Proverbs 15:31

15:31 The person ¹  who hears the reproof that leads to life ² 

is at home ³  among the wise. ⁴ 

Proverbs 20:12

20:12 The ear that hears and the eye that sees ⁵  –

the Lord has made them both. ⁶ 

Proverbs 25:12

25:12 Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, ⁷ 

so is a wise reprover to the ear of the one who listens. ⁸ 

[15:31]  ¹ tn Heb “ear” (so KJV, NRSV). The term “ear” is a synecdoche of part (= ear) for the whole (= person).

[15:31]  ² tn “Life” is an objective genitive: Reproof brings or preserves life. Cf. NIV “life-giving rebuke”; NLT “constructive criticism.”

[15:31]  ³ tn Heb “lodges.” This means to live with, to be at home with.

[15:31]  ⁴ sn The proverb is one full sentence; it affirms that a teachable person is among the wise.

[20:12]  ⁵ sn The first half of the verse refers to two basic senses that the Lord has given to people. C. H. Toy, however, thinks that they represent all the faculties (Proverbs [ICC], 388). But in the book of Proverbs seeing and hearing come to the fore. By usage “hearing” also means obeying (15:31; 25:12), and “seeing” also means perceiving and understanding (Isa 6:9-10).

[20:12]  ⁶ sn The verse not only credits God with making these faculties of hearing and sight and giving them to people, but it also emphasizes their spiritual use in God’s service.

[25:12]  ⁹ sn This saying is another example of emblematic parallelism; the first half is the simile, and the second half makes the point from it: A wise rebuke that is properly received is of lasting value. The rebuke in the ear of an obedient student is like ornaments of fine jewelry.

[25:12]  ¹⁰ tn The “ear of the listener” refers to the obedient disciple, the one who complies with the reproof he hears. Cf. KJV, ASV, NAB “an obedient ear.”