Proverbs 21:4 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

An high look (haughtiness of eyes; Proverbs 6:17 ; Psalms 6:4 ; Isaiah 2:11 ), and a proud heart (enlargement or swelling of heart), (and) the plowing х nir (H5215)] of the wicked, (is) sin. "The plowing of the wicked:" their thoughts and occupations. The fallow-land of pride which the wicked plow yields sin as its fruit (Hosea 10:12; Proverbs 10:16, end; Jeremiah 4:3). The Chaldaic, Septuagint, Vulgate, Arabic, and Syriac, translate, 'the light (or lamp) of the wicked' (cf. Proverbs 13:9; Proverbs 24:20; Job 21:17): that in which they glory, their worldly prosperity, beauty. strength, children-all which are the basis of their pride. The English version is supported by the use of the same Hebrew (nir) in a similar sense in Proverbs 13:23. In the English version the truth is implied, that none should make the difficulty of piety and the ease of sinning a plea for sin: for in fact sinning is as laborious drudgery as plowing is to the farmer (cf. Jeremiah 9:15, end; Habakkuk 2:13).

Proverbs 21:4

4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.