Proverbs 3 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

Bible Comments

  • Proverbs 3:2 open_in_new

    III.

    (d) Fourth Discourse: — Exhortation to Various Virtues (Pro iii 1-18).

    (2) Long life. — That is, a life worth living, fit to be called “life”; whereas” length of days” only implies extension of life, the reward promised for obedience to parents.

  • Proverbs 3:3 open_in_new

    Mercy. — Or rather, love, shown by God to man (Exodus 34:7), by man to God (Jeremiah 2:2), and to his fellow man (Genesis 21:23); “truth,” or rather, faithfulness, especially in keeping promises, is similarly used both of God (Psalms 30:10) and man (Isaiah 59:14). The two are often joined, as in this place. They are the two special attributes by which God is known in His dealings with men (Exodus 34:6-7), and as such must be imitated by man (Matthew 5:48).

    Bind them about thy neck... — These directions resemble the figurative orders with regard to the keeping of the Law in Exodus 13:9 and Deuteronomy 6:8, the literal interpretation of which led to the use of prayer-fillets and phylacteries among the Jews. Certain texts of Scripture were copied out, enclosed in a leather case, and tied at the time of prayer on the left arm and forehead.

    Table. — Rather, tablet (Luke 1:63; comp. Jeremiah 31:33).

  • Proverbs 3:8 open_in_new

    Navel. — As being the centre, and so the most important part of the body. (Comp. the epithet applied to Delphi, “navel of the earth.”)

    Marrow. — Literally, watering: i.e., refreshing. (Comp. Job 21:24.) For the opposite condition, “dryness of the bones, comp. Proverbs 17:22.

  • Proverbs 3:11 open_in_new

    Despise not the chastening of the Lord... — Comp. Job 5:17. A wonderful advance beyond the teaching of the Pentateuch: e.g., Deuteronomy 28, in which the Jews had to be treated as children, and punishment or reward follow as the immediate consequence of bad or good behaviour. Under such a discipline misfortune could only be regarded as a punishment, a sign of God’s displeasure; but now a further manifestation of His dealings with man is made. When He sends trouble upon His children, He is no longer to be regarded as an offended father punishing their faults, but as one who in love is correcting them. Even the New Testament quotes these words with approval, and without adding anything to their teaching (Hebrews 12:5-13). There it is shown how all God’s children must, without exception, submit to this discipline.

  • Proverbs 3:20 open_in_new

    Are broken up. — Or, burst forth: the word used in Genesis 7:11 of the breaking forth of the waters from the interior of the earth at the flood. (Comp. Job 38:8.)

    Drop down the dew. — Of great importance in countries where for months together there is no rain

  • Proverbs 3:27 open_in_new

    (f) Sixth Discourse: — Exhortation to Charity, Peace, Contentment (Proverbs 3:27-35).

    (27) Them to whom it is due — i.e., the poor and needy. An exhortation to us to make to ourselves “friends of the mammon of unrighteousness” (uncertain riches, Luke 16:9), remembering that we are not absolute owners, but “stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10), so that when we “fail,” i.e., die, “they,” the friends we have made by our liberality, may welcome us to heaven.

  • Proverbs 3:32 open_in_new

    His secret is with the righteous — i.e., He holds confidential intercourse with them. (Comp. Psalms 25:14, and the reward of love and obedience to Christ, that both Father and Son will “come” unto the believer, and “make their abode with him,” through the indwelling Spirit, John 14:23.)

  • Proverbs 3:33 open_in_new

    He blesseth the habitation of the just. — The word rendered “habitation” often signifies “pasture,” “sheepfold,” and this is a relic of the time when the Israelites led a nomad life and had no fixed habitations; so the cry, “To your tents, O Israel!” (1 Kings 12:16) was still in use long after the settlement in Canaan. By some there is thought to be a distinction intended between the well-built “house” of the wicked and the slightly constructed cottage of the humble just man, no better than a shepherd’s hut.