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Text -- Proverbs 18:22-24 (NET)

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Context
18:22 The one who finds a wife finds what is enjoyable, and receives a pleasurable gift from the Lord. 18:23 A poor person makes supplications, but a rich man answers harshly. 18:24 A person who has friends may be harmed by them, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Dictionary Themes and Topics: Women | Wife | Speaking | Rich, The | Poor | POVERTY | Marriage | HAVE | Friendship | FRIEND; FRIENDSHIP | Brother | 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

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Wesley: Pro 18:22 - -- A good wife; one that deserves the name, and performs the duty of that relation.

A good wife; one that deserves the name, and performs the duty of that relation.

Wesley: Pro 18:22 - -- Obtains her not by his own diligence, but by God's good providence.

Obtains her not by his own diligence, but by God's good providence.

Wesley: Pro 18:24 - -- Heb. A man of friends; who desires the friendship of others.

Heb. A man of friends; who desires the friendship of others.

JFB: Pro 18:22 - -- The old versions supply "good" before the "wife," as the last clause and Pro 19:14 imply (compare Pro 31:10).

The old versions supply "good" before the "wife," as the last clause and Pro 19:14 imply (compare Pro 31:10).

JFB: Pro 18:23 - -- He is tolerated because rich, implying that the estimate of men by wealth is wrong.

He is tolerated because rich, implying that the estimate of men by wealth is wrong.

JFB: Pro 18:24 - -- Better, "A man . . . (is) to, or, may triumph (Psa 108:9), or, shout for joy (Psa 5:11), that is, may congratulate himself." Indeed, there is a Friend...

Better, "A man . . . (is) to, or, may triumph (Psa 108:9), or, shout for joy (Psa 5:11), that is, may congratulate himself." Indeed, there is a Friend who is better than a brother; such is the "Friend of sinners" [Mat 11:19; Luk 7:34], who may have been before the writer's mind.

Clarke: Pro 18:22 - -- Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing - Marriage, with all its troubles and embarrassments, is a blessing from God; and there are few cases wher...

Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing - Marriage, with all its troubles and embarrassments, is a blessing from God; and there are few cases where a wife of any sort is not better than none, because celibacy is an evil; for God himself hath said, "It is not good for man to be alone."None of the versions, except the Chaldee, are pleased with the naked simplicity of the Hebrew text, hence they all add good: "He that findeth a Good wife findeth a good thing;"and most people, who have not deeply considered the subject, think the assertion, without this qualification, is absurd. Some copies of the Targum, and apparently one of Kennicott’ s MSS., have the addition טובה tobah , good; but this would be an authority too slender to justify changing the Hebrew text; yet Houbigant, Kennicott, and other able critics argue for it. The Septuagint is not satisfied without an addition: "But he who puts away a good wife, puts away a good thing: and he that retains an adulteress, is a fool and wicked."In this addition the Vulgate, Syriac, and Arabic, agree with the Septuagint. The Hebrew text as it stands, teaches a general doctrine by a simple but general proposition: "He that findeth a wife findeth a good thing."So St. Paul: "Marriage is honorable in all."Had the world been left, in this respect, to the unbridled propensities of man, in what a horrible state would society have been - if indeed society could have existed, or civilization have taken place - if marriage had not obtained among men! As to good wives and bad wives, they are relatively so, in general; and most of them that have been bad afterwards, have been good at first; and we well know the best things may deteriorate, and the world generally allows that where there are matrimonial contentions, there are faults on both sides.

Clarke: Pro 18:24 - -- A man that hath friends must show himself friendly - Love begets love; and love requires love as its recompense. If a man do not maintain a friendly...

A man that hath friends must show himself friendly - Love begets love; and love requires love as its recompense. If a man do not maintain a friendly carriage, he cannot expect to retain his friends. Friendship is a good plant; but it requires cultivation to make it grow

There is a kind of factitious friendship in the world, that, to show one’ s self friendly in it, is very expensive, and in every way utterly unprofitable: it is maintained by expensive parties. feasts, etc., where the table groans with dainties, and where the conversation is either jejune and insipid, or calumnious; backbiting, talebearing, and scandal, being the general topics of the different squads in company

Clarke: Pro 18:24 - -- There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother - In many cases the genuine friend has shown more attachment, and rendered greater benefits, t...

