King James Version
Proverbs 2
22 verses with commentary
The Benefits of Wisdom
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
This verse begins the second major discourse in Proverbs (2:1-22), establishing the conditional nature of wisdom's attainment. 'If thou wilt receive' (אִם־תִּקַּח/im-tiqach) places the responsibility on the hearer—wisdom requires active reception, not passive hearing. The verb 'laqach' means to take, accept, receive—implying intentional appropriation. 'Hide my commandments with thee' uses the verb...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
**II.**
(c) *Third Discourse:*—*An Exhortation to follow after Wisdom *(Proverbs 2).
(1) **Hide**—*i.e., *store up. (Comp. Proverbs 2:4.)
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
9. On this special case, compare 1Sa 2:21. Barrenness was regarded as a disgrace, and is a type of a deserted Church (Is 54:1).
**the barren woman ... house--**literally, "the barren of the house," so that the supplied words may be omitted.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 2
Chapter Outline
Promises to those who seek wisdom.(1-9)
The advantages of wisdom.(10-22)
**Verses 1-9**
Those who earnestly seek heavenly wisdom, will never complain that they have lost their labour; and the freeness of the gift does not do away the necessity of our diligence, Joh 6:27 Let them seek, and they shall find it; let them ask, and it shall be given them. Obse...
Read full commentary →So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
View commentary (2 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
Active listening ('incline thine ear') and applying the heart demonstrate that wisdom requires whole-person engagement. The Hebrew 'hiqshib' (incline) suggests straining to hear, while 'natah' (apply) means stretching toward. This counters passive Christianity, calling for diligent pursuit of understanding through disciplined Bible study.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 2
Chapter Outline
Promises to those who seek wisdom.(1-9)
The advantages of wisdom.(10-22)
**Verses 1-9**
Those who earnestly seek heavenly wisdom, will never complain that they have lost their labour; and the freeness of the gift does not do away the necessity of our diligence, Joh 6:27 Let them seek, and they shall find it; let them ask, and it shall be given them. Obse...
Read full commentary →Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; liftest: Heb. givest thy voice
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
Crying out for knowledge employs the language of desperate prayer. The Hebrew 'qara' and 'nathan' (cry/lift voice) are used elsewhere for urgent petitioning of God. This shows that gaining wisdom is fundamentally a spiritual exercise requiring dependence on God's revelation, not merely intellectual effort.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
PSALM 114 Psa 114:1-8. The writer briefly and beautifully celebrates God's former care of His people, to whose benefit nature was miraculously made to contribute.
**1-4. of strange language--**(compare Psa 81:5).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 2
Chapter Outline
Promises to those who seek wisdom.(1-9)
The advantages of wisdom.(10-22)
**Verses 1-9**
Those who earnestly seek heavenly wisdom, will never complain that they have lost their labour; and the freeness of the gift does not do away the necessity of our diligence, Joh 6:27 Let them seek, and they shall find it; let them ask, and it shall be given them. Obse...
Read full commentary →If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The mining metaphor illustrates the strenuous effort required to obtain wisdom. Silver mining in ancient times demanded dangerous, exhausting labor with no guaranteed reward. Yet the Reformed perspective maintains that even this diligent seeking is enabled by God's grace, not meritorious in itself. The treasure found is God's gift.
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(4) **If thou seekest her as silver.—**That the process of mining was understood long before the time of Solomon, is proved by the remains of copper mines discovered in the peninsula of Sinai, and the gold mines in the Bisháree desert of Egypt. Rock inscriptions have been found near the former, dating from a great age, in the opinion of Lepsius from 4000 B.C. (See the article “Mines,” in Smith’s *...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
PSALM 114 Psa 114:1-8. The writer briefly and beautifully celebrates God's former care of His people, to whose benefit nature was miraculously made to contribute.
**1-4. of strange language--**(compare Psa 81:5).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 2
Chapter Outline
Promises to those who seek wisdom.(1-9)
The advantages of wisdom.(10-22)
**Verses 1-9**
Those who earnestly seek heavenly wisdom, will never complain that they have lost their labour; and the freeness of the gift does not do away the necessity of our diligence, Joh 6:27 Let them seek, and they shall find it; let them ask, and it shall be given them. Obse...
