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Texts -- Proverbs 25:1-20 (NET)

Context
Proverbs of Solomon Collected by Hezekiah
25:1 These also are proverbs of Solomon , which the men of King Hezekiah of Judah copied : 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter , and it is the glory of a king to search out a matter . 25:3 As the heaven is high and the earth is deep so the hearts of kings are unsearchable . 25:4 Remove the dross from the silver , and material for the silversmith will emerge ; 25:5 remove the wicked from before the king , and his throne will be established in righteousness . 25:6 Do not honor yourself before the king , and do not stand in the place of great men; 25:7 for it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here ,” than to put you lower before a prince , whom your eyes have seen . 25:8 Do not go out hastily to litigation , or what will you do afterward when your neighbor puts you to shame ? 25:9 When you argue a case with your neighbor , do not reveal the secret of another person, 25:10 lest the one who hears it put you to shame and your infamy will never go away . 25:11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver , so is a word skillfully spoken . 25:12 Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold , so is a wise reprover to the ear of the one who listens . 25:13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest , so is a faithful messenger to those who send him, for he refreshes the heart of his masters . 25:14 Like cloudy skies and wind that produce no rain , so is the one who boasts of a gift not given . 25:15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded , and a soft tongue can break a bone . 25:16 When you find honey , eat only what is sufficient for you, lest you become stuffed with it and vomit it up . 25:17 Don’t set foot too frequently in your neighbor’s house , lest he become weary of you and hate you. 25:18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow , so is the one who testifies against his neighbor as a false witness . 25:19 Like a bad tooth or a foot out of joint , so is confidence in an unfaithful person at the time of trouble . 25:20 Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day , or like vinegar poured on soda , so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart .

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Bible Dictionary

  • PROVERBS, THE BOOK OF

    [isbe] PROVERBS, THE BOOK OF - prov'-erbz: I. THE BOOK'S ACCOUNT OF ITSELF 1. Title and Headings 2. Authorship or Literary Species? II. THE SUCCESSIVE COMPILATIONS 1. The Introductory Section 2. The Classic Nucleus 3. A Body of Sol...

  • HEZEKIAH (2)

    [isbe] HEZEKIAH (2) - (chizqiyah, "Yahweh has strengthened"; also written chizqiyahu, "Yah has strengthened him"; Hezekias): One of the greatest of the kings of Judah; reigned (according to the most self-consistent chronology) from...

  • King

    [nave] KING Called King of kings, Ezra 7:12; Ezek. 26:7; Dan. 2:37. Divinely authorized, Deut. 17:15; 1 Sam. 9:16, 17; 16:12; 1 Chr. 22:10; 2 Chr. 2:11, 12; Prov. 8:15; Dan. 2:21, 37; 4:17; 5:20; Hos. 8:4; 13:11. How chosen: By d...

  • Nitre

    [ebd] (Prov. 25:20; R.V. marg., "soda"), properly "natron," a substance so called because, rising from the bottom of the Lake Natron in Egypt, it becomes dry and hard in the sun, and is the soda which effervesces when vinegar is p...
    [isbe] NITRE - ni'-ter (nether; nitron): Nitre as used in the King James Version does not correspond to the present use of that term. Nitre or niter is now applied to sodium or potassium nitrate. The writer has in his collection a ...
    [smith] Mention of this substance is made in (Proverbs 25:20) --"and as vinegar upon nitre"--and in (Jeremiah 2:26) The article denoted is not that which we now understand by the term nitre i.e. nitrate of Potassa--"saltpetre" --but ...
    [nave] NITRE, a chemical, Prov. 25:20; Jer. 2:22.

  • Picture

    [isbe] PICTURE - pik'-tur: This word (in the plural) is found 3 times in the King James Version, namely, Nu 33:52; Isa 2:16; Prov 25:11. In Numbers and Proverbs "pictures" represents the Hebrew word maskith, "showpiece" "figure." T...
    [smith] In two of the three passages in which "picture" is used in the Authorized Version it denotes idolatrous representations, either independent images or more usually stones "portrayed," i.e. sculptured in low relief, or engraved...
    [nave] PICTURE, Lev. 26:1; Num. 33:52; Prov. 25:11; Isa. 2:16. See: Idolatry.

  • Dross

    [ebd] the impurities of silver separated from the one in the process of melting (Prov. 25:4; 26:23; Ps. 119:119). It is also used to denote the base metal itself, probably before it is smelted, in Isa. 1:22, 25.
    [isbe] DROSS - dros (sigh): The refuse of smelting of precious metal (Prov 25:4; 26:23); used figuratively of what is base or worthless (Isa 1:22,25; Ezek 22:18,19; Ps 119:119).
    [nave] DROSS. Figurative Psa. 119:119; Prov. 25:4; 26:23; Isa. 1:22; Ezek. 22:18, 19.

  • Citizenship

    [nave] CITIZENSHIP. Duties of Ex. 22:28 Acts 23:5. Num. 27:20; Ezra 6:10; Ezra 7:26; Ezra 10:8; Prov. 16:14, 15; Prov. 24:21; Prov. 25:6, 7, 15; Eccl. 8:2-4; Eccl. 10:4, 20; Jer. 29:7; Matt. 17:24-27; Matt. 22:17-21 Mark 12:14-17...

  • Lawsuits

    [nave] LAWSUITS, to be avoided, Prov. 25:8-10; Matt. 5:25, 26; 1 Cor. 6:1-8. See: Arbitration; Compromise; Courts; Justice; Litigation.

  • Adjudication at Law

    [nave] ADJUDICATION AT LAW. To Be Avoided Prov. 17:14; Prov. 20:3; Prov. 25:8-10; Matt. 5:25; Matt. 5:40 See: Litigation; Arbitration; Compromise; Courts; Justice.

  • Rulers

    [nave] RULERS Appointed and removed by God. See: Government, God in. Chastised, Dan. 4. See: Nation. Monarchical, See: Kings. Patriarchal, Gen. 27:29, 37. Instances of Nimrod, Gen. 10:8-10. Abraham, Gen. 14:13-24; 17:6; 21:2...

  • Compromise

    [nave] COMPROMISE. Before Litigation, Enjoined Prov. 25:8-10; Luke 12:58, 59 Matt. 5:25, 26. See: Arbitration; Justice; Court.

  • Guest

    [nave] GUEST Salutations to, Gen. 18:2. Abraham's hospitality to, See: Hospitality. Rules for the conduct of, Prov. 23:1-3, 6-8; 25:6, 7, 17; Luke 10:5-7; 14:7-11; 1 Cor. 10:27.

  • WISDOM

    [isbe] WISDOM - wiz'-dum: 1. Linguistic 2. History 3. Religious Basis 4. Ideals 5. Teaching of Christ 6. Remainder of the New Testament (1) James (2) Paul 7. Hypostasis LITERATURE 1. Linguistic: In the Revised Version (British and ...

  • Gold

    [ebd] (1.) Heb. zahab, so called from its yellow colour (Ex. 25:11; 1 Chr. 28:18; 2 Chr. 3:5). (2.) Heb. segor, from its compactness, or as being enclosed or treasured up; thus precious or "fine gold" (1 Kings 6:20; 7:49). (3.) He...
    [isbe] GOLD - gold (zahabh; chrusos): 1. Terms: No metal has been more frequently mentioned in Old Testament writings than gold, and none has had more terms applied to it. Among these terms the one most used is zahabh. The Arabic e...
    [nave] GOLD Exported from Havilah, Gen. 2:11, 12. From Ophir, 1 Kin. 9:28; 10:11; 1 Chr. 29:4; 2 Chr. 8:18; Job 22:24; Tarshish, 1 Kin. 22:48; Parvaim, 2 Chr. 3:6; Sheba, 1 Kin. 10:10; 2 Chr. 9:9; Psa. 72:15; Uphaz, Jer. 10:9. Re...

  • Maul

    [ebd] an old name for a mallet, the rendering of the Hebrew mephits (Prov. 25:18), properly a war-club.
    [isbe] MAUL - mol (mephits, literally, "a breaker," "a club," "mace," "mattock"): A smashing weapon like the oriental war-club or the clubs always carried by the shepherds of Lebanon (Prov 25:18; compare Jer 51:20 margin).
    [nave] MAUL, Prov. 25:18.

  • Prudence

    [nave] PRUDENCE. Job 34:3, 4; Psa. 39:1; Psa. 112:5; Prov. 6:1, 2; Prov. 8:12; Prov. 11:13, 15, 29; Prov. 12:8, 23; Prov. 13:16; Prov. 14:8, 15, 16, 18; Prov. 15:5, 22; Prov. 16:20, 21; Prov. 17:2, 18; Prov. 18:15, 16; Prov. 19:2;...

  • Humility

    [nave] HUMILITY. Deut. 9:7 vs. 4-29.; Deut. 15:15; Job 5:11; Job 22:29; Job 25:5, 6; Psa. 9:12; Psa. 10:17; Psa. 22:6, 26; Psa. 25:9; Psa. 37:11; Psa. 69:32; Psa. 86:1; Psa. 131:1, 2; Psa. 138:6; Psa. 147:6; Psa. 149:4; Prov. 3:34...

  • Meekness

    [isbe] MEEKNESS - mek'-nes (`anawah; praotes, prautes): "Meekness" in the Old Testament (`anawah, `anwah) is from `anaw, "suffering," "oppressed," "afflicted," denoting the spirit produced under such experiences. The word is someti...
    [nave] MEEKNESS. Psa. 22:26; Psa. 25:9; Psa. 37:11; Psa. 76:8, 9; Psa. 147:6; Psa. 149:4; Prov. 14:29; Prov. 15:1, 18; Prov. 16:32; Prov. 17:1; Prov. 19:11; Prov. 20:3; Prov. 25:15; Prov. 29:8; Eccl. 7:8; Eccl. 10:4; Isa. 11:4; Is...

