5

Take away, &c. Illustrations: David ( 1Ki 2:5 , 1 Kings 2:6 . Compare Pro 25:46 ); Asa (1 Kings 15:13 ).

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

Verse 7

better. See note on Proverbs 8:11 .

Verse 8

Go not forth, &c. Illustrations: Gaal (Judges 9:26-40 ); the ten tribes (Joshua 22:12-34 ); Abner(2 Samuel 2:14 , 2 Samuel 2:17 ); Asahel (2 Samuel 2:18-23 ); Amaziah (2 Kings 14:8-14 ); Josiah (2 Chronicles 35:20-24 ).

Verse 9

with thy neighbour. Illustrations: Abraham (Genesis 13:8 ; Genesis 21:25-32 );

Verse 10

shame. A Homonym. Hebrew. chesed, meaning (1) mercy, or lovingkindness, but also (2) a disgraceful thing. Leviticus 20:14 , Leviticus 20:17 . Job 37:13 . See notes there.

Verse 11

fitly = timely. As we say "on the spur of the moment".

apples of gold. The difficulty is not in this expression, for jewellery is evidently intended from the first clause of the next verse.

pictures = carved or sculptured work, put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), for imaginative work made from it: i.e. baskets, or dishes. Golden fruit (the Rev. James Niel suggests oranges) in silver salvers would be the height of rarity, which it is the intention of the words to convey. Hebrew. maskith occurs six times, Proverbs 18:11 ("conceit"); Leviticus 26:1 .Numbers 33:52 .Psalms 73:7 ("could wish"); Ezekiel 8:12 ("imagery").

Verse 12

obedient = attentive.

Verse 13

in the time of harvest: i.e. most unusual. Compare Proverbs 26:1 . The emphasis is on "cold" as being refreshing.

Verse 14

false = pretended. Illustrations: Zedekiah(1 Kings 22:11 ); Hananiah (Jeremiah 28:1-4 ); Shemaiah (Jeremiah 29:24-31 ); false apostles (2 Corinthians 11:13-15 ).

wind. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

Verse 15

prince: or judge, persuaded. Compare Genesis 26:13-31 .

tongue. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for what is spoken by it.

breaketh the bone: i.e. overcometh obstinacy.

Verse 17

weary = full of.

Verse 18

maul = a mallet, or large wooden hammer, or club. From the Latin malleus.

Verse 19

unfaithful = treacherous. Hebrew. bagad. See note on "transgressors" (Proverbs 11:3 ).

foot out of joint = a tottering foot. Illustrations: Micah (Judges 18:20 ); Ben-hadad (2 Kings 8:8-15 . 2 Chronicles 28:20 , 2 Chronicles 28:21 ); Israelites (Isaiah 30:1-5 ); Zedekiah (Jeremiah 37:5-7 ); compare Ezekiel 17:15 ; Ezekiel 29:7 .

Verse 20

takethaway, &c. = decketh himself out in. Hebrew. 'adah. See Job 40:10 . Ezekiel 16:11 , Ezekiel 16:13 ; Ezekiel 23:40 . Hosea 2:13 , i.e. he that thinks more of his appearance than his comfort and health.

nitre = natron. Now called soda. With any acid it causes strong effervescence.

So is he. The point is in the incongruity of the three things named.

Verse 21

If thine enemy be hungry, &c. Quoted in Romans 12:20 ; compare 1 Samuel 24:6 ; 1 Samuel 26:9 . Illustrations: Azariah, Berachiah, &c. (2 Chronicles 28:12-15 ); Elisha (2 Kings 6:19-23 ). By the Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), these examples are put for all similar kinds.

Verse 22

heap, &c. = receive from thine enemy [and place] upon his head. Figure of speech Ellipsis (Relative), App-6 . As hatha = receive, the Ellipsis must be thus supplied: i.e. If thou doest good to one whose burning words (Proverbs 16:27 , Proverbs 26:23 ) thou hast received, they will burn him in another sense. Illustration: David (1 Samuel 24:16-22 ).

Verse 23

driveth away = bringeth forth. Hebrew. hul. an angry countenance. Supply the Ellipsis thus: by adding "[produceth]".

Verse 24

brawling = wrangling.

Verse 25

good news, &c. Illustrations: Jacob (Genesis 45:25-28 ); Paul (Colossians 1:3 , Colossians 1:4 .Ephesians 1:15 , Ephesians 1:16 . Philippians 1:1 , Philippians 1:3-6 ).

Verse 26

troubled = trampled, or fouled.

Verse 28

spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .