Book of Proverbs - Bible Survey
Answered from the commentary of J. N. Darby, Morrish Bible Dictionary, Leslie M. Grant and 4 others
The book of Proverbs gives God’s wisdom for the daily path of human life, teaching what to seek and what to avoid in a world of confusion and evil, and showing the consequences of the ways people choose. Its aim is to impart wisdom, instruction, justice, judgment, equity and prudence, and its starting point is the fear of the Lord. This fear is not mere human sagacity: it is reverence for God, and fools despise the wisdom and instruction that begin with it.
The book sets out general principles first, then gives practical sayings for conduct, with collections attributed to Solomon, words of the wise, and the later collections of Hezekiah, Agur and Lemuel. Throughout, wisdom calls openly and offers life, while folly entices with what is sweet to fallen nature and leads to death. The warnings expose snares such as violence, deceit, corrupting folly and self-will, and urge the reader to heed instruction, walk in integrity, and keep to the path of wisdom. These sayings also teach that under God’s government people reap what they sow, though the book’s object is practical wisdom and prudence, not bringing man to moral perfection. Its counsel concerns earthly conduct and relationships, and holds out safety and practical happiness in a serious walk before God. Some see Christ presented as the wisdom of God in Proverbs 8, while another describes the book chiefly as wisdom for the earthly path and says it does not unfold Christian or church relationships.
Verses: Proverbs 1:1, Proverbs 1:2, Proverbs 1:3, Proverbs 1:4, Proverbs 1:5, Proverbs 1:6, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 1:8, Proverbs 10:1, Proverbs 22:17, Proverbs 24:23, Proverbs 24:24, Proverbs 24:25, Proverbs 24:26, Proverbs 24:27, Proverbs 24:28, Proverbs 24:29, Proverbs 24:30, Proverbs 24:31, Proverbs 24:32, Proverbs 24:33, Proverbs 24:34, Proverbs 25:1, Proverbs 30:1, Proverbs 30:2, Proverbs 30:3, Proverbs 30:4, Proverbs 30:5, Proverbs 30:6, Proverbs 30:7, Proverbs 30:8, Proverbs 30:9, Proverbs 30:10, Proverbs 30:11, Proverbs 30:12, Proverbs 30:13, Proverbs 30:14, Proverbs 30:15, Proverbs 30:16, Proverbs 30:17, Proverbs 30:18, Proverbs 30:19, Proverbs 30:20, Proverbs 30:21, Proverbs 30:22, Proverbs 30:23, Proverbs 30:24, Proverbs 30:25, Proverbs 30:26, Proverbs 30:27, Proverbs 30:28, Proverbs 30:29, Proverbs 30:30, Proverbs 30:31, Proverbs 30:32, Proverbs 30:33, Proverbs 31:1, Proverbs 31:2, Proverbs 31:3, Proverbs 31:4, Proverbs 31:5, Proverbs 31:6, Proverbs 31:7, Proverbs 31:8, Proverbs 31:9, Proverbs 31:10, Proverbs 31:11, Proverbs 31:12, Proverbs 31:13, Proverbs 31:14, Proverbs 31:15, Proverbs 31:16, Proverbs 31:17, Proverbs 31:18, Proverbs 31:19, Proverbs 31:20, Proverbs 31:21, Proverbs 31:22, Proverbs 31:23, Proverbs 31:24, Proverbs 31:25, Proverbs 31:26, Proverbs 31:27, Proverbs 31:28, Proverbs 31:29, Proverbs 31:30, Proverbs 31:31
The above is AI generated summary based on the writers below.
What the commentators say
The passages the answer is drawn from, the most direct first, with the words that bear on the question marked.
Proverbs is also poetic, written by King Solomon in his younger years, a book of wise instruction in reference to every department of personal life and conduct. Its great, outstanding truth is simply this: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Its warnings against subtle evils are accompanied by instruction as to the means of avoiding these evils.
The express aim of Proverbs, for example, is to furnish, from the one better fitted for the purpose than any man who ever lived, the light of wisdom in moral intelligence for the earthly path of man under Jehovah's eye. Being from "the king of Israel," it is also for the people he governed; and therefore with a slight exception (only six times it seems, easily accounted for) in known relationship with Jehovah, whose name pervades from first to last. See Proverbs 2:5, 17; Proverbs 3:4; Proverbs 25:2; Proverbs 30:5, 9. But being divinely inspired, it is a book for him that reads or hears to profit by at any time, for the Christian in particular as having by grace the mind of Christ. All Scripture is for our good and blessing, though most of it is not addressed to us, nor is it about us.
It is well to remember that the Book of Proverbs treats of this world, and of God's government, according to which man reaps that which he has sown. This is always true, whatever may be the sovereign grace that bestows on us things beyond and infinitely above this world.
Solomon was filled with wisdom from above, but which had its exercise in this world, and its application to it; that is to say, which applied to it God's way of viewing all things, discerning the truth of all that, day by day, is developed in it. We have here the ways of God, the divine path of human conduct, the discernment of that which the heart of man produces, and of its consequences; and also — for one who is subject to the word — the means of avoiding the path of his own will and of his own foolish heart (which is unable to understand the bearing of a multitude of actions that it suggests to him), and this, not by bringing him back to moral perfection — for that is not the object of the Proverbs; but to that wisdom and prudence which enable him to avoid many errors, and to maintain a serious walk before God, and an habitual submission to His mind. The precepts of this book establish practical happiness in this world by maintaining earthly relationships in their integrity according to God. Now it is not human prudence and sagacity that are enjoined. The fear of the Lord,* which is the beginning of wisdom, is the subject here.
The Book of Proverbs gives us the application of that wisdom which created the heavens and the earth to the details of life in this world of confusion and evil. This thought brings out the immensity of grace unfolded here. God deigns to apply His wisdom to the circumstances of our practical life, and to shew us, with His own intelligence, the consequences of all the ways in which man may walk. For it is often in the way of knowledge, not of precept, that the statements made in the Book of Proverbs are presented. It is a great blessing to be provided for in the labyrinth of this world, in which a false step may lead to such bitter consequences, with a book that sets forth the path of prudence and of life; and that in connection with a wisdom which comes from God.
The book of Proverbs shows what the god-fearing man in this world shall seek and what he shall avoid. The book also teaches that man irrespective of his spiritual blessings under the government of God will reap what he has sowed. It contains the advice of divine wisdom for daily life of a god-fearing man in all his difficulties, trials, dangers and joys of his way over this earth.
There are two very distinct parts in this book. The first nine chapters, which give the great general principles; and the proverbs, properly so called, or moral aphorisms or sentences, which indicate the path in which the wise man should walk. At the end of the book is a collection of such made by Hezekiah.
This deliverance, we all recognize, is not the subject handled here, but the instruction that is addressed to subject hearts, like the rest of the Old Testament, within the ancient people of God. But now it is for the Christian to profit by it to the uttermost, for "all things are ours." The Book does not give the exalted Head nor the heavenly glory we are to share with Him as members of His body, nor the duties which flow from that relationship; but it does reveal divine wisdom for a saint here below, first in general moral principles (Proverbs 1-9), then in the greatest affluence of details to Proverbs 29, with a fitting close in Proverbs 30 and 31.
In this book God has furnished, through the wisest of men, principles and precepts for the guidance and security of the believer in passing through the temptations to which he is exposed in an evil world. The admonitions speak in terms of affectionate warning 'as to sons:' Heb. 12:5. Under symbolic terms, such as 'the evil man' and 'the strange woman,' the great forms of evil in the world, violent self-will, and corrupting folly, are laid bare in their course and end. Wisdom is shown as the alone guard against one or the other. Wisdom is presented, not as a faculty residing in man, but as an object to be diligently sought after and acquired. It is often personified, and is spoken of as lifting up her voice. In Prov. 8, under the idea of wisdom, we have doubtless Christ presented as the resource that was with God from 'the beginning of His way,' so that God could independently of man establish and bring into effect His thoughts of grace for men.
In the PROVERBS it is otherwise; they present to us the wisdom of that authority which restrains man's will, corruption, and violence, the satisfying of self which is man's danger; then the counsels of God, in that the Wisdom of God (Christ), the Object of God's good pleasure, finds its delight in the sons of men, and that before the world was (chap. 8). All here is either Jehovah or God who has made Himself known and acts by means of an authority confided to man, to parents, etc. Then God supplies us in this Book with that which teaches a man to avoid the snares laid in this poor world, without being obliged himself to learn all its iniquity.
In Prov. 1 the purport of the proverbs is pointed out: it is that instruction in wisdom, justice, judgement, and equity might be received: the fear of the Lord is the starting point. Satan would of course oppose this, so warnings are at once given to avoid the enticings of sinners. Wisdom cries aloud and in the streets: her instructions are for all. Retribution is for such as refuse her call.
Verses
- Proverbs 1:1–81Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel 2to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding; 3to receive the instruction of wisdom, righteousness and judgment, and equity; 4to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. 5He that is wise will hear, and will increase learning; and the intelligent will gain wise counsels 6to understand a proverb and an allegory, the words of the wise and their enigmas. 7The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the teaching of thy mother;