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Text -- Proverbs 11:26-31 (NET)

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Context
11:26 People will curse the one who withholds grain, but they will praise the one who sells it. 11:27 The one who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but the one who searches for evil– it will come to him. 11:28 The one who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. 11:29 The one who troubles his family will inherit nothing, and the fool will be a servant to the wise person. 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is like a tree producing life, and the one who wins souls is wise. 11:31 If the righteous are recompensed on earth, how much more the wicked sinner!
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Dictionary Themes and Topics: WISDOM | TREE OF LIFE | Sin | Riches | Prudence | Poetry | PROVERBS, THE BOOK OF | PROVERBS, BOOK OF | Monopoly | Minister | Judgment | Heart | Greed | God | Fruit | False Confidence | FOOL; FOLLY | Diligence | Corn | Branch | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Defender , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable

Other
Critics Ask , Evidence

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Wesley: Pro 11:26 - -- holdeth corn - In a time of scarcity.

holdeth corn - In a time of scarcity.

Wesley: Pro 11:26 - -- Upon reasonable terms.

Upon reasonable terms.

Wesley: Pro 11:27 - -- To do good to all men.

To do good to all men.

Wesley: Pro 11:27 - -- With God and men.

With God and men.

Wesley: Pro 11:29 - -- He who brings trouble upon himself and children, either by prodigality, or by restless endeavours to heap up riches.

He who brings trouble upon himself and children, either by prodigality, or by restless endeavours to heap up riches.

Wesley: Pro 11:29 - -- Shall be as unable to keep what he gets as a man is to hold the wind in his hand.

Shall be as unable to keep what he gets as a man is to hold the wind in his hand.

Wesley: Pro 11:30 - -- His discourses and his whole conversation, is like the fruit of the tree of life.

His discourses and his whole conversation, is like the fruit of the tree of life.

Wesley: Pro 11:30 - -- That gains souls to God.

That gains souls to God.

Wesley: Pro 11:31 - -- Punished for his sins.

Punished for his sins.

JFB: Pro 11:24-31 - -- The scope of the whole is a comment on Pro 11:23. Thus liberality, by God's blessing, secures increase, while penuriousness, instead of expected gain,...

The scope of the whole is a comment on Pro 11:23. Thus liberality, by God's blessing, secures increase, while penuriousness, instead of expected gain, procures poverty.

JFB: Pro 11:26 - -- Another example of the truth of Pro 11:23; the miser loses reputation, though he saves corn.

Another example of the truth of Pro 11:23; the miser loses reputation, though he saves corn.

JFB: Pro 11:26 - -- That is, at a fair price.

That is, at a fair price.

JFB: Pro 11:27 - -- That is, of others.

That is, of others.

JFB: Pro 11:27 - -- Implying success.

Implying success.

JFB: Pro 11:28 - -- (Compare Pro 10:15; Psa 49:6; 1Ti 6:17).

(Compare Pro 10:15; Psa 49:6; 1Ti 6:17).

JFB: Pro 11:28 - -- (Psa 1:3; Jer 17:8).

JFB: Pro 11:29 - -- As Pro 15:27 explains, by greediness for gain (compare Pro 11:17).

As Pro 15:27 explains, by greediness for gain (compare Pro 11:17).

JFB: Pro 11:29 - -- Even successful, his gains are of no real value. So the fool, thus acting, either comes to poverty, or heaps up for others.

Even successful, his gains are of no real value. So the fool, thus acting, either comes to poverty, or heaps up for others.

JFB: Pro 11:30 - -- Blessings to others proceed from the works of the righteous (Pro 3:18).

Blessings to others proceed from the works of the righteous (Pro 3:18).

JFB: Pro 11:30 - -- (Compare Margin) to do them good as opposed to Pro 6:25; Eze 13:18 (compare Luk 5:10).

(Compare Margin) to do them good as opposed to Pro 6:25; Eze 13:18 (compare Luk 5:10).

