Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary
Proverbs 9:17
The besetting sin of all times and countries, the one great proof of the inherent corruption of man’s nature. Pleasures are attractive because they are forbidden (compare Romans 7:7).
The besetting sin of all times and countries, the one great proof of the inherent corruption of man’s nature. Pleasures are attractive because they are forbidden (compare Romans 7:7).
Verse Proverbs 9:17. _STOLEN WATERS ARE SWEET_] I suppose this to be a proverbial mode of expression, importing that _illicit pleasures_ _are sweeter than those which are legal_. The meaning is easy t...
CHAPTER 9 _ 1. The invitation of Wisdom (Proverbs 9:1)_ 2. The contrast with Folly. (Proverbs 9:13) Proverbs 9:1. The first section of Proverbs closeth with a contrast of Wisdom and Folly, both pers...
PROVERBS 9. THE INVITATIONS OF WISDOM AND FOLLY CONTRASTED. This section closes with a couple of graphic pictures of Wisdom and Folly personified, each bidding for the attention of the passers-by with...
_stolen waters_ Maurer compares what he calls "tristissimum illud Ovidii," "Nitimur in vetitum semper, cupimusque negata....
Proverbs 9:13. The Introduction, or first main division of the Book, ends with the contrasted picture of Folly. She too has her house, at the door of which she sits (Proverbs 9:14); she too, though th...
STOLEN WATERS ARE SWEET— A proverbial expression for illicit pleasures; the Greeks and Latins make use of the same phrase. See chap. Proverbs 5:15 and Calmet. One of the profitable lessons to be learn...
TEXT Proverbs 9:10-18 10. The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 11. For by me thy days shall be multiplied, And the years of thy lif...
Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. STOLEN WATERS ARE SWEET, AND BREAD (EATEN) IN SECRET IS PLEASANT - (cf. the answer to her lure, ; .) Wisdom sets forth her bread () o...
The forbidden is attractive....
THE RIVALS Folly and Wisdom invite guests to their respective houses. The consequences of accepting either of the two invitations are described. We are reminded of the Greek parable, 'The choice of H...
The Foolish Woman also offers a meal to her guests. However, her meal does not belong to her. She stole the water. She must eat in secret. ‘Water’ reminds us of Proverbs 5:15-18. In that passage, ‘wa...
LESSONS ABOUT WISDOM PROVERBS _KEITH SIMONS_ CHAPTER 9 Solomon’s last, great lesson to his son is almost complete. Perhaps Solomon paused here. Maybe he thought about whether he had taught enough...
STOLEN WATERS ARE SWEET. — See above, on Proverbs 5:15. BREAD EATEN IN SECRET. — The same figure is used in Proverbs 30:20....
מַֽיִם ־גְּנוּבִ֥ים יִמְתָּ֑קוּ וְ לֶ֖חֶם סְתָרִ֣ים...
CHAPTER 2 THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."- Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: And the knowledge of the Holy One is underst...
CHAPTER 10 TWO VOICES IN THE HIGH PLACES OF THE CITY Proverbs 9:1, Proverbs 20:14 with Proberbs 3, and Proverbs 20:16 with Prove
TWO CONTRASTED INVITATIONS Proverbs 9:1-18 There is an age-long competition between Wisdom and Folly, Virtue and Vice. The palace of Wisdom is very attractive-well built and well furnished. It is...
The last address is a contrast between wisdom and folly. Each is personified as a woman calling to youth. Wisdom has builded her house, and spread her feast in the high places of the city. She calls t...
_Pleasant. Impure pleasures are more delightful (Calmet) to sensual men. (Haydock) --- The prohibition increases appetite. (Menochius)_...
A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, To call passengers who go right on their ways: Who...
THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 1 THROUGH 9. There are two very distinct parts in this book. The first nine Chapter s, which give the great general principles; and the proverbs, properly so...
STOLEN WATERS ARE SWEET,.... Wells and fountains of waters in those hot countries were very valuable, and were the property of particular persons; about which there were sometimes great strife and con...
Stolen waters are sweet, and bread [eaten] in secret is pleasant. Ver. 17. _Stolen waters are sweet._] Forbidden pleasures are most pleasing to sensualists, who count no mirth but madness; no pleasur...
_Whoso is simple_ Which title is not given to them by her; for such a reproach would not have allured them, but driven them away; but by Solomon, who represents the matter of her invitation in his own...
Stolen waters are sweet, that is, forbidden pleasures, as praised by folly, especially in the form of immoral acts, illicit intercourse, seem pleasant enough for the time being, AND BREAD EATEN IN SEC...
THE BANQUET OF FOLLY...
EATEN IN SECRET: _ Heb._ of secrecies...
13-18 How diligent the tempter is, to seduce unwary souls into sin! Carnal, sensual pleasure, stupifies conscience, and puts out the sparks of conviction. This tempter has no solid reason to offer; a...
STOLEN WATERS; by which he understandeth, either, 1. Idolatry, or other wickednesses, which in Solomon's time before his fall were publicly forbidden and punished, but privately practised; or rather,...
Proverbs 9:17 Stolen H1589 (H8803) water H4325 sweet H4985 (H8799) bread H3899 secret H5643 pleasant H5276 ...
THE APPEAL OF WOMAN FOLLY TO THE NAIVE (PROVERBS 9:13). There is no suggestion that Woman Folly's house is opulent or well-provisioned. And indeed she herself is described as ‘turbulent' and ‘knowing...
CONTENTS: Wisdom (Christ) and sin, as rivals for the soul of man. CHARACTERS: God, Wisdom. CONCLUSION: Christ and sin are both seeking to have the uppermost place in the soul of man. We are therefor...
Proverbs 9:1. _Wisdom hath builded her house._ This chapter opens with a sublime allegory. We see the princess, the mother of angels and men, enthroned in her temple, “the church which is the pillar a...
_But he knoweth not that the dead are there._ THE FATAL BANQUET Here two texts. Preach concerning a couple of preachers; one by usurpation, the other by assignation: the world’s chaplain, and the Lor...
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 9:13. A FOOLISH WOMAN, rather, “the woman of folly,” an exact opposition of the personified wisdom of the former part of the chapter. CLAMOROUS, “violently excited” _(Zöckle...
EXPOSITION PROVERBS 9:1 15. _Fifteenth admonitory discourse, _containing in a parabolic form an invitation of Wisdom (Proverbs 9:1), and that of her rival Folly (Proverbs 9:13). Th
Chapter 9 continues in its praise of wisdom. Wisdom hath built her house, she has hewn out the seven pillars: She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine; and she has furnished her table. And...
2 Kings 5:24; Ephesians 5:12; Genesis 3:6; James 1:14; James 1:15;...
Sweet — From the difficulty of obtaining them; and because the very prohibition renders them more grateful to corrupt nature....