Proverbs 29:17

29:11. He is a fool who tells every thing he knows, and can keep no counsel. 12. One who loves flatterers, and hearkens to slanderers, causes his servants to become liars and false accusers. 13. Some are poor, others have a great deal of deceitful riches. They meet in the business of this world; the Lord gives to both the comforts of this life. To some of both sorts he gives his grace. 14. The rich will look to themselves, but the poor and needy the prince must defend and plead for. 15. Parents must consider the benefit of due correction, and the mischief of undue indulgence. 16. Let not the righteous have their faith and hope shocked by the increase of sin and sinners, but let them wait with patience. 17. Children must not be suffered to go without rebuke when they do amiss. 18. How bare does a place look without Bibles and ministers! and what an easy prey is it to the enemy of souls! That gospel is an open vision, which holds forth Christ, which humbles the sinner and exalts the Saviour, which promotes holiness in the life and conversation: and these are precious truths to keep the soul alive, and prevent it from perishing.

Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest,.... Ease of mind, satisfaction and contentment, freedom from all anxious thoughts and cares; the correction being taken in good part, and succeeding according to wish and design; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul; by his tenderness to his parents, obedience to them, and respect for them; by his prudent behaviour among men; by his sobriety, diligence, and industry in his calling; by his fear of God, and walking in his ways; than which nothing can give a greater delight and pleasure to religious parents.

Verse 17. - Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest ( Proverbs 19:18 ); Septuagint, ἀναπαύσει σε . He will be no longer a source of care and disquiet to you. Delight ( maadanim ); properly, dainty dishes , and then any great and special pleasure (comp. Ecclus. 30:1-12). Septuagint, "He shall give ornament ( κόσμον ) to thy soul." This verse and the following are presented by the Greek version in a mutilated form after Proverbs 28:17 (where see note). Proverbs 29:17

17 Correct thy son, and he will give thee delight, And afford pleasure to thy soul. The lxx well translates ויניחך by καὶ ἀναπαύσει σε; (Note: Their translation of Proverbs 29:17 and Proverbs 29:18 here is found, in a marred and mutilated form, after Proverbs 28:17. At that place the words are καὶ ἀγαπήσει σε.) הניח denotes rest properly, a breathing again, ἀνάψυξις; and then, with an obliteration of the idea of restraint so far, generally (like the Arab. araḥ, compared by Fleischer) to afford pleasure or delight. The post.-bibl. language uses for this the words נחת רוּח, and says of the pious that he makes נחת רוח to his Creator, Berachoth 17a; and of God, that He grants the same to them that fear Him, Berach. 29b; in the morning prayer of the heavenly spirits, that they hallow their Creator בנחת רוח (with inward delight). Write with Codd. (also Jaman.) and older editions ויניחך, not ויניחךּ; for, except in verbs 'ה'ל, the suffix of this Hiphil form is not dageshed, e.g., אמיתך, 1 Kings 2:26; cf. also 1 Kings 22:16 and Psalm 50:8. מעדנּים the lxx understands, after 2 Samuel 1:24 (עם־עדנים, μετὰ κόσμου), also here, of ornament; but the word signifies dainty dishes - here, high spiritual enjoyment. As in Proverbs 29:15 and Proverbs 29:16 a transition was made from the house to the people, so there now follows the proverb of the discipline of children, a proverb of the education of the people:

## Proverbs 29:14 Judgeth the poor, and the rich too; but he names ## the poor, because these are most oppressed and injured by others, and least regarded by princes, and yet committed to their more special care by the King of kings. ## Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof; correction and instruction going together. ## Left to himself; suffered to follow his own will or lusts without restraint and chastening. His mother , and father too; but he names only the mother , either because her indulgence oft spoils the child, or because children commonly stand in least awe of their mothers, and abuse the weakness of their sex, and tenderness of their natures. ## Proverbs 29:16 Are multiplied; or rather, are advanced, because this is opposed to their ## falling in the next clause; and so this Hebrew word is taken above, Pro_29:2. ## Transgression increaseth; sin and sinners abound and grow impudent by impunity, and the example and encouragement of such rulers. ## Their fall; the destruction of such transgressors in due time. ## Proverbs 29:17 Rest; satisfaction to thy mind, and comfort in his amendment. ## Proverbs 29:18 No vision, i.e. no prophecy, for the prophets were anciently called seers, 1Sa_9:9, i.e. no public preaching of God’s law or word, (as appears by the opposite clause,) which is called prophecy , Rom_12:6 1Co_14:1, &c., where the people are destitute of the means of instruction. ## The people perish, because they want the only means of salvation.

