Proverbs 19:6 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Many will entreat the favour of the prince Or, of the liberal, or bountiful man, as נדיב may be properly rendered. Kings and princes were anciently called benefactors, Luke 22:25. And every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts Not sincerely, however, as daily experience shows, but only in show, or profession, or in the outward expressions of friendship and kindness. All the brethren of the poor His nearest and dearest relations, who are often called brethren in the Scriptures; do hate him Despise and shun him, as men do a thing that they hate, and as the following words explain it; How much more do his friends go far from him His other friends, who are no way related to him, but in his prosperity professed love and friendship to him. He pursueth them with words Earnestly imploring their pity and help. Or, He urgeth their words, as מרד Š אמרים may be rendered; that is, he allegeth their former promises and professions of friendship: or, He seeketh words, (as the preacher sought to find out acceptable words, Ecclesiastes 12:10,) wherewith he might prevail and move them to pity; yet they are wanting to him Hebrew, לא המה, not they, or, they not. The meaning is, they are not what they pretended to be, namely, friends to him: or, their words are vain, and without effect; there is no reality in them. Houbigant renders the verse, “All his own brethren hate a poor man; how much more his neighbours! They have departed far from him; he followeth after them, but they are not found.”