Bible Commentaries
Proverbs 22

Verses 1-16

Proverbs 22:6 . in the way he should go puts more into the Heb. than it contains. It is lit. “ train up a child in proportion to his way”— i.e. train him suitably. The moral implication is absent. The stress is on the effect of training.

Proverbs 22:11 . RV hides disorder of MT. Read, probably, “ The king loves the pure in heart, grace of lips is his good pleasure.”

Proverbs 22:12 a is difficult. RV will not pass. The lit. Heb. is “ the eyes of Yahweh guard knowledge.” The abstract “ knowledge” in Heb. cannot mean its possessors; the eyes of Yahweh are nowhere said to guard anybody, and no Hebrew would say that the eyes of Yahweh guard knowledge in the sense of possessing it, nor does it give any connexion with Proverbs 22:12 b. Possibly we should read “ the eyes of Yahweh are upon those who keep knowledge.”

Proverbs 22:14 . The parallel in Proverbs 23:27 suggests that “ adulteress” is the original reading for “ strange woman.”

Section III. The Sayings of the Wise.— This section falls into two divisions: ( a) Proverbs 22:17 to Proverbs 24:22, ( b) Proverbs 24:23-34. The first division abandons the couplet of the previous collection, and is characterized by the quatrain form. The first half of the quatrain generally consists of a prohibition, the second of a reason for it, based upon practical experience.

Verses 17-21

First Division, Proverbs 22:17 to Proverbs 24:22 .

Proverbs 22:17-21 . This collection of sayings of the wise ( Proverbs 22:17) is prefaced by a short introduction exhorting the pupil, as is Proverbs 22:1-9, to study them. The author is apparently addressing a pupil or envoy, and states that he has written down these sayings that his pupil may trust in the Lord and may take back words of truth to them that sent him.

Proverbs 22:20 . excellent things: very doubtful rendering, resting on the Heb. mg. The Heb. text has a word which usually forms part of the compound adverb “ formerly.” On the whole, though Toy rejects it, “ formerly” is the best that can be done with a word that is probably irretrievably corrupt.

Proverbs 22:24 . cf. Sir_8:15 f.

Proverbs 22:26 . strike hands: i.e. those who pledge themselves, giving their hand in token of their engagement ( cf. Isaiah 2:6) .

Proverbs 22:27 . cf. Proverbs 20:16.

Proverbs 22:28 . The second half of the quatrain has probably fallen out by scribal error ( cf. Proverbs 23:10 and Deuteronomy 19:14).

Proverbs 22:29 . diligent: read mg. ( cf. Ezra 7:6).— mean: read mg.