Proverbs 17:8

A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. A GIFT (IS AS) A PRECIOUS STONE (LITERALLY, A STONE OF GRACE) IN THE EYES OF HIM THAT HATH IT; WHERESOEVER IT TURNETH, IT PROSPERETH - literally, it acteth prudently, and so prosperously. Solomon states what is commonly the case, not what ought to be. How selfish, how mercenary is man naturally! But the man of God is raised above a mercenary spirit (cf. , Samuel; , Daniel; Acts 8:18, Peter and John). The prosperity which attends bribery is a lure set forth here in order that we may shun, not that we may follow it. A gift, not to pervert justice, but to conciliate the angry, is right, as Jacob's gift to Es...

Verse Proverbs 17:8. _A GIFT_ IS AS _A PRECIOUS STONE_] It both enriches and ornaments. In the latter clause there is an evident allusion to _cut stones_. Whithersoever you _turn them_, they _reflect the light_, are _brilliant_ and _beautiful_....

A half-satirical description of the power of bribery in palaces and among judges. The precious stone (literally as in the margin) is probably a gem, thought of as a talisman, which, “wherever it turns,” will ensure “prosperity” to him who, being the possessor, has the power to give it....

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

A GIFT [IS AS] A PRECIOUS STONE IN THE EYES OF HIM THAT HATH IT,.... Or "is a stone of grace" h, the note of similitude being wanting. It is an ornament of grace, adorns the person that wears it, makes him look lovely and amiable; is very grateful and desirable in itself, attracts and dazzles the eyes, and fills the mind with pleasure; so is a gift in the eyes of him that has it, that is the owner of it; either that has it in his possession to give, is the giver of it, as Aben Ezra; which, as it is valuable in his own eyes, he judges it to be so with others, and thinks he can do what be pleases with it, and engage persons by it to do as he would have them: or that is the receiver of it, as the Targum; who, having it given him, is master of it, and is so acceptable to him, and has such an influence upon him, as to do anything for it the giver of it directs him to, as follows: WHITHERSOEV...

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

HIM THAT HATH IT. its owner (the bribed, not the briber). PROSPERETH. it sparkles. And he loves to look at it and keep it. Compare "gift", Proverbs 17:23....

_him that hath it_ Lit. ITS LORD or POSSESSOR. This may mean either the giver, or the receiver of it. The former sense seems preferable. He who has a gift to bestow counts himself the possessor of that with which he can secure success in any direction he pleases, as though he turned in this direction or in that a precious gem or talisman to attract and conciliate the beholder. Maurer quotes the familiar lines of Ovid (_de art. am_. 3. 653), "Munera, crede mihi, capiunt hominesque deosque; Placatur donis Jupiter ipse datis." Comp. Proverbs 18:16....

A GIFT IS AS A PRECIOUS STONE, &C.— A gift is so tempting, that it can be no more refused than a precious jewel by him to whom it is presented, if he be not under the influences of Divine grace, and the bribe come up to his price. Such is its power in those cases, that it too often prevails, dispatches business, carries causes, and, in a word, effects whatever a man desires: But O, how detestable a practice in the sight of a just God! See chap. Proverbs 18:18 and Bishop Patrick....