
Text -- Proverbs 20:1-4 (NET)




Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics



collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wine immoderately drunk makes men mockers.

The terror which the wrath of a king causes.

Is always ready to begin strife, and obstinate in the continuance of it.
(Pro. 20:1-30)



Or, better, "to dwell from or without strife," denoting the habit of life.
Clarke: Pro 20:1 - -- Wine is a mocker - It deceives by its fragrance, intoxicates by its strength, and renders the intoxicated ridiculous
Wine is a mocker - It deceives by its fragrance, intoxicates by its strength, and renders the intoxicated ridiculous

Clarke: Pro 20:1 - -- Strong drink - שכר shechar , any strong fermented liquor, whether of the vine, date, or palm species.
Strong drink -

Clarke: Pro 20:4 - -- The sluggard will not plough - For other parts of this character, see the preceding chapter, Proverbs 19 (note). It is seldom that there is a season...
The sluggard will not plough - For other parts of this character, see the preceding chapter, Proverbs 19 (note). It is seldom that there is a season of very cold weather in Palestine; very cold days sometimes occur, with wind, rain, and sleet. They begin their ploughing in the latter end of September, and sow their early wheat by the middle of October. And this is often the case in England itself. The meaning of the proverb is: the slothful man, under the pretense of unfavorable weather, neglects cultivating his land till the proper time is elapsed.
Defender -> Pro 20:1
Defender: Pro 20:1 - -- So-called social drinking by Christian believers is difficult to justify in the context of such clear warnings (Pro 23:29-32)."
So-called social drinking by Christian believers is difficult to justify in the context of such clear warnings (Pro 23:29-32)."
TSK: Pro 20:1 - -- Pro 23:29-35, Pro 31:4; Gen 9:21-23, Gen 19:31-36; 1Sa 25:36-38; 2Sa 11:13; 2Sa 13:28; 1Ki 20:16-21; Isa 28:7; Hos 4:11, Hos 7:5; Hab 2:15, Hab 2:16; ...

TSK: Pro 20:2 - -- fear : Pro 16:14, Pro 16:15, Pro 19:12; Ecc 10:4; Hos 11:10; Amo 3:8
sinneth : Pro 8:36; 1Ki 2:23

TSK: Pro 20:3 - -- an : Pro 14:29, Pro 16:32, Pro 17:14, Pro 19:11, Pro 25:8-10; Eph 1:6-8, Eph 4:32, Eph 5:1
but : Pro 14:17, Pro 18:6, Pro 21:24; 2Ki 14:9; Jam 3:14, J...

TSK: Pro 20:4 - -- sluggard : Pro 10:4, Pro 19:15, Pro 19:24, Pro 26:13-16
cold : or, winter
therefore : Pro 6:10, Pro 6:11, Pro 19:15, Pro 24:34; Mat 25:3-10, Mat 25:24...
sluggard : Pro 10:4, Pro 19:15, Pro 19:24, Pro 26:13-16
cold : or, winter
therefore : Pro 6:10, Pro 6:11, Pro 19:15, Pro 24:34; Mat 25:3-10, Mat 25:24-28; 2Pe 1:5-11

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes: Pro 20:1 - -- "Wine"and "strong drink"are personified as themselves doing what they make men do. The latter (see Lev 10:9 note) is here, probably, the "palm-wine"...
"Wine"and "strong drink"are personified as themselves doing what they make men do. The latter (see Lev 10:9 note) is here, probably, the "palm-wine"of Syria.

Barnes: Pro 20:2 - -- Sinneth against his own soul - i. e., Against his own life (compare Hab 2:10).
Sinneth against his own soul - i. e., Against his own life (compare Hab 2:10).

Barnes: Pro 20:4 - -- Plowing time in Palestine is in November and December, when the wind blows commonly from the North.
Plowing time in Palestine is in November and December, when the wind blows commonly from the North.
Poole: Pro 20:1 - -- Wine is a mocker wine immoderately drunk makes men mockers or scoffers at God and men. Compare Hos 7:5 .
Strong drink is raging makes men full of...
Wine is a mocker wine immoderately drunk makes men mockers or scoffers at God and men. Compare Hos 7:5 .
Strong drink is raging makes men full of rage and passion.
Is not wise is a fool, or a madman, because he depriveth himself of the use of his reason.

Poole: Pro 20:2 - -- The fear of a king passively taken, the terror which the wrath of a king causeth, by comparing this with Pro 19:12 .
Sinneth against his own soul e...
The fear of a king passively taken, the terror which the wrath of a king causeth, by comparing this with Pro 19:12 .
Sinneth against his own soul exposeth himself to manifest danger of death.