Read full commentary →Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The 'fear of the LORD' is not servile terror but reverential awe that acknowledges His holiness and our dependence. This fear is the epistemological foundation for all true knowledge—without it, wisdom is impossible. Finding 'knowledge of God' is the ultimate goal, surpassing mere moral improvement or practical success.
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(5) **Find the knowledge of God.**—It is the highest of all gifts, even eternal life itself, to know God, the Giver of all good things. It was to bestow this knowledge upon man that Christ came into the world (John 17:3). He promises (Proverbs 14:21) the manifestation of Himself as the reward of obedience and love. And yet our highest knowledge of God in this life must be so imperfect, in comparis...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
PSALM 114 Psa 114:1-8. The writer briefly and beautifully celebrates God's former care of His people, to whose benefit nature was miraculously made to contribute.
**1-4. of strange language--**(compare Psa 81:5).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 2
Chapter Outline
Promises to those who seek wisdom.(1-9)
The advantages of wisdom.(10-22)
**Verses 1-9**
Those who earnestly seek heavenly wisdom, will never complain that they have lost their labour; and the freeness of the gift does not do away the necessity of our diligence, Joh 6:27 Let them seek, and they shall find it; let them ask, and it shall be given them. Obse...
Read full commentary →For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
This verse reveals the divine source of wisdom. After commanding pursuit of wisdom (vv.1-5), Solomon declares that 'the LORD giveth wisdom' (יְהוָה יִתֵּן חָכְמָה/Yahweh yiten chokhmah). Human effort alone cannot produce wisdom—it is God's gift. 'Out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding' emphasizes revelation: wisdom flows from God's self-disclosure in His word. This anticipates the New...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(6) **For the Lord giveth wisdom.**—As St. James (Proverbs 1:5) expresses it, He gives it to every man “liberally, and upbraideth not:” *i.e., *blames him not for asking it.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
PSALM 114 Psa 114:1-8. The writer briefly and beautifully celebrates God's former care of His people, to whose benefit nature was miraculously made to contribute.
**1-4. of strange language--**(compare Psa 81:5).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 2
Chapter Outline
Promises to those who seek wisdom.(1-9)
The advantages of wisdom.(10-22)
**Verses 1-9**
Those who earnestly seek heavenly wisdom, will never complain that they have lost their labour; and the freeness of the gift does not do away the necessity of our diligence, Joh 6:27 Let them seek, and they shall find it; let them ask, and it shall be given them. Obse...
Read full commentary →He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
God's provision for the righteous: 'He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.' God actively stores ('layeth up') wisdom for His people like treasure reserved for heirs. 'Sound wisdom' (Hebrew: tushiyyah, abiding success, practical wisdom) represents effective knowledge for life. The buckler (shield) imagery shows God's protective function—He guards t...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(7) **Sound wisdom.—**Literally, *furtherance, advancement *(Comp. *“*Whosoever hath, unto him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance,” Matthew 13:12.)
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
5-8. The questions place the implied answers in a more striking form.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 2
Chapter Outline
Promises to those who seek wisdom.(1-9)
The advantages of wisdom.(10-22)
**Verses 1-9**
Those who earnestly seek heavenly wisdom, will never complain that they have lost their labour; and the freeness of the gift does not do away the necessity of our diligence, Joh 6:27 Let them seek, and they shall find it; let them ask, and it shall be given them. Obse...
Read full commentary →He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
God's protective continuation: 'He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.' The double emphasis—'keepeth' and 'preserveth'—shows comprehensive divine care. 'Paths of judgment' represents righteous living; God guards the way of justice. 'His saints' (Hebrew: chasidim, loyal ones, covenant-keepers) identifies the objects of preservation. This teaches perseverance of the ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(8) **He keepeth the paths of judgment**—i.e., protects those who walk in them.
**His saints.—**Or rather, *His ardent worshippers *(*chasîdîm*)*, *a term used in the Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 33:8) of the tribe of Levi, for their zeal in God’s service (Exodus 32), and of very frequent occurrence in the Psalter. The word “saint” rather implies dedication to God, as Israel was a “holy nation (Exodus ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
5-8. The questions place the implied answers in a more striking form.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 2
Chapter Outline
Promises to those who seek wisdom.(1-9)
The advantages of wisdom.(10-22)
**Verses 1-9**
Those who earnestly seek heavenly wisdom, will never complain that they have lost their labour; and the freeness of the gift does not do away the necessity of our diligence, Joh 6:27 Let them seek, and they shall find it; let them ask, and it shall be given them. Obse...