JFB: Pro 11:31 - -- Thus calling attention to the illustrations (compare Pro 11:23), the sentiment of which is confirmed even in time, not excluding future rewards and pu...

Thus calling attention to the illustrations (compare Pro 11:23), the sentiment of which is confirmed even in time, not excluding future rewards and punishments.

Clarke: Pro 11:26 - -- He that withholdeth corn - Who refuses to sell because he hopes for a dearth, and then he can make his own price

He that withholdeth corn - Who refuses to sell because he hopes for a dearth, and then he can make his own price

Clarke: Pro 11:26 - -- The people shall curse him - Yes, and God shall curse him also; and if he do not return and repent, he will get God’ s curse, and the curse of ...

The people shall curse him - Yes, and God shall curse him also; and if he do not return and repent, he will get God’ s curse, and the curse of the poor, which will be a canker in his money during time, and in his soul throughout eternity.

Clarke: Pro 11:29 - -- Shalt inherit the wind - He who dissipates his property by riotous living, shall be as unsatisfied as he who attempts to feed upon air.

Shalt inherit the wind - He who dissipates his property by riotous living, shall be as unsatisfied as he who attempts to feed upon air.

Clarke: Pro 11:30 - -- The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life - עץ חיים ets chaiyim , "the tree of lives."It is like that tree which grew in the paradise of G...

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life - עץ חיים ets chaiyim , "the tree of lives."It is like that tree which grew in the paradise of God; increasing the bodily and mental vigor of those who ate of it

Clarke: Pro 11:30 - -- He that winneth souls is wise - Wisdom seeks to reclaim the wanderers; and he who is influenced by wisdom will do the same.

He that winneth souls is wise - Wisdom seeks to reclaim the wanderers; and he who is influenced by wisdom will do the same.

Clarke: Pro 11:31 - -- Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth, etc. - The Septuagint, Syrian, and Arabic read this verse as follows: "And if the righteous...

Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth, etc. - The Septuagint, Syrian, and Arabic read this verse as follows: "And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"And this St, Peter quotes literatim , 1Pe 4:18 (note), where see the note.

Defender: Pro 11:29 - -- This phrase, "inherit the wind," was appropriated as the title for a motion picture about the infamous Scopes evolution trial."

This phrase, "inherit the wind," was appropriated as the title for a motion picture about the infamous Scopes evolution trial."

Defender: Pro 11:30 - -- See note on Pro 3:18 for the figurative uses in Proverbs for the "tree of life."

See note on Pro 3:18 for the figurative uses in Proverbs for the "tree of life."

Defender: Pro 11:30 - -- This favorite verse of soul-winners relates the "taking of souls" to true wisdom and righteousness, both of which are associated with the "tree of lif...

This favorite verse of soul-winners relates the "taking of souls" to true wisdom and righteousness, both of which are associated with the "tree of life.""

TSK: Pro 11:26 - -- that withholdeth : Amo 8:4-6 blessing : Job 29:13

that withholdeth : Amo 8:4-6

blessing : Job 29:13

TSK: Pro 11:27 - -- diligently : Shochair , properly, ""rising early to seek""what is greatly desired. he that seeketh : Pro 17:11; Est 7:10; Psa 7:15, Psa 7:16, Psa 9:...

diligently : Shochair , properly, ""rising early to seek""what is greatly desired.

he that seeketh : Pro 17:11; Est 7:10; Psa 7:15, Psa 7:16, Psa 9:15, Psa 9:16, Psa 10:2, Psa 57:6

TSK: Pro 11:28 - -- that : Pro 10:15; Deu 8:12-14; Job 31:24, Job 31:25; Psa 52:7, Psa 62:10; Mar 10:24; Luk 12:20; 1Ti 6:17 but : Psa 1:3, Psa 52:8, Psa 92:12-14; Isa 60...

