
Text -- Proverbs 23:23 (NET)




Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics



collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Purchase it upon any terms, spare no pains or cost.

The true and saving knowledge of God's will.

Do not forsake it for any worldly advantage.

Generally and specially as opposed to errors of all kinds.
Clarke: Pro 23:23 - -- Buy the truth - Acquire the knowledge of God at all events; and in order to do this, too much pains, industry, and labor cannot be expended
Buy the truth - Acquire the knowledge of God at all events; and in order to do this, too much pains, industry, and labor cannot be expended

Clarke: Pro 23:23 - -- And sell it not - When once acquired, let no consideration deprive thee of it. Cleave to and guard it, even at the risk of thy life. Coverdale trans...
And sell it not - When once acquired, let no consideration deprive thee of it. Cleave to and guard it, even at the risk of thy life. Coverdale translates: "Labour for to get the treuth; sell not awaye wissdome."
TSK -> Pro 23:23
TSK: Pro 23:23 - -- Buy : Pro 2:2-4, Pro 4:5-7, Pro 10:1, Pro 16:16, Pro 17:16; Job 28:12-19; Psa 119:72, Psa 119:127; Isa 55:1; Mat 13:44, Mat 13:46; Phi 3:7, Phi 3:8; R...

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Pro 23:15-35
Barnes: Pro 23:15-35 - -- Another continuous exhortation rather than a collection of maxims. Pro 23:16 The teacher rejoices when the disciple’ s heart Pro 23:15 r...
Another continuous exhortation rather than a collection of maxims.
The teacher rejoices when the disciple’ s heart Pro 23:15 receives wisdom, and yet more when his lips can utter it.
Reins - See Job 19:27 note.
Envy sinners - Compare in Psa 37:1; Psa 73:3; the feeling which looks half-longingly at the prosperity of evil doers. Some connect the verb "envy"with the second clause, "envy not sinners, but envy, emulate, the fear of the Lord."
Or, For if there is an end (hereafter), thine expectations shall not be cut off. There is an implied confidence in immortality.
Riotous eaters of flesh - The word is the same as "glutton"in Pro 23:21 and Deu 21:20.
The three forms of evil that destroy reputation and tempt to waste are brought together.
Drowsiness - Specially the drunken sleep, heavy and confused.
Observe - Another reading gives, "let thine eyes delight in my ways."
As for a prey - Better as in the margin.
The transgressors - Better, the treacherous,"those that attack men treacherously.
Woe ... sorrow - The words in the original are interjections, probably expressing distress. The sharp touch of the satirist reproduces the actual inarticulate utterances of drunkenness.
Mixed wine - Wine flavored with aromatic spices, that increase its stimulating properties Isa 5:22. There is a touch of sarcasm in "go to seek."The word, elsewhere used of diligent search after knowledge Pro 25:2; Job 11:7; Psa 139:1, is used here of the investigations of connoisseurs in wine meeting to test its qualities.
His color - literally, "its eye,"the clear brightness, or the beaded bubbles on which the wine drinker looks with complacency.
It moveth itself aright - The Hebrew word describes the pellucid stream flowing pleasantly from the wineskin or jug into the goblet or the throat (compare Son 7:9), rather than a sparkling wine.
Adder - Said to be the Cerastes, or horned snake.
The passage is interesting, as showing the increased familiarity of Israelites with the experiences of sea life (compare Psa 104:25-26; Psa 107:23-30).
In the midst of the sea - i. e., When the ship is in the trough of the sea and the man is on the deck. The second clause varies the form of danger, the man is in the "cradle"at the top of the mast, and sleeps there, regardless of the danger.
The picture ends with the words of the drunkard on waking from his sleep. Unconscious of the excesses of the night, his first thought is to return to his old habit.
When shall I awake ... - Better, when I shall awake I will seek it yet again.
Poole -> Pro 23:23
Poole: Pro 23:23 - -- Buy the truth purchase it upon any terms, spare no pains nor cost to get it. The truth ; the true and saving knowledge of God’ s mind and will ...
Buy the truth purchase it upon any terms, spare no pains nor cost to get it. The truth ; the true and saving knowledge of God’ s mind and will concerning your salvation, and the way that leads to it.
Sell it not do not forget it nor forsake it for any worldly advantages, as ungodly men frequently do.
Understanding whereby you may love and practise the truth known and received.
Haydock -> Pro 23:23
Haydock: Pro 23:23 - -- Sell. Acquire as much wisdom as possible, and keep it with care. (Calmet) ---
Septuagint, "do not drive wisdom from thee."
Sell. Acquire as much wisdom as possible, and keep it with care. (Calmet) ---
Septuagint, "do not drive wisdom from thee."
Gill -> Pro 23:23
Gill: Pro 23:23 - -- Buy the truth, and sell it not,.... Evangelical truth, the word of truth, the Gospel of salvation, which comes from the God of truth; has Christ, who...
