Proverbs 18:1,2 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Through desire, a man having separated himself, &c. According to this translation, the sense of this controverted proverb is, Through desire of wisdom, a man, having separated himself from the company, and noise, and business of the world, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom Uses all diligence that he may search and find out all solid knowledge and true wisdom. But this verse is otherwise rendered in the margin of our Bible, and in divers other versions, and is thus interpreted; He that separateth himself, either, 1st, From his friend, or, rather, 2d, From other men; who affects singularity, is wedded to his own opinion, and through self-conceit, despiseth the opinions and conversation of others, seeketh according to his desire, that is, seeketh to gratify his own inclinations and affections, and chooseth those opinions which most agree with them, and intermeddleth, Hebrew, יתגלע, (a word used in a bad sense, Proverbs 17:14, and found nowhere else except in this place,) in every business, or in every thing that is, as the words בכל תושׁיהי may be properly rendered; namely, thrusting himself into the actions and affairs of other men. The latter interpretation is preferred by Bishop Patrick, whose paraphrase is, “He that affects singularity, inquires into all manner of things, according as his vain-glorious humour leads him; which makes him also bend himself, with all the wit he hath, to overthrow the solid reasonings of wiser men.” In consistency with this view of the verse, the bishop thus interprets the next: “For a fool will never take pleasure in true understanding, but the design of his studies is to make a vain ostentation of wisdom unto others; this is his chiefest pleasure, to hear himself discourse: that is, discover the folly that is in his heart.”