stay him —sustain or deliver him. 18. (Compare Proverbs 10:9; 17:20). Double dealing is eventually fatal. 19. (Compare Proverbs 10:4; 20:4). vain persons —idle, useless drones, implying that they are also wicked (Proverbs 12:11; Psalms 26:4). 20. maketh haste … rich —implying deceit or fraud (Proverbs 20:21), and so opposed to "faithful" or reliable. 21. respect of persons —(Proverbs 24:23). Such are led to evil by the slightest motive. 22. (Compare Proverbs 28:20). evil eye —in the general sense of Proverbs 23:6, here more specific for covetousness (compare Proverbs 22:9; Matthew 20:15). poverty … him —by God's providence. 23. (Compare Proverbs 9:8, 9; 27:5). Those benefited by reproof will love their monitors. 24. (Compare Matthew 15:4-6). Such, though heirs, are virtually thieves, to be ranked with highwaymen. 25. of a proud heart —literally, "puffed up of soul"—that is, self-confident, and hence overbearing and litigious. made fat —or, "prosperous" (Proverbs 11:25; 16:20). 26. (Compare Proverbs 3:6-8). walketh wisely —that is, trusting in God (Proverbs 22:17-19). 27. (Compare Proverbs 11:24-26). hideth his eyes —as the face (Psalms 27:9; 69:17), denotes inattention. 28. The elevation of the wicked to power drives men to seek refuge from tyranny (compare Proverbs 28:12; 11:10; Psalms 12:8). ## CHAPTER 29 Proverbs 29:1-27. 1. hardeneth … neck —obstinately refuses counsel (2 Kings 17:14; Nehemiah 9:16).

## A tooth, metaphorically denotes a promontory or sharp rock hanging over or formed like a tooth, 1 Samuel 14:4; Job 39:28 . But when teeth are attributed to men, it denotes virulence, and a hostile power; the metaphor being taken from beasts, who for the most part when they fight, use their teeth as offensive weapons to annoy those they set upon, Psalms 3:7; 57:4; 58:6-7; 124:6-7; Job 29:17; Proverbs 30:14 , (&c.) A lip, metaphorically signifies a bank of a river, or the mouth of a vessel, Genesis 22:17; 41:17; 1 Kings 7:23-24,26 . 2 Kings 2:13; 2 Chronicles 20:2 . The hinder part of the neck (cervix) if hard, [or to be hardened,] be added, metaphorically denotes contumacy, stubbornness, and a refractory mind; the metaphor being taken from horses, or other untamed beasts, who being wild and ungovernable, will not suffer their necks to be bended as the rider would have it, Exodus 32:9; 33:3,5; 34:9; De ## 9:6,13; 31:27; 2 Kings 17:14; 2 Chronicles 30:8; 36:13; Isaiah 48:4; Jeremiah 7:26; 19:15; Nehemiah 9:17,29; Proverbs 29:1; Psalms 75:5 . The word to behead, metaphorically signifies, to demolish or break down, Hosea 10:2 , "He (that is; God) shall behead their altars." They had certain altars placed, aloft, as if they had little heads, and also horns, &c. The wings of a bird, because 1. They are its outward members. And 2. Because they sometimes expanded at large. And 3. Because they are the instruments of swift flight through the air; do yield a threefold metaphor.

## away the tyranny of the law, of sin, death and Satan. See Isaiah 9:4,6 . Sin is put for sinners , Isaiah 1:18 , "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool," that is, the sinners by having their iniquities pardoned, shall be cleansed and purified from the guilt and condemnation of sin, for sin properly and in itself cannot be made clean, Psalms 2:9; Matthew 8:3 , "His leprosy was cleansed," that is, the leprous man was healed, Psalms 25:11; Exodus 14:4; Genesis 34:29; Deuteronomy 8:17; Job 15:29; Proverbs 31:29; Isaiah 10:14; 30:6; Revelation 18:3; Proverbs 15:6; Jeremiah 20:5 , etc, Job 6:22; Proverbs 5:10, etc. 2. The Thing contained is put for the Thing containing, and a Thing in a Place for the Place.