PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible — Proverbs
Gill, John, 1697-1771 · 266,170 words · 546 reading sections
Proverbs 7:14
Proverbs 7:14 Ver. 14. [I have] peace offerings with me,.... Meaning at her house. These peace offerings were of the eucharistic kind; they were offered by way of thanksgiving for favours received; the greatest part of which, all excepting the fat on the kidneys, the rump of the sheep, the breast and right shoulder, w…
276 wordsSECTION 122Proverbs 7:15
Proverbs 7:15 Ver. 15. Therefore came I forth to meet thee,.... Having so much good cheer at home, and none to eat of it with her; and having so fond and affectionate a regard to this young man, as she pretended; he being the only person in her thoughts, whom she hoped to meet with, and whose company she desired, and …
240 wordsSECTION 123Proverbs 7:16
Proverbs 7:16 Ver. 16. I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry,.... Made use of by the ancients {o} for bed clothes: beautiful ornaments, as Gersom; and precious garments, as Jarchi. She had adorned her bed with curtains and clothes, very delightful to the eye, and inviting; and had well corded it, as some int…
494 wordsSECTION 124Proverbs 7:17
Proverbs 7:17 Ver. 17. I have perfumed my bed,.... As she had made it entertaining to the senses of seeing and feeling, it being showy and gaudy, soft and easy; so to the sense of smelling; and all to provoke lust, and draw into her embraces; by censing it with incense, as Donesh in Jarchi; or by sprinkling {s} a liqu…
215 wordsSECTION 125Proverbs 7:18
Proverbs 7:18 Ver. 18. Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning,.... Taking him by the hand, and pulling him along, she says, "come"; let us not stand here in the streets, but let us go within, and after supper to bed; and there enjoy ourselves, till "inebriated" with love, as the word {w} signifies: so th…
2,781 wordsSECTION 126Proverbs 8:1
Proverbs 8:1 INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 8 This chapter contains the instructions of Wisdom or Christ; showing the excellency of them, and the author of them, in opposition to the harlot and her allurements, in the preceding chapter. Christ, under the name of Wisdom, is represented as an herald, publishing the Gospel in…
556 wordsSECTION 127Proverbs 8:2
Proverbs 8:2 Ver. 2. She standeth in the top of high places,.... To be both seen and heard, for which reason Christ went up into a mountain and preached, Mt 5:1; by the way; the roadside, to instruct and direct passengers as they go along, to show them the right way, and caution them against taking wrong ways; so did…
208 wordsSECTION 128Proverbs 8:3
Proverbs 8:3 Ver. 3. She crieth at the gates,.... Of the temple, or of the city, where the courts of judicature were, and persons met on civil accounts; and where people were continually passing and repassing; at the entry of the city; meeting those that came out of the country to the city upon trade and business; a…
134 wordsSECTION 129Proverbs 8:4
Proverbs 8:4 Ver. 4. Unto you, O men, I call,.... Not angels, the fallen angels; for, as they had nothing to do with Christ, he had nothing to do with them, or say unto them, Mt 8:29; nor the brutes, irrational creatures; for, though the Gospel is to be preached to every creature, yet only to rational ones, Mr 16:15, …
219 wordsSECTION 130Proverbs 8:5
Proverbs 8:5 Ver. 5. O ye simple, understand wisdom,.... The Gospel, the wisdom of God in a mystery, particularly the doctrine of salvation by Christ; it is the highest wisdom to know Christ and him crucified: and they are "the simple" who are weak and easy to be imposed upon, who are here called unto; and generally s…
200 wordsSECTION 131Proverbs 8:6
Proverbs 8:6 Ver. 6. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things,.... Such are the things of the Gospel; they not only excel what the light of nature dictates and directs to, but even what the law of Moses commands and requires; the doctrines of the Gospel are excellent in their author, nature, and use; particularly th…
385 wordsSECTION 132Proverbs 8:7
Proverbs 8:7 Ver. 7. For my mouth shall speak truth,.... And nothing but the truth; and nothing more or less can be spoken by Wisdom, or Christ, who is truth itself; nothing else can come out of his mouth, or drop from his lips; all the doctrines of Christ are agreeable to the Scriptures of truth, and are what the Spi…
152 wordsSECTION 133Proverbs 8:8
Proverbs 8:8 Ver. 8. All the words of my mouth [are] in righteousness,.... Or "with righteousness" {x}; are connected with it, are agreeable to it; are righteous ones, consistent with righteousness, with the righteous nature, will, and law of God: or "are concerning righteousness" {y} the necessity of righteousness in…
182 wordsSECTION 134Proverbs 8:9
Proverbs 8:9 Ver. 9. They [are] all plain to him that understandeth,.... Whose understanding is enlightened by the Spirit of God; who is a spiritual man, that has a discerning, and can judge of spiritual things: as for the carnal man, let him have what natural knowledge or wisdom he will, he cannot know these things; …
234 wordsSECTION 135Proverbs 8:10
Proverbs 8:10 Ver. 10. Receive my instruction, and not silver,.... Not but that silver may be desired, sought after and received, consistent with the instructions of wisdom; though an anxious, immoderate, sinful pursuit after it, hinders the reception of them; and when they are in competition, the one is to be preferr…
162 wordsSECTION 136Proverbs 8:11
Proverbs 8:11 Ver. 11. For wisdom [is] better than rubies,.... A sort of precious stones: or, "than precious stones" {z} in general; so the Targum and Septuagint, Arabic and Syriac versions; even than all of them, as the Vulgate Latin version; or, than "pearls" {a}, or "carbuncles" {b}: there are none equal to it, nor…
112 wordsSECTION 137Proverbs 8:12
Proverbs 8:12 Ver. 12. I Wisdom dwell with Prudence,.... Here Wisdom begins to speak in her own person, and continues to do so unto the end of the chapter; or Christ describes himself, pencils out and draws his own picture, and a most lovely one it is. In this clause Christ is described by the habitation in which he d…
1,042 wordsSECTION 138Proverbs 8:13
Proverbs 8:13 Ver. 13. The fear of the Lord [is] to hate evil,.... All evil in general, evil thoughts, evil words, evil actions, evil company, evil worship, and evil doctrines; and by "the fear of the Lord", which shows itself in an hatred of evil, because of the loathsome nature of it, and being contrary to God and h…
543 wordsSECTION 139Proverbs 8:14
Proverbs 8:14 Ver. 14. Counsel [is] mine, and sound wisdom,.... The words and sentiments in this and the following clause are the same with those in Job 12:13; and scent to be taken from thence, which are spoken of God; and being here applied to Wisdom, show that a divine Person is meant; and are very applicable to hi…
759 wordsSECTION 140Proverbs 8:15
Proverbs 8:15 Ver. 15. By me kings reign,.... Christ is the Prince of the kings of the earth, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; they are made kings by him, and are under him; he sets them up, and deposes them at pleasure; they have their kingdoms, crowns, and sceptres from him, and are accountable to him. The Syri…
284 wordsSECTION 141Proverbs 8:16
Proverbs 8:16 Ver. 16. By me princes rule,.... All governors of provinces and cities, who are under the king as supreme; the discharge of whose office in a right manner requires much wisdom, prudence, justice, and integrity; all which they have from Christ, as well as their power of ruling, that rule well; and nobles…
216 wordsSECTION 142Proverbs 8:17
Proverbs 8:17 Ver. 17. I love them that love me,.... Those that love Christ are such who are born again, and have a spiritual and experimental knowledge of him; that believe in him, have seen his loveliness, have had his love shed abroad in their hearts, and a view of his fulness and suitableness; some comfortable app…
8,140 wordsSECTION 143Proverbs 9:1
Proverbs 9:1 INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 9 In this chapter, Wisdom, or Christ, is represented as having built a stately house or palace for the entertainment of his guests, Pr 9:1; as having made large and suitable provisions for them, Pr 9:2; and as having sent his servants to invite them to come and partake of them, a…
758 wordsSECTION 144Proverbs 9:2
Proverbs 9:2 Ver. 2. She hath killed her beasts,.... Or, "her sacrifice" {d}: a crucified Christ, the principal of the provisions in Wisdom's house, or the church of Christ. The death of Christ was prefigured by the slaying of beasts for sacrifice under the old law; was foretold in prophecy, and is expressed by "killi…
1,068 wordsSECTION 145Proverbs 9:3
Proverbs 9:3 Ver. 3. She hath sent forth her maidens,.... Not moral virtues, or good works, which subserve the interest of Christ and religion, adorn the Gospel and its professors; nor the liberal arts and sciences, said to be handmaids to divinity; nor angels, ministering spirits to Christ; but the ministers of the G…
463 wordsSECTION 146Proverbs 9:4
Proverbs 9:4 Ver. 4. Whoso [is] simple, let him turn in hither,.... Into Wisdom's house, so well built and furnished; the church of Christ, as a house of instruction; a school, where such who are "simple", weak, and foolish, may learn. Here are many instructors; saints instruct one another; ministers of the word are t…
390 wordsSECTION 147Proverbs 9:5
Proverbs 9:5 Ver. 5. Come, eat of my bread,.... Which stands for all the provisions of Christ's house; it designs the Gospel, which to a believer is more than his necessary food; and the ordinance of the supper, one of the symbols of which is bread; and more especially Christ himself, the bread of God, the living brea…
207 wordsSECTION 148Proverbs 9:6
Proverbs 9:6 Ver. 6. Forsake the foolish,.... Foolish men and their company; not men of weak abilities in things natural and civil, or who are reckoned foolish by the world; for so the saints are, whose company is not to be neglected and forsaken; but such who are wickedly foolish, who are ignorant of divine things, a…
664 wordsSECTION 149Proverbs 9:7
Proverbs 9:7 Ver. 7. He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame,.... Intimating, that though the simple, and such as want understanding, and of whom there is hope of doing them good, are to be invited into Wisdom's house; yet not the haughty scorner, the abandoned sinner, the scoffer at all religion, who wal…
296 wordsSECTION 150Proverbs 9:8
Proverbs 9:8 Ver. 8. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee,.... For wicked men are apt to hate those that publicly rebuke them, Am 5:10. Hence minister's of the word are of all men most hated; though this also should be bore with, could it be thought, or there was any reason to believe, that the reproof would be of…
209 wordsSECTION 151Proverbs 9:9
Proverbs 9:9 Ver. 9. Give [instruction] to a wise [man],.... In the Hebrew text it is only "give to a wise man"; give him reproof, correction, chastisement, doctrine, or instruction, be it what it will, he will be the better for it. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, render it, "give occasion"…
202 wordsSECTION 152Proverbs 9:10
Proverbs 9:10 Ver. 10. The fear of the Lord [is] the beginning of wisdom,.... This shows who the wise men are, and in what true wisdom lies; no man is wise till he fears the Lord, and he that does so is a wise man, at least then he begins to be one; this is the principal part of wisdom, Pr 1:7; and is at the first of …
580 wordsSECTION 153Proverbs 9:11
Proverbs 9:11 Ver. 11. For by me thy days shall be multiplied,.... These are the words of Wisdom, and contain a reason and argument why her call and advice in the preceding verses should be listened unto, since she gives long life to her followers. She is a tree of life unto them, the author and giver of spiritual and…
198 wordsSECTION 154Proverbs 9:12
Proverbs 9:12 Ver. 12. If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself,.... He is wise that harkens to Wisdom's advice, that obeys her call, turns in to her house, and becomes her guest; and such an one is wise for himself, it is for his own good, profit, and advantage; for the good of his soul, for his present peace …
314 wordsSECTION 155Proverbs 9:13
Proverbs 9:13 Ver. 13. A foolish woman [is] clamorous,.... Some by this woman understand folly itself, as opposed to wisdom; others blind reason, ignorant of divine things; others carnal sensual pleasure, which entices and draws men to that which is evil; others heresy and superstition; others the old serpent, the dev…
321 wordsSECTION 156Proverbs 9:14
Proverbs 9:14 Ver. 14. For she sitteth at the door of her house, &e.] Idle and inactive, looking out for her prey; not active and laborious, as Wisdom, building her house, killing her beasts, furnishing her table, and sending out her maidens to call in her guests; but exposing herself in the most public manner, and be…
205 wordsSECTION 157Proverbs 9:15
Proverbs 9:15 Ver. 15. To call passengers who go right on their ways. Who have been religiously educated, and trained up in the principles of true Christianity; and who walk outwardly according to the rule of the divine word, and are in a fair way for heaven and eternal happiness. These she has her eye upon as they pa…
118 wordsSECTION 158Proverbs 9:16
Proverbs 9:16 Ver. 16. Whoso [is] simple, let him turn in hither,.... The harlot's house, Popish chapels and churches. She uses the same form of words that Wisdom does, Pr 9:4; having a form of godliness, a show of religion, but without the power of it; her priests are wolves in sheep's clothing, and speak lies in hyp…
764 wordsSECTION 159Proverbs 10:1
Proverbs 10:1 INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 10 From this chapter to the "twenty fifth" are various proverbial sentences, without any very apparent connection or coherence with each other; describing righteous and wicked men; setting forth their different temper, conduct, and actions, and the fruits and effects of them. It…
557 wordsSECTION 160Proverbs 10:2
Proverbs 10:2 Ver. 2. Treasures of wickedness profit nothing,.... By which are meant either a large abundance of riches in general, which for the most part are enjoyed by wicked men, and abused to wicked purposes, Pr 11:4; or an affluence of them, obtained in a wicked way, by fraud, oppression, and the like; see Mic 6…
542 wordsSECTION 161Proverbs 10:3
Proverbs 10:3 Ver. 3. The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish,.... Or to perish by famine: not but that good men may be afflicted with it, as Jacob and his sons were, when the famine was in Egypt and in other lands; and as the apostles, particularly the Apostle Paul, were often in hunger and thirs…
288 wordsSECTION 162Proverbs 10:4
Proverbs 10:4 Ver. 4. He becometh poor that dealeth [with] a slack hand,.... That is either remiss in giving to the necessities of others, according to his abilities, and as cases require; or that is negligent and slothful in his business. Or, "that worketh with a deceitful hand"; or, "with a hand of deceit" {u}, as i…
366 wordsSECTION 163Proverbs 10:5
Proverbs 10:5 Ver. 5. He that gathereth in summer [is] a wise son,.... Which is the time of gathering the fruits of the earth, and laying them up against winter, as the ant is said to do, Pr 6:8; [but] he that sleepeth in harvest [is] a son that causeth shame; to himself, and to his parents and relations. The sum of …
116 wordsSECTION 164Proverbs 10:6
Proverbs 10:6 Ver. 6. Blessings [are] upon the head of the just,.... That seeks for righteousness, not by the works of the law, but by faith; that lives by faith upon the righteousness of Christ, and is justified by it, made, accounted, and reckoned just through it; and, in consequence of his faith, does justly, and l…
637 wordsSECTION 165Proverbs 10:7
Proverbs 10:7 Ver. 7. The memory of the just [is] blessed,.... Men to whom he has been useful, either in temporals or spirituals, bless him, or wish all blessings to him while alive, whenever they make mention of his name; and after death they speak well of him, and pronounce him blessed; for such are had in everlasti…
264 wordsSECTION 166Proverbs 10:8
Proverbs 10:8 Ver. 8. The wise in heart will receive commandments,.... Such who have true wisdom in the hidden part of the heart, of which the fear of the Lord is the beginning: these will not only, as good subjects, honour their king, and attend to his lawful commands; and, as dutiful children, regard those of their …
182 wordsSECTION 167Proverbs 10:9
Proverbs 10:9 Ver. 9. He that walketh uprightly walketh surely,.... Or, "that walketh in perfection" {c} as the Targum. Not that walks without sin, no man does that; but that walks in the sincerity, integrity, and uprightness of his heart, both before God and men; who worships God in spirit and in truth, and speaks th…
557 wordsSECTION 168Proverbs 10:10
Proverbs 10:10 Ver. 10. He that winketh with the eye,.... The Syriac and Arabic versions add, "with fraud". A descriptive character of a wicked man, Pr 6:13; who so does, either to draw and allure persons to go along with him, and join him in his evil practices; or by way of scorn and contempt of others; or as a token…
155 wordsSECTION 169Proverbs 10:11
