PROVERBS 28:20 This proverb, like many, is structured in parallel: The man of faithfulnesses is great with blessings But the one haste to be rich shall not be pure. The contrasts are revealing. Faithfulness is contrasted not with obvious terms like “disobedient” or . . . . Continue Reading »
PROVERBS 28:17 The Proverb can be translated this, woodenly, in this way: “A man oppresses with the blood of the soul unto the pit he flees. Let no man hold him back.” Again, the proverb uses the word adam , and again we are put in mind of the sin of the first man. Adam’s sin . . . . Continue Reading »
PROVERBS 28:12 The proverb is structured in parallel: In the triumph of the righteous Much glory But in the rising of the wicked Hide men. “Triumph” doesn’t quite capture the force of the Hebrew verb ‘alatz . It is used only a handful of times in the Hebrew Bible. . . . . Continue Reading »
PROVERBS 28:9 Again Solomon speaks of our attitude toward torah . The central command of the law was a command to “hear” (Deuteronomy 6). It was a command addressed to the ear. We are to have open ears (Psalm 40; Isaiah 50:5) so that we can obey His commandments. . . . . Continue Reading »
PROVERBS 28:7 We again have a proverb about torah and knowledge. The one who keeps watch over torah is a son who knows. The word translated as “wise” in the NASB is a form of the verb byn , used in verse 5. Here, the verb puns with the word for son, ben . The son . . . . Continue Reading »
PROVERBS 28:4 Law ( torah ) is mentioned about a dozen times in Proverbs. Most of the uses refer to the torah of a mother (1:8) or a father (3:1), and in these uses the emphasis is on the fact that torah is “instruction” rather than strictly “law” in our sense of the . . . . Continue Reading »
PROVERBS 27:12 As we have seen repeatedly in our study of Proverbs, wisdom is a kind of foresight, an ability to foretell the future, an ability to see down the road. The prudent or “crafty” ( arum ) man can see the evil ahead and does what he needs to do to avoid it. The prudent man is . . . . Continue Reading »
PROVERBS 27:1 Like James (4:13-17), Solomon teaches us that we don’t have control over the future. We are creatures, living in sequence from moment to moment. The past leaves its imprint in our memories and in the artifacts that surround us – books and buildings, roads and institutions. . . . . Continue Reading »
Truth-telling has come to be seen as mean-spirited, bigoted, nasty. Truth-telling is hateful, we have come to believe. Soothing lies are often preferred. Solomon sees things different. “A lying tongue hates those it crushes” (Proverbs 26:27). That carries two implications, each of which . . . . Continue Reading »
PROVERBS 26:22 Language is a constant theme of the Proverbs. Wisdom is skill, and one of the central skills a wise person must learn is skill in speech. This skill has not only to do with speaking the truth, but even more with questions of tone and timing. Wisdom is like having a sense of rhythm, . . . . Continue Reading »
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