TSK: Pro 11:29 - -- that : Gen 34:30; Jos 7:24, Jos 7:25; 1Sa 25:3, 1Sa 25:17, 1Sa 25:38; Hab 2:9, Hab 2:10 inherit : Ecc 5:16; Hos 8:7

TSK: Pro 11:30 - -- fruit : Pro 3:18, Pro 15:4 and : Dan 12:3; Mat 4:19; Joh 4:36; 1Co 9:19-23; 1Th 2:19; Jam 5:20 winneth : Heb. taketh, Luk 5:9, Luk 5:10

fruit : Pro 3:18, Pro 15:4

and : Dan 12:3; Mat 4:19; Joh 4:36; 1Co 9:19-23; 1Th 2:19; Jam 5:20

winneth : Heb. taketh, Luk 5:9, Luk 5:10

TSK: Pro 11:31 - -- 2Sa 7:14, 2Sa 7:15, 2Sa 12:9-12; 1Ki 13:24; Jer 25:29; 1Co 11:30-32; 1Pe 4:17, 1Pe 4:18

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Pro 11:26 - -- In the early stages of commerce there seems no way of making money rapidly so sure as that of buying up grain in time of famine, waiting until the d...

In the early stages of commerce there seems no way of making money rapidly so sure as that of buying up grain in time of famine, waiting until the dearth presses heavily, and then selling at famine prices. Men hate this selfishness, and pour blessings upon him who sells at a moderate profit.

Barnes: Pro 11:27 - -- Procureth - Better, striveth after. He who desires good, absolutely, for its own sake, is also unconsciously striving after the favor which att...

Procureth - Better, striveth after. He who desires good, absolutely, for its own sake, is also unconsciously striving after the favor which attends goodness.

Barnes: Pro 11:28 - -- Branch - Better, leaf, as in Psa 1:3; Isa 34:4.

Branch - Better, leaf, as in Psa 1:3; Isa 34:4.

Barnes: Pro 11:29 - -- He that troubleth ... - The temper, nigardly and worrying, which leads a man to make those about him miserable, and proves but bad economy in t...

He that troubleth ... - The temper, nigardly and worrying, which leads a man to make those about him miserable, and proves but bad economy in the end.

Barnes: Pro 11:30 - -- Winneth souls - Better, a wise man winneth souls. He that is wise draws the souls of people to himself, just as the fruit of the righteous is t...

Winneth souls - Better, a wise man winneth souls. He that is wise draws the souls of people to himself, just as the fruit of the righteous is to all around him a tree of life, bearing new fruits of healing evermore. The phrase is elsewhere translated by "taketh the life"1Ki 19:4; Psa 31:13. The wise man is the true conqueror. For the Christian meaning given to these words, see the New Testament reference in the margin.

Barnes: Pro 11:31 - -- The sense would appear to be, "The righteous is requited, i. e., is punished for his lesser sins, or as a discipline; much more the wicked, etc."Com...

The sense would appear to be, "The righteous is requited, i. e., is punished for his lesser sins, or as a discipline; much more the wicked, etc."Compare 1Pe 4:18.

Poole: Pro 11:26 - -- Withholdeth corn in a time of scarcity, when others need and desire it. Blessing the blessing of God, which the people shall heartily beg for him. ...

Withholdeth corn in a time of scarcity, when others need and desire it.

Blessing the blessing of God, which the people shall heartily beg for him.

That selleth it upon reasonable terms.

Poole: Pro 11:27 - -- He that diligently seeketh which is opposed to those who content themselves with lazy desires, or cold and careless endeavours, good, to do good to a...

He that diligently seeketh which is opposed to those who content themselves with lazy desires, or cold and careless endeavours, good, to do good to all men, as he hath opportunity,

procureth favour with God and men.

He that seeketh mischief to do any mischief or injury to others,

it shall come unto him it shall be requited either by men’ s malice and revenge, or by God’ s just judgment.

Poole: Pro 11:28 - -- He that trusteth in his riches as his chief portion, and felicity, and ground of safety, shall fall as a withered leaf, by comparing this clause wi...

He that trusteth in his riches as his chief portion, and felicity, and ground of safety,

shall fall as a withered leaf, by comparing this clause with the latter.