Read full commentary →Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The result of divine provision: 'Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.' The 'then' indicates consequence—after receiving and heeding wisdom, understanding follows. This isn't mere intellectual knowledge but experiential comprehension of righteousness (right standing), judgment (justice), and equity (fairness). The comprehensive 'every good path' ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
5-8. The questions place the implied answers in a more striking form.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 2
Chapter Outline
Promises to those who seek wisdom.(1-9)
The advantages of wisdom.(10-22)
**Verses 1-9**
Those who earnestly seek heavenly wisdom, will never complain that they have lost their labour; and the freeness of the gift does not do away the necessity of our diligence, Joh 6:27 Let them seek, and they shall find it; let them ask, and it shall be given them. Obse...
Read full commentary →When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
Wisdom entering the heart produces delight—it satisfies at the deepest level. The Hebrew 'yinah' (pleasant) denotes not fleeting pleasure but enduring satisfaction. This anticipates Augustine's insight that our hearts are restless until they rest in God. Wisdom delights because it brings us into harmony with reality as God designed it.
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(10) **When wisdom **. . .—Rather to be taken as an explanation of the preceding, *For wisdom will enter, *&c
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
5-8. The questions place the implied answers in a more striking form.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 10-22**
If we are truly wise, we shall be careful to avoid all evil company and evil practices. When wisdom has dominion over us, then it not only fills the head, but enters into the heart, and will preserve, both against corruptions within and temptations without. The ways of sin are ways of darkness, uncomfortable and unsafe: what fools are those who leave the plain, pleasant, light...
Read full commentary →Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
View commentary (2 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
Discretion and understanding function as protective guards, preserving believers from destructive choices. The military imagery ('preserve,' 'keep') suggests active defense against spiritual enemies. Reformed theology emphasizes that this preservation is God's work through sanctifying grace, using wisdom as the means of protection.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 10-22**
If we are truly wise, we shall be careful to avoid all evil company and evil practices. When wisdom has dominion over us, then it not only fills the head, but enters into the heart, and will preserve, both against corruptions within and temptations without. The ways of sin are ways of darkness, uncomfortable and unsafe: what fools are those who leave the plain, pleasant, light...
Read full commentary →To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
Wisdom delivers from the way of evil, from men speaking perverse (tahpukot - twisted, distorted) things. Moral discernment protects from both evil conduct and corrupting influences. The verse emphasizes both active sin and deceptive teaching as dangers wisdom guards against. Understanding truth enables recognition of error; knowing righteousness enables identification of evil. This protective func...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(12) **Froward things.**—(Heb., *tahpûkhôth*)*, i.e., *misrepresentations, distortions of the truth.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
PSALM 115 Psa 115:1-18. The Psalmist prays that God would vindicate His glory, which is contrasted with the vanity of idols, while the folly of their worshippers is contrasted with the trust of God's people, who are encouraged to its exercise and to unite in the praise which it occasions.
1-3. The vindication of God's mercy and faithfulness (Psa 25:10; 36:6) is the "glory" of His "name," which is...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 10-22**
If we are truly wise, we shall be careful to avoid all evil company and evil practices. When wisdom has dominion over us, then it not only fills the head, but enters into the heart, and will preserve, both against corruptions within and temptations without. The ways of sin are ways of darkness, uncomfortable and unsafe: what fools are those who leave the plain, pleasant, light...
Read full commentary →Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The way of the wicked diverges from righteousness into darkness. The Hebrew 'derek yosher' (straight paths) contrasts with moral crookedness. Those who abandon divine wisdom inevitably abandon moral clarity, choosing paths characterized by ethical confusion and spiritual blindness. This illustrates the practical consequences of rejecting wisdom - not merely intellectual error but moral corruption ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
PSALM 115 Psa 115:1-18. The Psalmist prays that God would vindicate His glory, which is contrasted with the vanity of idols, while the folly of their worshippers is contrasted with the trust of God's people, who are encouraged to its exercise and to unite in the praise which it occasions.
1-3. The vindication of God's mercy and faithfulness (Psa 25:10; 36:6) is the "glory" of His "name," which is...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 10-22**
If we are truly wise, we shall be careful to avoid all evil company and evil practices. When wisdom has dominion over us, then it not only fills the head, but enters into the heart, and will preserve, both against corruptions within and temptations without. The ways of sin are ways of darkness, uncomfortable and unsafe: what fools are those who leave the plain, pleasant, light...