Poole: Pro 20:3 - -- To cease from strife either to prevent it, or, if it be begun, to put an end to it; which, although proud and profane persons esteem dishonourable to...
To cease from strife either to prevent it, or, if it be begun, to put an end to it; which, although proud and profane persons esteem dishonourable to them, is indeed their glory, because it is an evidence of their great wisdom and power over their passions, and of their respect and obedience to their sovereign Lord, in which their honour and happiness consists.
Will be meddling to wit, with matters of strife; he is always ready to begin strife, and obstinate in the continuance of it.

Poole: Pro 20:4 - -- By reason of the cold of the ploughing season which is in autumn and towards winter. He hates and avoids all laborious and difficult work, although h...
By reason of the cold of the ploughing season which is in autumn and towards winter. He hates and avoids all laborious and difficult work, although his own necessity and interest oblige him to it.
And have nothing and not obtain an alms; not in that time of plenty and bounty, because men’ s hearts are justly hardened against that man who by his own sloth and wilfulness hath brought himself to want.
Haydock: Pro 20:1 - -- Hairs, and experience. They have a greater contempt of death and pleasures. (St. Ambrose, Hex. i. 8.)
Hairs, and experience. They have a greater contempt of death and pleasures. (St. Ambrose, Hex. i. 8.)

Haydock: Pro 20:1 - -- A luxurious thing. Hebrew, "a scoffer." Chaldean, "renders one a scoffer." ---
Drunkenness. Hebrew ssocor, any strong drink, particularly palm...
A luxurious thing. Hebrew, "a scoffer." Chaldean, "renders one a scoffer." ---
Drunkenness. Hebrew ssocor, any strong drink, particularly palm-wine. Intemperance places the strongest obstacles in the way of wisdom. It causes a person to mock at all sacred things, and to be quarrelsome, chap. xxiii. 29., and Ephesians v. 18.

Haydock: Pro 20:3 - -- Reproaches. It is better not to commence a lawsuit, even when we are in the right, chap. xvii. 11. (Calmet) ---
Plena victoria est ad clamantem ta...
Reproaches. It is better not to commence a lawsuit, even when we are in the right, chap. xvii. 11. (Calmet) ---
Plena victoria est ad clamantem tacere. (Val. Max.)
Gill: Pro 20:1 - -- Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging,.... Wine deceives a man; it not only overcomes him before he is aware, but it promises him a pleasure whic...
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging,.... Wine deceives a man; it not only overcomes him before he is aware, but it promises him a pleasure which it does not give; but, on the contrary, excessive drinking gives him pain, and so mocks him; yea, it exposes him to reproach and disgrace, and to the mockery and derision of others; as well as it sets him to scoff at his companions, and even to mock at religion, and all that is good and serious; see Hos 7:5; and strong drink not only disturbs the brain, and puts the spirits in a ferment, so that a man rages within, but it sets him a raving and quarrelling with his company, and everybody he meets with; such generally get into broils and contentions, and get woe, sorrow, and wounds, Pro 23:29. Aben Ezra gives this as the sense of the words,
"a man of wine''
(that is, one that is given to wine, a wine bibber), so Ben Melech,
"is a mocker, and he cries out for strong drink, that it may be given him;''
which is not a bad sense of the words.
and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise; whosoever gives himself to it, is not on his guard against it, but is overcome by it, does not act a wise but an unwise part: wine besots as well as deceives men. This may be applied to the wine of fornication, or to the false doctrine and superstition of the church of Rome; with which the nations of the earth are deceived and made drunk, and which puts them upon blaspheming God, deriding his people, and using cruelty to them, Rev 17:2.

Gill: Pro 20:2 - -- The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion,.... The wrath and displeasure of a king, which causes fear; see Pro 19:12; kings should be terrors to...
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion,.... The wrath and displeasure of a king, which causes fear; see Pro 19:12; kings should be terrors to evil works and workers, though not to good ones, Rom 13:3. This is true of the King of kings, who one day will be terrible to the drunkards, the mockers, and murderers of his people, before spoken of;
whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul; he exposes his life to danger: the Targum supplies it as we do. It may be rendered, his "soul sinneth" a; he is guilty of sin, as well as is in danger of punishment; see Pro 8:36.

Gill: Pro 20:3 - -- It is an honour for a man to cease from strife,.... As Abraham did, Gen 13:7; when engaged in a quarrel with his neighbour, or in a lawsuit, or in a ...
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife,.... As Abraham did, Gen 13:7; when engaged in a quarrel with his neighbour, or in a lawsuit, or in a religious controversy, especially when he finds he is in the wrong; and indeed, if he is in the right, when he perceives it is like to issue in no good, and is only about words to no profit, it is an honour to drop it;
but every fool will be meddling; with things he has no concern in, or is not equal to; yet will carry on the debate, though it is to his disgrace; see Pro 17:14.