The righteous who maketh God alone, and not riches, his trust,

shall flourish as a branch to wit, a green and flourishing branch.

Poole: Pro 11:29 - -- He that troubleth his own house he who bringeth trouble and misery upon himself and children, either, 1. By carelessness, slothfulness, improvidence...

He that troubleth his own house he who bringeth trouble and misery upon himself and children, either,

1. By carelessness, slothfulness, improvidence, prodigality, or any wickedness, whereby he consumeth his estate. So this troubling of his house may be opposed to a man’ s building of his house , Jer 29:28 . Or,

2. By covetous desires and restless endeavours to heap up riches, whereby he greatly tires and troubles both himself and all his family with excessive cares and labours, which is called coveting an evil covetousness to his house , Hab 2:9 .

Shall inherit the wind shall be as unable to keep and enjoy what he gets as a man is to hold the wind in his fist, or to feed and satisfy himself with it; he shall be brought to poverty.

The fool shall be servant to the wise of heart by which means such a troublesome fool shall through his extreme necessity be forced even to sell himself to such as are wiser.

Poole: Pro 11:30 - -- The fruit of the righteous i.e. which he produceth; his discourses and his whole conversation. Is a tree of life is like the fruit of the tree of l...

The fruit of the righteous i.e. which he produceth; his discourses and his whole conversation.

Is a tree of life is like the fruit of the tree of life; is a great preserver of his life, and a procurer of eternal life, not only to himself, but to others also.

He that winneth souls Heb. that catcheth souls , as a fowler doth birds; that maketh it his design and business, and useth all his skill and diligence, to gain souls to God, and to pluck them out of the snare of the devil.

Is wise showeth himself to be a truly wise and good man. But this clause is and may be rendered thus, and he that is wise (the same with the righteous in the former clause) winneth souls , or brings them to life. So this clause agrees very well with the former.

Poole: Pro 11:31 - -- The righteous shall be recompensed i.e. punished for his sins, as appears from the next clause; the general word being here used of this one particul...

The righteous shall be recompensed i.e. punished for his sins, as appears from the next clause; the general word being here used of this one particular, by a synecdoche. In the earth ; whereby he intimates that all his sufferings are confined to this world, which is an unspeakable felicity.

Much more they shall be punished more certainly and more severely, either in this life or in the next,

the wicked and the sinner those who make sin their great study, and daily and most delightful exercise. Compare this verse with 1Pe 4:18 , which is a good comment upon it.

Haydock: Pro 11:26 - -- Corn. In times of scarcity. See Amos viii. 7.

Corn. In times of scarcity. See Amos viii. 7.

Haydock: Pro 11:29 - -- House. By his profligacy, or law-suits, shall be impoverished, (ver. 17.; Calmet) or if he act with violence, he will make his house empty, Ecclesia...

House. By his profligacy, or law-suits, shall be impoverished, (ver. 17.; Calmet) or if he act with violence, he will make his house empty, Ecclesiasticus iv. 35. (Menochius)

Haydock: Pro 11:31 - -- Receive. Punishment, for almost inevitable faults, or be treated according to his deserts. Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic, "if the just be hardly s...

Receive. Punishment, for almost inevitable faults, or be treated according to his deserts. Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic, "if the just be hardly saved, where shall the impious and the sinner appear?" (1 Peter iv. 18.) (Calmet) ---

Afflictions attend the just in this life. Shall the wicked escape? (Menochius)

Gill: Pro 11:26 - -- He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him,.... That hoards it up for a better price, in hopes of a better market; and does not bring it out...

