Proverbs 18:17

He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. (HE THAT IS) FIRST IN HIS OWN CAUSE (SEEMETH) JUST. The judge is pre-engaged by the gifts or else the earnestness of the first speaker. BUT HIS NEIGHBOUR (THE OTHER PARTY IN THE SUIT) COMETH AND SEARCHETH HIM - i:e., searcheth his words and statement of the case. The judge ought not precipitately to give sentence until he has heard the other side in a case. All rashness in decision without hearing both sides of a question is to be avoided. So before the bar of one's own estimation, a man that is first in his own cause seemeth just, until his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. Contrast 1 Corinthians 4:3....

Verse Proverbs 18:17. HE THAT IS _FIRST IN HIS OWN CAUSE_] Any man may, in the first instance, make out a fair tale, because he has the choice of circumstances and arguments. But when the neighbour cometh and searcheth him, he examines all, dissects all, swears and cross-questions every witness, and brings out truth and fact....

A protest against another fault in judging. Haste is hardly less evil than corruption. “Audi alteram partern “should be the rule of every judge. HIS NEIGHBOR - The other party to the suit “searcheth,” i. e., scrutinizes and detects him....

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

HE THAT IS FIRST IN HIS OWN CAUSE [SEEMETH] JUST,.... As perhaps Tertullus did, before Paul made his defence; and as Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, before his master detected him: this often appears true in telling a tale, in private conversation, in lawsuits before a judge and a court of judicature, and in theological controversies; BUT HIS NEIGHBOUR COMETH, AND SEARCHETH HIM; his neighbour comes into the house, where he is telling his tale, and reports it in another manner, and shows the falsehood of his relation; or he comes into a court of judicature, and sets the cause in quite another light; or he comes out into the worm by public writing, and exposes the errors of a man engaged in a wrong cause, and refutes his arguments. It is generally understood of judicial affairs, that the first that opens a cause is very apt to prejudice the judge and court in his favour, and they are ready...

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....

FIRST IN HIS OWN CAUSE. Illustrations: Saul (1 Samuel 15:13. Compare Pro 18:26); Ziba (2 Samuel 16:1. Compare Proverbs 19:26)....

_in his own cause_ i.e. in pleading, or stating it. You must wait to hear the other side, the "neighbour's searching out," if you would come at the truth. _Audi alteram partem_is the gist of the proverb....

HE THAT IS FIRST IN HIS OWN CAUSE— "He that speaks first in any cause will undoubtedly set his side in the most favourable and most plausible light; but when the defendant replies, all his arguments will be brought to the test, and all his sophisms laid open and confuted." This and the following proverbs relate to judicial proceedings. See Grotius and Calmet....