Buy the truth, and sell it not,.... Evangelical truth, the word of truth, the Gospel of salvation, which comes from the God of truth; has Christ, who is the truth, for the stem and substance of it; men are directed and led into it by the Spirit of truth; the whole matter of it is truth; truth, in opposition to the law, that was typical and shadowy; to the errors of false teachers, to everything that is fictitious, or another Gospel; and to that which is a lie, for no lie is of the truth: there are several particular doctrines of the Gospel which are so called; those which respect the knowledge of one God, and three Persons in the Godhead; the deity and sonship of Christ, his incarnation and Messiahship, salvation alone by him, a sinner's justification by his righteousness, and the resurrection of the dead; the whole of which is truth, and is an answer to Pilate's question, Joh 18:38; and this men should "buy", not books only, as Aben Ezra interprets it, such as explain and confirm truth, though these should be bought; and especially the Bible, the Scriptures of truth; yet this does not reach the sense of the text: nor is it merely to be understood of persons supporting the Gospel ministry with their purses, by which means truth is preserved, propagated, and continued: no price is set upon it, as being above all; it should be bought or had at any rate, let the expense be what it will: "buying" it supposes a person to have some knowledge of it, of the excellency, usefulness, and importance of it; and shows that he sets a value upon it, and has a high esteem for it: it is to be understood of his using all means and taking great pains to acquire it; such as reading the word, meditating upon it, attending on the public ministry, and fervent and frequent prayer for it, and a greater degree of knowledge of it; yea, it signifies a person's parting with everything for it that is required; as with his former errors he has been brought up in, or has imbibed; with his good name and reputation, being willing to be accounted a fool or a madman, and an enthusiast, or anything for the sake of it; and even with life itself, when called for; and such a man will strive and contend for it, stand fast in it, and hold it fast, and not let it go, which is meant by "selling" it; truth is not to be sold upon any account, or for any thing whatever; it is not to be slighted and neglected; it should not be parted with neither for the riches, and honours, and pleasures of this life, nor for the sake of a good name among men, nor for the sake of peace, nor for the avoiding of persecution; it should he abode by, and not departed from, though the greater number is against it, and they the riots, the wise, and learned; and though it may be traduced as novel, irrational, and licentious, and be attended with affliction;
also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding; that is, buy these also, and sell them no; "wisdom" is to be prized above everything; it is the principal thing, and should be got; all means should he used to obtain it; it may be bought without money; it should be asked of God, who gives it liberally, and, being had, should be held fast: the "instruction" the Scriptures give, the instruction of the Gospel, the instruction of Wisdom, should be valued above gold and silver, and diligently sought after; should be laid fast hold on and not parted with: "understanding" of divine and spiritual things is to be gotten; happy is the man that gets it; and above all gettings this should be got, and all means made rise of to improve and increase it. The Targum, Syriac, and Vulgate Latin versions, connect these with the word sell only, thus, "buy the truth, and sell not wisdom, and instruction, and understanding"; but as buying and selling both refer to truth, so likewise to these also. The whole verse is wanting in the Septuagint and Arabic versions.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: Pro 23:23 The sixteenth saying is an instruction to buy/acquire the kind of life that pleases God and brings joy to parents. “Getting truth” would m...
Geneva Bible -> Pro 23:23
Geneva Bible: Pro 23:23 Buy ( k ) the truth, and sell [it] not; [also] wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
( k ) Spare no cost for truths sake, neither depart from i...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
Maclaren -> Pro 23:15-23
Maclaren: Pro 23:15-23 - --A Condensed Guide For Life
My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. 16. Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak ri...
MHCC -> Pro 23:19-28
MHCC: Pro 23:19-28 - --The gracious Saviour who purchased pardon and peace for his people, with all the affection of a tender parent, counsels us to hear and be wise, and is...
Matthew Henry -> Pro 23:19-28
Matthew Henry: Pro 23:19-28 - -- Here is good advice for parents to give to their children; words are put into their mouths, that they may train them up in the way they should go. ...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Pro 23:22-25
Keil-Delitzsch: Pro 23:22-25 - --
The parainesis begins anew, and the division is open to question. Pro 23:22-24 can of themselves be independent distichs; but this is not the case ...
Constable: Pro 22:17--25:1 - --III. WISE SAYINGS 22:17--24:34
A third major section of the Book of Proverbs begins with 22:17. This is clear fr...

Constable: Pro 22:17--24:23 - --A. Thirty Sayings of the Wise 22:17-24:22
Many scholars have called attention to the similarities betwee...