Read full commentary →Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
This verse reveals the psychological corruption of the wicked - they don't merely tolerate evil but actively rejoice in it. The Hebrew 'sameach' (rejoice) indicates celebration and delight. When sin progresses from temptation to action to celebration, it evidences complete moral inversion. What should produce shame instead produces pleasure, demonstrating how sin hardens the conscience and pervert...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(14) **Delight in the frowardness of the wicked.—**This positive taking pleasure in evil is mentioned by St. Paul (Romans 1:32) as the last stage of degradation.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
PSALM 115 Psa 115:1-18. The Psalmist prays that God would vindicate His glory, which is contrasted with the vanity of idols, while the folly of their worshippers is contrasted with the trust of God's people, who are encouraged to its exercise and to unite in the praise which it occasions.
1-3. The vindication of God's mercy and faithfulness (Psa 25:10; 36:6) is the "glory" of His "name," which is...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 10-22**
If we are truly wise, we shall be careful to avoid all evil company and evil practices. When wisdom has dominion over us, then it not only fills the head, but enters into the heart, and will preserve, both against corruptions within and temptations without. The ways of sin are ways of darkness, uncomfortable and unsafe: what fools are those who leave the plain, pleasant, light...
Read full commentary →Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
Continuing the description of the wicked, this verse emphasizes their crooked paths and perverse ways. The Hebrew 'iqqesh' (crooked) and 'luwz' (perverse/devious) describe deliberate moral distortion. Unlike the straight path of wisdom that leads predictably to life, crooked paths wind chaotically, reflecting the fundamental irrationality of sin. Moral perversity produces practical chaos.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
4-7. (Compare Is 40:18-20; 44:9-20).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 10-22**
If we are truly wise, we shall be careful to avoid all evil company and evil practices. When wisdom has dominion over us, then it not only fills the head, but enters into the heart, and will preserve, both against corruptions within and temptations without. The ways of sin are ways of darkness, uncomfortable and unsafe: what fools are those who leave the plain, pleasant, light...
Read full commentary →To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
Wisdom delivers from the strange woman (zarah - foreign, alien), the adulteress who flatters with her words. The extended warning against sexual immorality (vv.16-19) treats it as paradigmatic folly with deadly consequences. The 'strange woman' represents both literal adultery and, metaphorically, any seductive evil offering forbidden pleasure. Her flattering speech parallels the serpent's decepti...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(16) **To deliver thee from the strange woman.—**Another work of wisdom, to save from profligacy. Of the two epithets here used, *“*strange” (*zārah*) and “stranger” (*nokhrîyyah*)*, *the first implies that she belonged to another family, the second to another nation. It would seem as if the evil example of Solomon (1Kings 11:1), in marrying foreign women, had become common in Israel, and that the...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
4-7. (Compare Is 40:18-20; 44:9-20).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 10-22**
If we are truly wise, we shall be careful to avoid all evil company and evil practices. When wisdom has dominion over us, then it not only fills the head, but enters into the heart, and will preserve, both against corruptions within and temptations without. The ways of sin are ways of darkness, uncomfortable and unsafe: what fools are those who leave the plain, pleasant, light...
Read full commentary →Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
This verse identifies the seductress who abandons her covenant obligations. The 'guide of her youth' likely refers to her husband, while 'covenant of her God' indicates marriage's sacred nature. Adultery isn't merely personal betrayal but covenant breaking before God. The theology here is profound: human relationships exist within divine framework, and violations of horizontal covenants simultaneo...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(17) **The guide of her youth.—**Or rather, *friend with whom she has lived in intimacy*: that is, the husband of her youth; in other words, her first love. Jeremiah uses the same phrase (Proverbs 3:4). (Comp. “wife of thy youth,” Proverbs 5:18; Malachi 2:14.)
**Forgetteth the covenant of her God—**i.e., the marriage covenant, made in the presence of God. (Comp. “wife of thy covenant,” Mal. *l.c.*...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
4-7. (Compare Is 40:18-20; 44:9-20).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 10-22**
If we are truly wise, we shall be careful to avoid all evil company and evil practices. When wisdom has dominion over us, then it not only fills the head, but enters into the heart, and will preserve, both against corruptions within and temptations without. The ways of sin are ways of darkness, uncomfortable and unsafe: what fools are those who leave the plain, pleasant, light...
