Proverbs 17:27

He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. HE THAT HATH KNOWLEDGE SPARETH HIS WORDS: (AND) A MAN OF UNDERSTANDING IS OF AN EXCELLENT SPIRIT. The Hebrew text, Kethibh, reads, [wªqar from qar (H7119)) to be cold] 'and a man of understanding is of a cool spirit:' not easily breaking forth into passionate, or boasting, or babbling words, but 'sparing his words.' The English version is the Hebrew marginal reading [yªqar, to honour]....

Better, A man of calm (or noble) spirit is a man of understanding....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 17:1 (Comp, Proverbs 15:16, Proverbs 15:17; Proverbs 16:8.) BETTER (sweeter) IS A DRY MORSEL, AND QUIETNESS THEREWITH. Dry bread was soaked in wine or water before it was eaten. Thus Boaz bid Ruth "dip her morsel in the vinegar" (Ruth 2:14); thus Jesus gave the sop to Judas when he had dipped it (John 13:26). The Septuagint is pleonastic, "Better is a morsel with joy in peace." Ab

HE THAT HATH KNOWLEDGE SPARETH HIS WORDS,.... Or, "he that knows knowledge" c; one that is very knowing, has a fund of knowledge in him, "spareth his words"; is generally a man of few words, he thinks much and says little; and though he may be communicative of his knowledge to proper persons, and at proper times, yet never speaks of it in a boasting and ostentatious way: or, he "restrains his words" d; he puts a bridle on them; and suffers not himself to speak hastily and angrily, and in a reproachful manner, when he is provoked to it; [AND] A MAN OF UNDERSTANDING IS OF AN EXCELLENT SPIRIT; here is a various reading; the "Cetib" is וקר, "of a cool spirit" e; in opposition to a warm fiery spirit; such as was that of the apostles, who were for calling for fire from heaven on those that slighted their master, and, as he told them, knew not what spirits they were of; but a cool spirit is on...

CHAPTER 17 DIVERSE PROVERBS Of the twenty-eight proverbs found in this chapter we point out but a few. “The fining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold; but the LORD trieth the hearts” (Proverbs 17:3). Man may try silver and gold, but God only the hearts. And He tries the hearts by the refining process, trials and afflictions, the process which rests in His own hands. (See Psalms 66:10; Malachi 3:3; 1 Peter 1:7 .) “He that covereth a transgression seeketh love, but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends” (Proverbs 17:9). To

PROVERBS 17. Fresh points are the rise of the able and clever slave to a place in the family (Proverbs 17:2), the practice of bribes (Proverbs 17:8; Proverbs 17:23), the value of adversity as a test of friendship (Proverbs 17:17): also the subject of suretyship, dealt with in Proverbs 6:1, is resumed (Proverbs 17:18). PROVERBS 17:1. For the connexion betwee

SPARETH HIS WORDS. Illustrations: Aaron (Leviticus 10:3); Moses (Numbers 16:4; Numbers 20:6); Samuel (1 Samuel 8:6); Christ (1 Peter 2:23). UNDERSTANDINGS DISCERNING. Hebrew. _binah._ See note on Proverbs 1:2. EXCELLENT. quiet....

_excellent_ Rather, COOL, A.V. marg. and R.V.; μακρόθυμος ἀνὴρ, LXX. It is better with LXX. and R.V. to invert the order of subject and predicate in this verse and render: HE THAT SPARETH HIS WORDS HATH KNOWLEDGE: And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding....

IS OF AN EXCELLENT SPIRIT— Or, _will be cool in his temper. He who hath prudence moderates his spirit._ Houbigant....

TEXT Proverbs 17:20-28 20. He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. 21. He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; And the father of a fool hath no joy. 22. A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones. 23. A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of justice. 24. Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. 25. A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bare him. 26. Also to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to smite the noble for their uprightness. 27. He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool