He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked [man getteth] himself a blot.
Ver. 7. He that reproveth a scorner.] This, with the three next verses, may seem to come in by way of parenthesis; and they do not obscurely intimate what manner of hearers ministers mostly meet with - viz., such as our Saviour did, - "But the Pharisees that were covetous, derided," Luk 16:14 or blew their noses at him, εξεμυκτηριζον, as one renders it, - and such as long before him the prophet Isaiah did, Isa 28:10 "Precept upon precept, line upon line." One observeth that that was a scoff put upon the prophet; and is as if they should say, Here is nothing but line upon line, precept upon precept. The very sound of the words in the original - Zau le zau, kau lakau - carries a taunt, as scornful people by the tone of their voice, and rhyming words, scorn at such as they despise.