Read full commentary →For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.</strong> This verse continues the warning against the "strange woman" (adulteress/seductress) begun in verse 16. "Her house" (<em>beytah</em>, בֵּיתָהּ) refers to the adulteress's dwelling, which becomes a metaphor for her entire lifestyle and influence. "Inclineth" (<em>shachah</em>, שָׁחָה) means to sink down, bow down, or ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(18) **For her house inclineth **. . .—Rather, *she sinks down with her house: *house and all, like Dathan and Abiram.
**Unto the dead.—**In Hebrew *the Rephāîm. *The word may signify those “at rest” (comp. Job 3:17 : “There the weary are at rest”); or the “weak.” (Comp. Isaiah 14:10 : “Art thou also become weak as we?”)
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
4-7. (Compare Is 40:18-20; 44:9-20).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 10-22**
If we are truly wise, we shall be careful to avoid all evil company and evil practices. When wisdom has dominion over us, then it not only fills the head, but enters into the heart, and will preserve, both against corruptions within and temptations without. The ways of sin are ways of darkness, uncomfortable and unsafe: what fools are those who leave the plain, pleasant, light...
Read full commentary →None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The Hebrew 'shuwb' (return) emphasizes the irreversible consequences of adultery. While forgiveness is possible, the practical devastation remains - broken families, destroyed trust, lost innocacy. The 'paths of life' represent not just physical existence but abundant life characterized by shalom (peace, wholeness). Adultery permanently alters one's life trajectory, illustrating that sin's consequ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**8. every one that trusteth--**they who trust, whether makers or not.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 10-22**
If we are truly wise, we shall be careful to avoid all evil company and evil practices. When wisdom has dominion over us, then it not only fills the head, but enters into the heart, and will preserve, both against corruptions within and temptations without. The ways of sin are ways of darkness, uncomfortable and unsafe: what fools are those who leave the plain, pleasant, light...
Read full commentary →That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The result of wisdom: walking in the way of good men and keeping paths of the righteous. Wisdom produces righteous conduct and association with godly community. The verse presents ethical behavior as both individual character and communal participation. Good men's ways are worth imitating; righteous paths are worth maintaining. This balance between individual responsibility and communal influence ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
9-13. The repetitions imply earnestness.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 10-22**
If we are truly wise, we shall be careful to avoid all evil company and evil practices. When wisdom has dominion over us, then it not only fills the head, but enters into the heart, and will preserve, both against corruptions within and temptations without. The ways of sin are ways of darkness, uncomfortable and unsafe: what fools are those who leave the plain, pleasant, light...
Read full commentary →For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect (temimim - complete, blameless) shall remain in it. This verse echoes covenant promises where faithfulness resulted in secure possession of the promised land. While primarily temporal for Israel, the principle extends spiritually - covenant faithfulness brings secure inheritance. Ultimately fulfilled in believers' eternal inheritance, the new he...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(21) **The upright shall dwell in the land—**i.e., of Canaan, according to the old promise made to Abraham, renewed in the fifth commandment, and constantly repeated in the prophets.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Bible Hub
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
9-13. The repetitions imply earnestness.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 10-22**
If we are truly wise, we shall be careful to avoid all evil company and evil practices. When wisdom has dominion over us, then it not only fills the head, but enters into the heart, and will preserve, both against corruptions within and temptations without. The ways of sin are ways of darkness, uncomfortable and unsafe: what fools are those who leave the plain, pleasant, light...
Read full commentary →But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it. rooted: or, plucked up
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
Conversely, the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and transgressors shall be rooted out. The agricultural imagery of uprooting emphasizes total, violent removal. This is covenant curse - those who violate God's law forfeit His blessings. The principle applies temporally and eternally - persistent wickedness results in destruction. The verse warns that evil, however temporarily prosperous, ha...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
9-13. The repetitions imply earnestness.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 10-22**
If we are truly wise, we shall be careful to avoid all evil company and evil practices. When wisdom has dominion over us, then it not only fills the head, but enters into the heart, and will preserve, both against corruptions within and temptations without. The ways of sin are ways of darkness, uncomfortable and unsafe: what fools are those who leave the plain, pleasant, light...
Read full commentary →