  • Vinegar

    [isbe] VINEGAR - vin'-e-ger (chomets; oxos): Vinegar, whose use as a condiment (Ruth 2:14) needs no comment, is formed when a saccharine fluid passes through a fermentation that produces acetic acid. In the ancient world vinegar wa...
    [nave] VINEGAR, a sour wine. Forbidden to Nazirites, Num. 6:3. Used with food, Ruth 2:14; Psa. 69:21; Prov. 10:26; 25:20. Offered to Christ on the cross, Matt. 27:34, 48; John 19:29, with Mark 15:23.

  • Friendship

    [nave] FRIENDSHIP. Deut. 13:6-9; Job 6:14, 15; Job 16:2, 20; Job 19:13-22; Psa. 35:13, 14; Psa. 41:9; Psa. 55:12-14; Psa. 88:8, 18; Prov. 11:13; Prov. 17:9, 17; Prov. 18:24; Prov. 22:24-27; Prov. 25:17, 19; Prov. 27:6, 9, 10, 14, ...
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Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • The high priest also wore this garment. It was his basic garment over which he put the ephod. It covered him completely so his natural nakedness did not appear (cf. Gen. 3:21).God may have intended the pomegranates and bells ...
  • "Saul's rise to kingship over Israel took place in three distinct stages: He was (1) anointed by Samuel (9:1-10:16), (2) chosen by lot (10:17-27), and (3) confirmed by public acclamation (11:1-15).112Saul's anointing had been...
  • "In the short pericope 13:7b-15a obedience was the stone on which Saul stumbled; here it is the rock that crushes him."147Chapter 15 records one of the battles Saul had with the Amalekites, Israel's enemy to the south (cf. 14...
  • As the three friends, Elihu believed God was acting perfectly justly in allowing Job to suffer and that Job was insolent to accuse God of being unjust (v. 10). He then reviewed God's character to illustrate His justice (vv. 1...
  • The texts of the individual psalms do not usually indicate who wrote them.1However some of the titles of the individual psalms do contain information about the writers.2This is the only really reliable information we have as ...
  • The title of this book in the Hebrew Bible is "The Proverbs of Solomon, the Son of David, King in Israel"(cf. 1:1). The Greek Septuagint called this book "Proverbs of Solomon."The Latin Vulgate named it "The Book of Proverbs....
  • Proverbs claims to be a compendium of the wise sayings of several different individuals.4Solomon originated some of them (10:1-22:16 and chs. 25-29 definitely, and probably chs. 1-9 as well).5Unnamed wise men (sages) wrote ot...
  • The Book of Proverbs contains no history. It is purely didactic. It is a book of explicit instruction. Like the other Old Testament wisdom books, Job and Ecclesiastes, it does not contain references to Israel's laws, rituals,...
  • I. Discourses on wisdom chs. 1-9A. Introduction to the book 1:1-71. The title of the book 1:12. The purpose of the book 1:2-63. The thesis of the book 1:7B. Instruction for young people 1:8-7:271. Warning against consorting w...
  • Verse one introduces both the book as a whole and chapters 1-9 in particular. The Book of Proverbs is a collection of at least five separate groups of proverbs. There are those that Solomon spoke and or wrote (possibly chs. 1...
  • A third major section of the Book of Proverbs begins with 22:17. This is clear from several indicators. The proverbs lengthen out again from the typical one verse couplet that characterizes 10:1-26:16 (cf. chs. 1-9). The phra...
  • We return now to the proverbs of Solomon (cf. 1:1-22:16). Chapters 25-26 contain proverbs that are mainly comparisons. The key words in these chapters are "like . . . so."Chapter 27 is a mixture of comparative and antithetica...
  • 25:1 A group of scholars who served during King Hezekiah's reign (715-686 B.C.) added more of Solomon's 3,000 proverbs (1 Kings 4:32) to the former collection (1:1-22:16). These men lived about 250 years after Solomon. Solomo...
  • The analogies in chapter 25 dealt with both wise and foolish conduct, but those in chapter 26 deal mainly with fools and folly.26:2 If someone curses another person who does not deserve it, the curse will not be effective (cf...
  • Chapters 30 and 31 form a distinct section in Proverbs because neither Solomon (1:1-22:16; chs. 25-29) nor the unnamed sages (22:17-24:34) wrote them. Two other wise men whose names the text records did. Some expositors specu...
  • Some commentators have regarded only the first nine verses of this chapter as Lemuel's writing. One reason for this is that the Septuagint translators separated verses 1-9 from verse 10-31 by five chapters (chs. 25-29). Howev...
  • The quality of wisdom that Proverbs presents is much more than the ability to apply knowledge to various situations in life effectively. It also involves submission to the way of God that is the order of life God has revealed...
  • Jesus next gave the assembled guests a lesson on the importance of humility. By identifying this teaching as a parable (v. 7) Luke informed his readers that the lesson has importance in people's relationship to God, not just ...
  • v. 10 The things the false teachers did not understand but reviled probably refer to aspects of God's revealed will that they chose to reject (cf. 1 Cor. 2:7-16)."Jude, like his brother James, denounces the sins of the tongue...
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