He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him,.... That hoards it up for a better price, in hopes of a better market; and does not bring it out, and expose it to sale, when there is a scarcity of it; so the Targum adds, "in famine"; or, "in straits", as the Syriac version; in a time of distress through, famine: this will bring the curse of the poor upon him, who will imprecate the most dreadful things on him and his family. Jarchi interprets it of the law, and of withholding the teaching of it; but it may be better applied to the Gospel, and the withholding the ministration of that, and so causing a famine, not of bread and of water, but of hearing the word of the Lord; which is done by the Papists, by prohibiting Gospel ministers preaching the word; forbidding the people to read it in their own language; locking it up from them in a language they understand not; and so starve the souls of men, which brings upon them a curse;

but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it; at a moderate price, so that the poor may be able to come at it; such will have their blessing; they will wish all happiness to them and their families, here and hereafter. Or, "that breaks" d it; separates it from the heap, breaks and grinds it into flour, and then sells it: or imparts it freely; so the Septuagint version, "that communicates": and the Arabic version, "that gives"; and may be fitly applied to a faithful minister of the Gospel, who breaks the bread of life, and freely and plentifully imparts it to the souls of men; and who has the hearty prayers and good wishes of the people to whom he ministers. The master of a family used to break the bread, as Christ often did.

Gill: Pro 11:27 - -- He that diligently seeketh good,.... Or "early"; who rises early in the morning, as the word e signifies, and seeks both to do good, and to enjoy it a...

He that diligently seeketh good,.... Or "early"; who rises early in the morning, as the word e signifies, and seeks both to do good, and to enjoy it all the day; who, in the first place, seeks the kingdom of God and his righteousness; who, in the morning of his youth, inquires after the best things; and diligently pursues what is for his own good and welfare, and that of others, and for the glory of God:

procureth favour, both of God and men: or, "seeketh favour" f; or that which is acceptable and well-pleasing unto God;

but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him; that seeks to do hurt to others; that which he seeks to do to them shall come upon himself; see Psa 9:15; so antichrist, that leads into captivity, shall go into captivity; and that kills with the sword, shall be killed by it, Rev 13:10.

Gill: Pro 11:28 - -- He that trusteth in his riches shall fall,.... As leaves in autumn, which are withered and dry. To trust in riches is to trust in uncertain things; th...

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall,.... As leaves in autumn, which are withered and dry. To trust in riches is to trust in uncertain things; things not to be depended on, being here today and gone tomorrow; it is like leaning upon a broken staff, which giving way, the person falls: and so the fall of Babylon will be, while she is trusting in and boasting of her riches and grandeur, Rev 18:7;

but the righteous shall flourish as a branch; that abides in the tree, is alive and green, full of leaves, and laden with fruit: so the righteous are as branches in Christ, and receive life and nourishment from him, and abide in him; and bring forth fruit and flourish, like palm trees and cedars, in the house of the Lord, and grow in every grace, and in the knowledge of Christ; see Jer 17:7.

Gill: Pro 11:29 - -- He that troubleth his own house,.... His family, his wife, and children, and servants; by being bitter to the one, and by provoking the others to wrat...

He that troubleth his own house,.... His family, his wife, and children, and servants; by being bitter to the one, and by provoking the others to wrath, and continually giving out menacing words to the rest; or through idleness, not providing for his family; or through an over worldly spirit, pushing on business, and hurrying it on beyond measure; or through a niggardly and avaricious temper, withholding meat and drink, and clothes convenient for them; see Pro 15:27; or through profuseness and prodigality. Such an one

shall inherit the wind; nothing but vanity and emptiness; he shall come to nothing, and get nothing; and what he does, be shall not keep, and on which he cannot live;

and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart; he who has both got and lost his substance in a foolish way shall be so reduced as to become a servant to him who has pursued wise measures, both in getting and keeping what he has; and to whom perhaps the fool formerly stood in the relation of a master. Such a change will be with respect to antichrist and the saints, Dan 7:25.

Gill: Pro 11:30 - -- The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,.... Either the fruit which grows upon Christ, the tree of life, and which they receive from him; even a...