Proverbs 10:11 Ver. 11. The mouth of a righteous [man is] a well of life,.... Like a fountain of living water, continually running and flowing with water, wholesome, reviving, and refreshing; so the righteous man's mouth, out of the abundance of his heart, overflows with good things, which minister grace to the hearer…
161 wordsSECTION 170Proverbs 10:12
Proverbs 10:12 Ver. 12. Hatred stirreth up strifes,.... A man, whose heart is full of hatred and malice against his neighbour, will stir up, or awake, as the word {d} signifies, contentions and quarrels which were happily laid asleep; these he renews by tale bearing, and whisperings, and evil surmises; by raising lies…
195 wordsSECTION 171Proverbs 10:13
Proverbs 10:13 Ver. 13. In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found,.... He that has an understanding, especially of divine, spiritual, and evangelic things, which is the pure gift of God; wisdom will be found in his lips, his mouth will speak of it; not of mere natural wisdom, but spiritual wisdom; of …
228 wordsSECTION 172Proverbs 10:14
Proverbs 10:14 Ver. 14. Wise [men] lay up knowledge,.... Which they get by reading, prayer, meditation, hearing the word of God, and conversation with good men: this they lay up in their hearts, minds, and memories, that they may not forget it, and as a rich treasure they highly value it; that they may bring it forth …
179 wordsSECTION 173Proverbs 10:15
Proverbs 10:15 Ver. 15. The rich man's wealth [is] his strong city,.... What a fortified city is to persons in time of war, that is a rich man's wealth to him; by it he can defend himself from the injuries of others, and support himself and family in times of public calamity; for money is a defence, and answers all th…
227 wordsSECTION 174Proverbs 10:16
Proverbs 10:16 Ver. 16. The labour of the righteous [tendeth] to life,.... To natural life, and the support of it; all that he labours for is to get a livelihood for himself and family; that is all he desires, nor does he seek great things for himself: or to spiritual life; so his spiritual exercises in praying, readi…
241 wordsSECTION 175Proverbs 10:17
Proverbs 10:17 Ver. 17. He [is in] the way of life,.... Of eternal life, which is truly, properly, and by way of eminency, "life", Mt 19:17; and which is a life of glory; a life of perfection, of perfect holiness, knowledge, obedience, love, peace, and joy; a life free from all the inconveniences of the present life, …
5,721 wordsSECTION 176Proverbs 11:1
Proverbs 11:1 Ver. 1. A false balance [is] abomination to the Lord,.... Under which are included all false weights and measures, and all fraudulent practices in commerce and dealing; which are forbidden by the Lord, and are abominable to him, as being injurious to the estates and properties of men: and more especially…
292 wordsSECTION 177Proverbs 11:2
Proverbs 11:2 Ver. 2. [When] pride cometh, then cometh shame,.... The one follows the other, or rather keep pace together; as soon as one comes, the other comes; as in the case of the angels that sinned, Adam and Eve, Haman, Nebuchadnezzar, and others; and will be the case of the Romish antichrist, who, while vaunting…
167 wordsSECTION 178Proverbs 11:3
Proverbs 11:3 Ver. 3. The integrity of the upright shall guide them,.... The Spirit of God is the best guide of an upright man; he leads into all truth, and unto the land of uprightness, and continues to be a guide, even unto death; and it is right to walk after him, and not after the flesh: and besides him, the uprig…
243 wordsSECTION 179Proverbs 11:4
Proverbs 11:4 Ver. 4. Riches profit not in the day of wrath,.... When God takes away the soul, and summons to judgment, and brings to it; and as riches profited not Rome Pagan, in the day of the Lamb's wrath upon it; so neither will they profit Rome Papal, when it will come in remembrance before God, to give it the cu…
117 wordsSECTION 180Proverbs 11:5
Proverbs 11:5 Ver. 5. The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way,.... Or "make [it] plain" {f}; that is, the righteousness of those who are perfect in Christ, complete in him, perfectly justified by his righteousness; that righteousness makes their way plain; it is the direct way, the highway, the pathway t…
170 wordsSource & rights
Public domain; John Gill (1697–1771). Source item is marked Public Domain on Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.