There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother - In many cases the genuine friend has shown more attachment, and rendered greater benefits, than the natural brother. Some apply this to God; others to Christ; but the text has no such meaning

But critics and commentators are not agreed on the translation of this verse. The original is condensed and obscure. אוש רעים להתרועע ish reim lehithroea , or lehithroeang , as some would read, who translate: A man of friends may ring again; i.e., he may boast and mightily exult: but there is a friend, אהב oheb , a lover, that sticketh closer, דבק dabek , is glued or cemented, מאח meach , beyond, or more than, a brother. The former will continue during prosperity, but the latter continues closely united to his friend, even in the most disastrous circumstances

Hence that maxim of Cicero, so often repeated, and so well known: -

Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur

"In doubtful times the genuine friend is known.

A late commentator has translated the verse thus: -

The man that hath many friends is ready to be ruined

But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother

Holden

"A frende that delyteth in love, doth a man more frendship, and sticketh faster unto him, than a brother."Coverdale

"A man that hath friends ought to show himself friendly for a friend is nearer than a brother."Barker’ s Bible, 1615

"A man amyable to felowschip, more a freend schal ben thanne a brother."- Old MS. Bible. The two last verses in this chapter, and the two first of the next, are wanting in the Septuagint and Arabic

These are the principal varieties; out of them the reader may choose. I have already given my opinion.

Defender: Pro 18:22 - -- "It is not good that the man should be alone" (Gen 2:18). In an age when monogamous marriage between a man and woman for life is increasingly being re...

"It is not good that the man should be alone" (Gen 2:18). In an age when monogamous marriage between a man and woman for life is increasingly being rejected, it is important for believers to take a strong and persistent stand on this vital truth."

TSK: Pro 18:22 - -- findeth a wife : Pro 5:15-23, Pro 12:4, Pro 19:14, 31:10-31; Gen 24:67, Gen 29:20, Gen 29:21, Gen 29:28; Ecc 9:9; Hos 12:12; 1Co 7:2 and : Pro 3:4, Pr...

TSK: Pro 18:23 - -- poor : Rth 2:7; 1Sa 2:36; 2Ki 4:1, 2Ki 4:2; Isa 66:2; Mat 5:3; Jam 1:9-11 rich : Gen 42:7, Gen 42:30; Exo 5:2; 1Sa 25:10, 1Sa 25:17; Jam 2:3

TSK: Pro 18:24 - -- that hath : Pro 17:17, Pro 27:9; 1Sa 19:4, 1Sa 19:5, 1Sa 30:26-31; 2Sa 9:1-13, 2Sa 16:17, 2Sa 17:27-29; 2Sa 19:30-39, 2Sa 21:7; 1Ch 12:38-40; Mat 26:4...

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Pro 18:22 - -- The sense seems to require, "Whoso findeth a good wife,"as in some Chaldee manuscripts; but the proverb writer may be looking at marriage in its ide...

The sense seems to require, "Whoso findeth a good wife,"as in some Chaldee manuscripts; but the proverb writer may be looking at marriage in its ideal aspect, and sees in every such union the hands of God joining together man and woman for their mutual good. The Septuagint adds "He who casts out a good wife, casts away that which is good: but he that keepeth an adulteress is foolish and ungodly."

Barnes: Pro 18:23 - -- Note the paradox. The poor man, of whom one might expect roughness, supplicates; the rich, well nurtured, from whom one might look for courtesy, ans...

Note the paradox. The poor man, of whom one might expect roughness, supplicates; the rich, well nurtured, from whom one might look for courtesy, answers harshly and brusquely.

Barnes: Pro 18:24 - -- Better, "A man of many companions is so to his own destruction, but there is a friend (the true, loving friend) etc."It is not the multitude of so c...

Better, "A man of many companions is so to his own destruction, but there is a friend (the true, loving friend) etc."It is not the multitude of so called friends that helps us. They may only embarrass and perplex. What we prize is the one whose love is stronger and purer even than all ties of kindred.

Poole: Pro 18:22 - -- A wife either, 1. Simply a wife; for a wife, though she be not the best of her kind, is to be esteemed a blessing, being useful both for society of ...

A wife either,

1. Simply a wife; for a wife, though she be not the best of her kind, is to be esteemed a blessing, being useful both for society of life, Gen 2:18 , and for the mitigation of a man’ s cares and troubles, and for the prevention of sins. Or,

2. Good wife; one that deserves the name and performs the duty of that relation; a wise and worthy wife, as this word may seem to imply, being deduced from the Hebrew word isch , which sometimes notes a man of eminency. And this limitation and explication of the word may be gathered both from the following commendations, which would hardly be given to a bad wife, and from the usage of Scripture, in which this ellipsis is frequent, as a path or way is put for a good path or way , Psa 119:1 Pro 15:10 , an answer for a good answer , Pro 15:23 , a king for a good king , Pro 16:10 29:4, a name for a good name , Pro 22:1 Ecc 7:1 , &c.

A good thing a singular blessing.