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,.... Either the fruit which grows upon Christ, the tree of life, and which they receive from him; even all the blessings of grace, peace, pardon, righteousness, and life, Rev 2:7; or the fruits which the righteous bring forth under the influence of divine grace; they are trees of righteousness, and are filled with the fruits of righteousness by Christ, and have their fruit unto holiness, and their end everlasting life. Aben Ezra interprets it,

"the fruit of the righteous is as the fruit of the tree of life;''

that is, lovely, beautiful, desirable, salutary, and issues in life;

and he that winneth souls is wise; antichrist trades in the souls of men, that is one part of his wares, Rev 18:13; but his negotiations about them are to the loss, and not to the saving of them: whereas wise and faithful ministers of the word, such as are here described, use all prudent methods to gain and save the souls of men, 1Co 9:19; even their precious immortal souls, which are of more worth than a world, are the immediate production of God, made after his image, which by sin they come short of; and having sinned, are liable to eternal death; the redemption of which is precious; the charge of which Christ has taken, and therefore is called the Shepherd and Bishop of souls; and which he commits to the care of his under shepherds, who watch for them, as they that must give an account. To "win" them is to teach them, for the word g has the signification of teaching or doctrine; see Pro 4:2; the ministers of Christ are teachers, qualified and sent by him as such; and their business is to teach men their state by nature, how sinful, miserable, and helpless they are; and also Christ, and the way of life by him; that salvation is in him, and in no other; that justification is only by his righteousness, peace and pardon by his blood, and atonement by his sacrifice: they also teach various other things; as the fear of God, faith in Christ, love to him, and obedience to all his commands. To win souls is to proselyte them and convert them to the true religion; to bring them into a love and liking of it, and to embrace it: the souls that Abraham got or made in Haran are supposed to be such; and the same with those trained or instructed in his house, whom he armed for the rescue of Lot, Gen 12:5; the former of which texts Jarchi compares with this, as explanative of it. The phrases of "turning many to righteousness", done by the "wise": and of "converting a sinner from the error of his way", whereby a "soul is saved from death", Dan 12:3, are a proper comment on these words: which, moreover, may be rendered, "he that taketh souls" h; as a fort or castle is taken, and which is sometimes expressed by "winning"; see 2Ch 32:1. The soul of man is a hold, and a strong hold, of foul spirits; it is Satan's palace or castle, which he keeps and holds against Christ, but is won and taken by him; which is usually done by means of the word, and the ministry of it, which are made effectual to the pulling down of strong holds, 2Co 10:4. Or the allusion is to the taking or catching of birds in a snare, or fishes in a net. The souls of men are got into the snare of the devil, and they are taken out from hence by breaking this snare; by which means they escape the hands of the fowler, Satan, and come into better hands: the old serpent laid a bait for our first parents, by which he gained his point, and that was the fruit of the forbidden tree; but the bait which wise men lay to catch souls is the fruit of the tree of life, mentioned in the former clause, the blessings of grace in Christ. Again, Christ's ministers are called "fishers" of men, and are said to "catch" men, Mat 4:19; which they do by casting and spreading the net of the Gospel; the Gospel is the net; the world is the sea into which it is cast; where natural men are in their element, as fishes in the sea: the casting of the net is the preaching of the Gospel; and by means of this souls are caught and gathered in to Christ and his churches, Mat 13:47. Once more, the words are by some rendered, "he that allures souls" i; which is done, not by the terrors of the law, but by the charming voice of the Gospel; by which souls are drawn to God and Christ, and brought among his people: and one that is an instrument of all this had need be "wise", and so he appears to be; he that teacheth men the knowledge of divine and spiritual things had need to be as he is, as a scribe well instructed in the kingdom of God; he who is to be the instrument of converting sinners must have a mouth and wisdom to address them in a proper manner; as he that wills a castle, or takes a fort, ought to have military skill as well as courage; and to cast a net well requires art as well as strength.

Gill: Pro 11:31 - -- Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth,.... Which Aben Ezra understands of the recompence of their good works. There is a reward for ...

Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth,.... Which Aben Ezra understands of the recompence of their good works. There is a reward for the righteous, and which they have now in keeping, though not "for" keeping, the commandments of God; they have the promise of this life, as well as of that which is to come, and which is made good to them; they have every good thing now which is proper and convenient for them; and they shall be recompensed in the new earth, in which only righteous persons will dwell. But it seems better, with Jarchi, to interpret it of the recompence of their sins and transgressions; that is, of their chastisements and afflictions, with which they are chastised by their heavenly Father, when they sin against him; which are all in love and for their good; and which they have only here on earth, while they are in this world; they will be all over in another, when there will be no more sin, and no more chastisement for it, much less condemnation; see 1Co 11:32;

much more the wicked and the sinner; who shall not only be punished on earth as they often are, but in hell to all eternity. The Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, render the whole thus; "if the righteous be scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" Which words are used by the Apostle Peter, to show, that if judgment or chastisement begin at the house of God, or with the righteous, that the end of the wicked must be very bad; which entirely agrees with the sense of this passage; see 1Pe 4:17; a "behold" is prefixed to the whole, as a note, either of admiration, or rather of attention to what is sure and certain, and worthy of regard and consideration. The Targum is,

"behold, the righteous are strengthened in the earth; but the wicked and the sinners shall be consumed out of the earth;''

which seems to agree with Aben Ezra's sense of the words; see Psa 104:35.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Pro 11:26 Heb “for the head of the one who sells.” The term “head” functions as a synecdoche of part (= head) for the whole (= person). ...

NET Notes: Pro 11:27 The verb is the imperfect tense, third feminine singular, referring to “evil,” the object of the participle.

NET Notes: Pro 11:28 Heb “leafage” or “leaf” (cf. KJV “as a branch”); TEV “leaves of summer”; NLT “leaves in spring.&...

NET Notes: Pro 11:29 Heb “to the wise of heart.” The noun לֵב (lev, “heart”) is an attributed genitive: “wise heart.”...

NET Notes: Pro 11:30 The MT reads חָכָם (khakham, “wise”) and seems to refer to capturing (לָקַח, l...

NET Notes: Pro 11:31 Heb “the wicked and the sinner.” The two terms may form a hendiadys with the first functioning adjectivally: “the wicked sinner.R...

Geneva Bible: Pro 11:26 He that withholdeth grain, the people shall curse him: but blessing [shall be] upon the head of him that ( p ) selleth [it]. ( p ) That provides for ...

Geneva Bible: Pro 11:29 He that troubleth his own ( q ) house shall inherit the wind: and the fool [shall be] ( r ) servant to the wise of heart. ( q ) The covetous men who ...

Geneva Bible: Pro 11:30 The fruit of the righteous [is] a tree of life; and he that ( s ) winneth souls [is] wise. ( s ) That is, brings them to the knowledge of God.

Geneva Bible: Pro 11:31 Behold, the righteous shall be ( t ) recompensed upon the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner. ( t ) Will be punished as he deserves, (1Pe 4:1...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

MHCC: Pro 11:26 - --We must not hoard up the gifts of God's bounty, merely for our own advantage.

MHCC: Pro 11:27 - --Seeking mischief is here set against seeking good; for those that are not doing good are doing hurt, even to themselves.

MHCC: Pro 11:28 - --The true believer is a branch of the living Vine. When those that take root in the world wither, those who are grafted into Christ shall be fruitful.

MHCC: Pro 11:29 - --He that brings trouble upon himself and his family, by carelessness, or by wickedness, shall be unable to keep and enjoy what he gets, as a man is una...

MHCC: Pro 11:30 - --The righteous are as trees of life; and their influence upon earth, like the fruits of that tree, support and nourish the spiritual life in many.

MHCC: Pro 11:31 - --Even the righteous, when they offend on earth, shall meet with sharp corrections; much more will the wicked meet the due reward of their sins. Let us ...

Matthew Henry: Pro 11:26 - -- See here, 1. What use we are to make of the gifts of God's bounty; we must not hoard them up merely for our own advantage, that we may be enriched b...

Matthew Henry: Pro 11:27 - -- Observe, 1. Those that are industrious to do good in the world get themselves beloved both with God and man: He that rises early to that which is g...

Matthew Henry: Pro 11:28 - -- Observe, 1. Our riches will fail us when we are in the greatest need: He that trusts in them, as if they would secure him the favour of God and be...

