Proverbs 15:31

The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise. THE EAR THAT HEARETH THE REPROOF OF LIFE (THE REPROOF THAT LEADS TO LIFE IN THE HIGHEST SENSE) ABIDETH AMONG THE WISE - literally, 'passeth the night' [ taaliyn (H3885)] - i:e., abides continually: not even at night doth such a one cease to associate with or among the wise-literally, in the interior of the wise, in the very midst of them. Abiding thus in intimacy with them here, he shall be numbered among them forever hereafter....

Verse Proverbs 15:31. _THE EAR THAT HEARETH THE REPROOF_] That receives it gratefully and obeys it. "Advice is for them that will take it," so says one of our own old proverbs; and the meaning here is nearly the same....

THE REPROOF OF LIFE - i. e., The reproof that leads to, or gives life, rather than that which comes from life and its experience....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 15:1 A SOFT ANSWER TURNETH AWAY WRATH. Two things are here to be observed: an answer should be given—the injured person should not wrap himself in sullen silence; and that answer should be gentle and conciliatory. This is tersely put in a mediaeval rhyme— "_Frangitur ira gravis_ _Quando est respensio suavis_." "Anger, however great, Is checked by answer sweet." Septuagint, "A submissive (ὑποπίπτουσα)_ _answer averteth wrath." Thus Abigail quelled the excessive anger of David by her judicious submission (1 Samuel 25:24, etc.). BUT GRIEVOUS WORDS STIR UP ANGER. A word that causes vexation makes anger rise the higher. Ὁργῆς ματαίας εἰσὶν

THE EAR THAT HEARETH THE REPROOF OF LIFE,.... That is given according to the word of life, in a warm, fervent, and lively manner, with zeal, and in good earnest; which reproves the life of another by his own, as well as by words; and which tends to the spiritual and eternal life of the person reproved; being taken, a man that diligently hearkens to, kindly and cordially receives, and cheerfully obeys such reproof given him, ABIDETH AMONG THE WISE; he not only chooseth to be among them, that he may have the advantage of their wise counsels and reproofs, but he becomes wise himself thereby, and attains to the character of a wise man, and is numbered among them; such a man abides in the house of wisdom, the church of God, and attends upon and has conversation with the wise dispensers of the word, and shall have a part with them in the church above, in the kingdom of heaven, where the wise...

CHAPTER 15 THE BETTER THINGS One can read through the proverbs recorded in this chapter and ask the question, What are the better things? A soft answer which turneth away wrath is better than grievous words Proverbs 15:1. The tongue of the righteous which useth knowledge aright is better than the mouth of fools Proverbs 15:2. Better is the prayer of the upright than the sacrifice of the wicked Proverbs 15:8). Better is he that followeth after righteousness than the way of the wicked, for the one the Lord delights in, the other is an abomination Proverbs 15:9). Better is the heart that seeketh knowledge than to feed on fool

PROVERBS 15. This chapter makes no new departure. Proverbs concerning the moral government of the world again occupy the chief place. One (Proverbs 15:11) is noteworthy as showing an extended conception of the sphere of God's government. Earlier Heb. religion regarded Sheol as outside the kingdom of God; there the dead do not praise or remember Him. We have also some more psychological proverbs dealing with the value of cheerfulness. PROVERBS 15:2. UTTERETH ARIGHT: paraphrase rather than translation, lit. makes good. Read drops (as Deuteronomy 32:2; Job 29:22), a more natural contrast to pours out in...

OF. tending or leading to. Genitive of Relation. See App-17 (5)....

_of life_ i.e. which tends to life. So, _the instruction of wisdom_=the instruction which leads to, or bestows wisdom, Proverbs 15:33 below....

TEXT Proverbs 15:23-33 23. A man hath joy in the answer of his mouth; And a word in due season, how good is it! 24. To the wise the way of life goeth upward, That he may depart from Sheol beneath. 25. Jehovah will root up the house of the proud; But he will establish the border of the widow. 26. Evil devices are an abomination to Jehovah; But pleasant words are pure. 27. He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; But he that hateth bribes shall live. 28. The heart of the righteous studieth to answer; But the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things. 29. Jehovah is far from the wicked; But he heareth the prayer of the righteous. 30. The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart; And good things make the bones fat. 31. T