Gill: Pro 20:4 - -- The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold,.... Or, "in the cold"; in the time of cold, as Aben Ezra; in the time of autumn, which is the time...
The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold,.... Or, "in the cold"; in the time of cold, as Aben Ezra; in the time of autumn, which is the time of ploughing, when it begins to be cold weather, and winter is drawing on: and this is discouraging to the sluggard, who does not care to take his hands out of his bosom to feed himself, and much less to plough; see Pro 19:24;
therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing; he shall ask of those who have ploughed and sowed, and are now reaping and gathering in their increase at harvest time; but they shall give him nothing; for such as will not work should not eat; and if a man will not plough and sow, he cannot expect to reap, nor should he be encouraged in begging. This holds good in spiritual things; such who have been slothful and sluggish about their spiritual affairs, unconcerned for the grace of God, and indolent in the use of means, or performance of duty, will ask when too late, or of wrong persons, and shall not have it; as the foolish virgins ask oil of the wise, when the bridegroom is come; and the rich man for water from Abraham, when in hell, Mat 25:8.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: Pro 20:1 The proverb does not prohibit the use of wine or beer; in fact, strong drink was used at festivals and celebrations. But intoxication was considered o...

NET Notes: Pro 20:2 The expression “sins against himself” has been taken by some to mean “forfeits his life” (so NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV) or “e...

NET Notes: Pro 20:3 Heb “breaks out.” The Hitpael of the verb גָּלַע (gala’, “to expose; to lay bare”) m...

NET Notes: Pro 20:4 The phrase “for the crop” does not appear in the Hebrew but is implied; it is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.
Geneva Bible: Pro 20:1 ( a ) Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whoever is deceived by it is not wise.
( a ) By wine here is meant him that is given to wine,...

Geneva Bible: Pro 20:2 The fear of a king [is] as the roaring of a lion: [whoever] provoketh him to anger ( b ) sinneth [against] his own soul.
( b ) Puts his life in dange...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
Maclaren -> Pro 20:1-7
Maclaren: Pro 20:1-7 - --A String Of Pearls
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. 2. The fear of a king is as the roaring o...
MHCC: Pro 20:1 - --It seems hard to believe that men of the greatest abilities, as well as the ignorant, should render themselves fools and madmen, merely for the taste ...

MHCC: Pro 20:2 - --How formidable kings are to those who provoke them! how much more foolish then is it to provoke the King of kings!

MHCC: Pro 20:3 - --To engage in quarrels is the greatest folly that can be. Yield, and even give up just demands, for peace' sake.

MHCC: Pro 20:4 - --He who labours and endures hardship in his seed-time for eternity, will be properly diligent as to his earthly business.
Matthew Henry: Pro 20:1 - -- Here is, 1. The mischief of drunkenness: Wine is a mocker; strong drink is raging. It is so to the sinner himself; it mocks him, makes a fool of h...

Matthew Henry: Pro 20:2 - -- See here, 1. How formidable kings are, and what a terror they strike upon those they are angry with. Their fear, with which (especially when they ...

Matthew Henry: Pro 20:3 - -- This is designed to rectify men's mistakes concerning strife. 1. Men think it is their wisdom to engage in quarrels; whereas it is the greatest foll...

Matthew Henry: Pro 20:4 - -- See here the evil of slothfulness and the love of ease. 1. It keeps men from the most necessary business, from ploughing and sowing when the season ...
Keil-Delitzsch: Pro 20:1 - --
This proverb warns against the debauchery with which free-thinking is intimately associated.
Wine is a mocker, mead boisterous;
And no one who is ...

Keil-Delitzsch: Pro 20:2 - --
2 A roaring as of a lion is the terror of the king;
And he that provoketh him forfeiteth his life.
Line first is a variation of Pro 19:12. The ter...

Keil-Delitzsch: Pro 20:3 - --
3 It is an honour to a man to remain far from strife;
But every fool showeth his teeth.
Or better: whoever is a fool quisquis amens , for the em...

Keil-Delitzsch: Pro 20:4 - --
4 At the beginning of the harvest the sluggard plougheth not;
And so when he cometh to the reaping-time there is nothing.
Many translators (Symmac...
Constable -> Pro 10:1--22:17; Pro 19:1--22:17
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 19:1--22:17 - --4. Further advice for pleasing God 19:1-22:16
As was true in the chapter 10-15 section, this one (16:1-22:16) also becomes more difficult to outline a...