Matthew Henry: Pro 11:29 - -- Two extremes in the management of family-affairs are here condemned and the ill consequences of them foretold: - 1. Carefulness and carnal policy, o...

Matthew Henry: Pro 11:30 - -- This shows what great blessings good men are, especially those that are eminently wise, to the places where they live, and therefore how much to be ...

Matthew Henry: Pro 11:31 - -- This, I think, is the only one of Solomon's proverbs that has that note of attention prefixed to it, Behold! which intimates that it contains not ...

Keil-Delitzsch: Pro 11:26 - -- 26 Whoso withholdeth corn, him the people curse; But blessing is on the head of him that selleth it. This proverb is directed against the corn-usu...

Keil-Delitzsch: Pro 11:27 - -- That self-sacrificing endeavour after the good of others finds its regard in the thought encircling the following proverbs. 27 He that striveth aft...

Keil-Delitzsch: Pro 11:28 - -- 28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall, And the righteous shall flourish like the green leaf. יפּול ( plene after the Masora) as well a...

Keil-Delitzsch: Pro 11:29 - -- 29 He that troubleth his own household shall inherit the wind, And a fool becomes servant to the wise in heart. Jerome well translates: qui contu...

Keil-Delitzsch: Pro 11:30 - -- 30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And the wise man winneth souls. The lxx translate, ἐκ καρποῦ δικαιοσύνη...

Keil-Delitzsch: Pro 11:31 - -- 31 Lo, the righteous findeth on earth his reward; How much more the godless and the sinner! The particles אף כּי signify properly, interrogat...

Constable: Pro 10:1--22:17 - --II. COUPLETS EXPRESSING WISDOM 10:1--22:16 Chapters 1-9, as we have seen, contain discourses that Solomon eviden...

Constable: Pro 11:16-31 - --4. Wise investments 11:16-31 11:19 The full quality of life is in view (cf. John 10:10), not just the possession of life. "Since life and death result...

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Commentary -- Other

Critics Ask: Pro 11:31 PROVERBS 11:31 —Are the righteous rewarded in this life or in the next one? PROBLEM: Here Solomon speaks as though the godly person receives hi...

Evidence: Pro 11:30 " Even if I were utterly selfish and had no care for anything but my own happiness, I would choose, if God allowed, to be a soul winner, for never did...

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Introduction / Outline

JFB: Proverbs (Book Introduction) THE NATURE AND USE OF PROVERBS.--A proverb is a pithy sentence, concisely expressing some well-established truth susceptible of various illustrations ...

TSK: Proverbs (Book Introduction) The wisdom of all ages, from the highest antiquity, has chosen to compress and communicate its lessons in short, compendious sentences, and in poetic ...

TSK: Proverbs 11 (Chapter Introduction) Overview

Poole: Proverbs 11 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 11

MHCC: Proverbs (Book Introduction) The subject of this book may be thus stated by an enlargement on the opening verses. 1. The Proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel. 2. ...

Matthew Henry: Proverbs (Book Introduction) An Exposition, With Practical Observations, of The Proverbs We have now before us, I. A new author, or penman rather, or pen (if you will) made use o...

Constable: Proverbs (Book Introduction) Introduction Title The title of this book in the Hebrew Bible is "The Proverbs of Solo...

Constable: Proverbs (Outline) Outline I. Discourses on wisdom chs. 1-9 A. Introduction to the book 1:1-7 ...

Constable: Proverbs Proverbs Bibliography Aitken, Kenneth T. Proverbs. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1986. Alden...

Haydock: Proverbs (Book Introduction) THE BOOK OF PROVERBS. INTRODUCTION. This book is so called, because it consists of wise and weighty sentences, regulating the morals of men; and...

Gill: Proverbs (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS This book is called, in some printed Hebrew copies, "Sepher Mishle", the Book of Proverbs; the title of it in the Vulgate ...

Advanced Commentary (Dictionaries, Hymns, Arts, Sermon Illustration, Question and Answers, etc)


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