Obtaineth favour of the Lord obtaineth her not by his own wit, or art, or diligence, but by God’ s good providence towards him, which ordereth that and all other events as it pleaseth him.

Poole: Pro 18:23 - -- Useth entreaties humbly begs the favour of rich men, as his necessities and occasions require it. Answereth roughly speaketh proudly and scornfully...

Useth entreaties humbly begs the favour of rich men, as his necessities and occasions require it.

Answereth roughly speaketh proudly and scornfully, either to the poor, or to others that converse with him, being puffed up with a conceit of his riches, and of his self-sufficiency.

Poole: Pro 18:24 - -- A man that hath friends Heb. a man of friends ; either, 1. Who desires the friendship of others. Or, 2. Who professeth friendship to others. That...

A man that hath friends Heb. a man of friends ; either,

1. Who desires the friendship of others. Or,

2. Who professeth friendship to others.

That sticketh closer to him that desires and needs his help; who is more hearty in the performance of all friendly offices.

Haydock: Pro 18:22 - -- Good wife. Good is not in Hebrew, but should be understood, as it is expressed in the Complutensian (Calmet) and Alexandrian Septuagint. (Haydo...

Good wife. Good is not in Hebrew, but should be understood, as it is expressed in the Complutensian (Calmet) and Alexandrian Septuagint. (Haydock) ---

He that, &c., occurs not in Hebrew, Sixtus V, &c. But it is found in Septuagint and Arabic. The Syriac omits the last sentence. ---

Wicked. St. Augustine had frequently asserted that a divorce was only of counsel: but this he retracted, when he reflected on this text. (Retractions i. 19.) ---

The Hebrews, Athenians, and Romans, followed the same practice with adulteresses. (Selden, Ux. iii. 16.; Dem. in Neζram, &c.) ---

Hermas (past. i. 4.) prescribes that the penitent shall be received again, but not often. In cae of divorce, the fathers still permit not a second marriage, that the parties may be reconciled. They enjoin the husband to put away only such as are incorrigible. (St. Augustine, Adul. ii. 3.) (Calmet)

Haydock: Pro 18:24 - -- Brother. The ties of nature are not so strong as those of friendship. (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "a man that hath friends must shew himself friendly; ...

Brother. The ties of nature are not so strong as those of friendship. (Calmet) ---

Hebrew, "a man that hath friends must shew himself friendly; and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." (Protestants) (Haydock) ---

Ut ameris ama. (Martial)

Gill: Pro 18:22 - -- Whoso findeth a wife,.... A good one; so the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, supply it; and so the Targum, though it leaves o...

Whoso findeth a wife,.... A good one; so the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, supply it; and so the Targum, though it leaves out the word good in the last clause; and no other can be meant, even a good natured one, wise, prudent, careful, and industrious; a proper helpmeet, a virtuous woman, as in Pro 31:10; whoso seeks after such an one, and finds one, especially one that has the grace of God, which he should seek after among his friends, and by their assistance, and by prayer to God:

findeth a good thing; that will be good for him, both upon a civil and spiritual account; the Septuagint version adds,

"he that casts out a good wife casts out good things, but he that retains a whore is foolish and ungodly;''

which is followed by the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, but is not in the Hebrew text. Jarchi interprets it of the law in a mystic sense, but, according to the literal sense, of a good wife;

and obtaineth favour of the Lord; it is from the Lord, and under his direction and guidance in seeking, that he finds a good wife; and which he ought to esteem as a favour from the Lord, and as an evidence of his favour to him, and may encourage himself to hope for others of him z Hesiod says, a man cannot obtain anything better than a good wife.

Gill: Pro 18:23 - -- The poor useth entreaties,.... Or "supplications" a; he is an humble supplicant to others for favours he asks in a submissive and lowly manner; he doe...

The poor useth entreaties,.... Or "supplications" a; he is an humble supplicant to others for favours he asks in a submissive and lowly manner; he does not demand anything, nor prescribe what shall be done for him, but modestly tells his case, and submits it; so such who are poor in spirit are humble supplicants at the throne of grace;

but the rich answereth roughly; being proud and haughty, lifted up with their riches, and in fear of none, they answer others with hard and rough words, especially their inferiors, and particularly the poor. This is not what ought to be, but what commonly is. This verse and Pro 18:24 are not in the Arabic version.

Gill: Pro 18:24 - -- A man that hath friends must show himself friendly,.... Friendship ought to be mutual and reciprocal, as between David and Jonathan; a man that recei...

A man that hath friends must show himself friendly,.... Friendship ought to be mutual and reciprocal, as between David and Jonathan; a man that receives friendship ought to return it, or otherwise he is guilty of great ingratitude. This may be spiritually applied; a believer is "a man of friends" b, as it may be rendered; he has many friends: God is his friend, as appears by his early love to him, his choice of him, and provisions of grace for him; by sending his son to save him; by visiting him, not only in a way of providence, but of grace; by disclosing his secrets, showing his covenant to him, and by making him his heir, and a joint heir with Christ. Christ is his friend, as is evident from his visiting him at his incarnation; and in a spiritual way, by the communication of his secrets to him; by his hearty counsel and faithful reproofs; by his undertaking and doing for him what he has; and especially by suffering and dying in his room and stead. The Holy Spirit is his friend, which he has shown by discovering to him his woeful estate by nature, and the way of salvation by Christ; by working all his works in him; by acting the part of a Comforter to him; by revealing divine things to him, by helping him under all his infirmities; by making intercession for him according to the will of God; and by making him meet for eternal glory and happiness: angels are his friends, as is plain by their well pleasedness with the incarnation of Christ for men; and which they express at their conversion; by their ministering to them, their protection of them, and the good offices they do them both in life and at death; and saints are friends to one another: and such should show themselves friendly to God, their covenant God and Father; by frequently visiting him at the throne of grace; by trusting in him; by a carefulness not to offend, but please him; and by a close and faithful adherence to his cause and interest: to Jesus Christ their Redeemer, by a ready obedience to his commands; by owning and using him as their friend; by taking notice of his friends, and showing them respect, his ministers and poor saints; by cleaving to him, and renouncing the friendship of his enemies: and likewise to the Holy Spirit, by not grieving, quenching, and despising him; but by making use of him, and giving up themselves to his influence and direction; and by acknowledging him as the author of all their grace: also to angels, by speaking well of them, owning their good offices, and reckoning it an honour that they are come and joined to such a company; and to the saints, by Christian conversation with them, by sympathizing with them in all conditions, by hearty counsel, faithful reproofs and admonitions, and by helping them in every distress, inward and outward;

and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother; who is to a man as his own soul, Deu 13:6; and so are of one heart and soul, as Jonathan and David, and the first Christians, were; this is true of Christ, and may be expressive of the close union between him and his people; and of his close adherence to their cause and interest; and of his constancy and continuance as a friend at all times; and of his faithfulness and unchangeableness as such; see Pro 17:17. The Heathens had a deity which presided over friendship, which they called Jupiter Philios c: the character best agrees with the true God, who is a friend to men himself, and loves friendship among them.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Pro 18:22 The LXX adds this embellishment to complete the thought: “Whoever puts away a good wife puts away good, and whoever keeps an adulteress is fooli...

NET Notes: Pro 18:23 The rich person responds harshly to the request. He has hardened himself against such appeals because of relentless demands. The proverb is an observa...

NET Notes: Pro 18:24 The text simply has לְהִתְרֹעֵעַ (lÿhitro’ea’), which means &...

Geneva Bible: Pro 18:22 [Whoever] findeth a ( p ) wife findeth a good [thing], and obtaineth favour from the LORD. ( p ) He who is joined with a virtuous woman in marriage i...

Geneva Bible: Pro 18:24 A man [that hath] friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend [that] sticketh closer ( q ) than a brother. ( q ) That is, often such ar...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

MHCC: Pro 18:22 - --A good wife is a great blessing to a man, and it is a token of Divine favour.

MHCC: Pro 18:23 - --Poverty tells men they must not order or demand. And at the throne of God's grace we are all poor, and must use entreaties.

MHCC: Pro 18:24 - --Christ Jesus never will forsake those who trust in and love him. May we be such friends to others, for our Master's sake. Having loved his own, which ...

Matthew Henry: Pro 18:22 - -- Note, 1. A good wife is a great blessing to a man. He that finds a wife (that is, a wife indeed; a bad wife does not deserve to be called by a nam...

Matthew Henry: Pro 18:23 - -- Note, 1. Poverty, though many inconveniences to the body attend it, has often a good effect upon the spirit, for it makes men humble and submissive,...

Matthew Henry: Pro 18:24 - -- Solomon here recommends friendship to us, and shows, 1. What we must do that we may contract and cultivate friendship; we must show ourselves frien...

Keil-Delitzsch: Pro 18:20-24 - -- With Pro 18:19, the series of proverbs which began with that of the flatterer closes. The catchword אח , which occurred at its commencement, 9b, ...

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 18:1-24 - --3. Friendship and folly ch. 18 18:1 Evidently the intent is, "He who separates himself [from other people]" does so because he wants his own way and d...

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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 18 (Chapter Introduction) Overview

Poole: Proverbs 18 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 18 According to this interpretation the sense is,

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 ...

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