Proverbs 18:16

A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. A MAN'S GIFT MAKETH ROOM FOR HIM - maketh a clear and wide way for him into the presence of those to whom he desires access. "A man's" (Hebrew, adam) - the gift of a man, however humble and low. This is the way of the world, not what ought to be....

Verse Proverbs 18:16. _A MAN'S GIFT MAKETH ROOM FOR HIM_] It is, and ever has been, a base and degrading practice in Asiatic countries, to bring a gift or present to the great man into whose presence you come. Without this there is no audience, no favour, no _justice_. This arose from the circumstance that men must not approach the _altar_ _of God_ without an _offering_. Potentates, wishing to be considered as _petty gods_, demanded a similar homage: - Munera, crede mihi, capiunt hominesque deosque; Placatur donis Jupiter ipse suis. OVID "Believe me, gifts prevail much with both gods and men: even Jupiter himself

The “gift” (or, bribe), by a bold personification, appears as the powerful “friend at court,” who introduces another, and makes him welcome in high places....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 18:1 This is a difficult verse, and has obtained various interpretations. The Authorized Version gives, THROUGH DESIRE A MAN, HAVING SEPARATED HIMSELF, SEEKETH AND INTERMEDDLETH WITH ALL WISDOM; _i.e. _a man who has an earnest desire for self-improvement will hold himself aloof from worldly entanglements, and, occupying himself wholly in this pursuit, will become conversant with all wisdom. This gives good sense, and offers a contrast to the fool in Proverbs 18:2, who "hath no delight in understanding." But the Hebrew does not rightly bear this interpretation. Its conciseness occasions ambiguity. Literally, _For his desire a man who separates himself seeks_;_ in _(or _against_) all wisdom he mingles

A MAN'S GIFT MAKETH ROOM FOR HIM,.... Or "enlarges him" y; brings him out of prison, or, or out of straits and difficulties with which he, has, been pressed; or it makes way for him to a judge, and for a favourable hearing of his cause; or it enlarges his acquaintance, and gains him respect among men; AND BRINGETH HIM BEFORE GREAT MEN; it opens a way for him into the presence and company of great men, being a fee to their servants; or with it he procures a place to wait on them. It is not necessary to understand it of a gift by way of bribe; but to introduce a person to another, and render him acceptable, and appease anger; as in the cases of Jacob and Abigail, Genesis 32:20. y ירחיב....

CHAPTER 18 PROVERBS OF PERSONAL INSTRUCTION There is first a warning against separation produced by desire, that is for gratification and pleasure, and not for a righteous purpose. Such a one becomes an enemy of true wisdom and one who intermeddleth with all wisdom. This proverb finds a New Testament illustration in Alexander the coppersmith, as well as Hymenaeus and Philetus, and Diotrephes of whom John writes in his epistle. A fool foams out his own folly. This proverb in Proverbs 18:2 is illustrated by many of the critics of the Bible. They have no delight in true understanding but their own hearts are laid bare by their mad oppositions to God's Holy Word. The fool's mouth, his lips, the talebearer (whisperer), and the slothful are the themes of the proverbs in Proverbs 18:6. Then we read

PROVERBS 18:1. MT yields no satisfactory sense. The LXX reads The man who wishes to separate from his friends seeks pretexts, but is always liable to reproach. Frankenberg renders the alienated friend seeks an occasion (emending the word for - desire-'), seeks by all means to stir up strife. Proverbs 18:4. RV translates correctly, but the sense is strange. Read, perhaps, The words of the wise are deep waters, a flowing brook, a fountain of life, but this is conjecture rather than emendation. Proverbs 18:5. _cf._ Proverbs 17:26, which may have originally followed this verse....

MAN'S. Hebrew. _'adam._ App-14....

Comp. Proverbs 17:8; Proverbs 19:6....

STUDY QUESTIONS OVER 18:13-24 1. How is it folly to him (Proverbs 18:13)? 2. How is it shame to him (Proverbs 18:13)? 3. What would a doctor get out of Proverbs 18:14? 4. Locate the parallels in Proverbs 18:15. 5. Cite Bible examples of such gifts (Proverbs 18:16). 6. What lesson should church leaders learn from the first statement (Proverbs 18:17)? 7. Why did the