Proverbs 19:25

Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge. SMITE A SCORNER, AND THE SIMPLE WILL BEWARE. If you smite and severely chastise a scorner, you will do him no good; but you will produce this good effect-namely, that he simple, who do not err from malice prepense, will be on their guard against a like sin and its consequent punishment. AND REPROVE ONE THAT HATH UNDERSTANDING, (AND) HE WILL UNDERSTAND KNOWLEDGE. Verbal 'reproof' is sufficient to "one that hath understanding," in order that he may "understand knowledge" - i:e., become wiser and better: the docile need no 'smiting.' The wiser one is, the more readily does he accept correction....

Words which embrace nearly the whole theory of punishment. If the man who offends is a “scorner,” hardened beyond all hope of reformation, then punish him by way of retribution and example, and let the penalty be sharp, that even the unwary and careless may beware. If the man be “understanding,” then let the punishment take the form of discipline. Admonish, reprove, educate....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 19:1 BETTER IS THE POOR THAT WALKTH IN HIS INTEGRITY. The word for "poor" is, here and in Proverbs 19:7, Proverbs 19:22, _rash, _which signifies "poor" in opposition to "rich." In the present reading of the second clause, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool, there seems to be a failure in antithesis, unless we can understand the fool as a rich fool. This, the repetition of the maxim in Proverbs 28:6 ("Than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich"), would lead one to admit. The Vulgate accordingly has, Quam dives torquem

SMITE A SCORNER, AND THE SIMPLE WILL BEWARE,.... That is, give reproof to a man that scoffs at religion, and makes a jest of all that is good; for though it may be of no use to him who will despise it, yet it may be observed, and be useful to another that hears it; who, though void of understanding, yet not hardened in impiety as the other, but open to conviction, "will become cunning" x, as it may be rendered; or learns wisdom, and becomes hereby a knowing and understanding man; he hears another reproved, and fears, and becomes a wise man; so that though reproof may be lost on one, it succeeds in another, which is an encouragement to give it; AND REPROVE ONE THAT HATH UNDERSTANDING, [AND] HE WILL UNDERSTAND KNOWLEDGE; he will grow wiser and wiser; he will improve in the knowledge of things; see Proverbs 9:8. x יערם "astutus efficetur", Pagninus, Montanus; "ast

CHAPTER 19:1-19 FURTHER PROVERBS ON PERSONAL INSTRUCTION One may be poor, but walking in integrity, he is far ahead of him who is perverse in his lips and is a fool. Then we find proverbs about fretting against the Lord; warning against false witness and speaking lies and other matters. We call special attention to Proverbs 19:12 . _ The King's wrath is as the roaring of a lion._ But his favour is as dew upon the grass. It may be applied to Him who is The Lamb of God and also the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Some day He will roar in His displeasure and manifest the wrath, so well deserved by the world. But even then His grace will be revealed, for in wrath He will remember mercy, the mercy promised to Israel. “I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth its roots as Lebanon”...

PROVERBS 19. A shrewd turn of sarcasm in Proverbs 19:3 suggests the attitude of practical wisdom towards that questioning of the moral government of the world which we find in Job. PROVERBS 19:1. FOOL: read rich, as in Proverbs 28:6. Proverbs 19:2 a. Both RV and RVm are unsound grammatically. The lit. rendering shows that the clause is defective, Also without knowledge of the soul. is not good. Some verb expressing action is required. Proverbs 19:2 b. sinneth: read _mg._ The idea is more haste less speed.

SCORNER. scoffer. WILL BEWARE. will be made wise (note the force of the _Hiphil)._ Illustrations: Israel (Exodus 14:31); the stubborn (Deuteronomy 21:21); Gibeonites (Joshua 9:3); Sergius Paulus (Acts 13:6). REPROVE. set right. AND HE WILL UNDERSTAND KNOWLEDGE. will cause teaching to be discerned. Compare Proverbs 22:17....

_beware_ or, _learn prudence_, R.V. There is a triple contrast in the proverb, between the persons to be dealt with and between both the manner and the result of dealing with them. The _scorner_, or hardened scoffer (λοιμός, LXX.; pestilens, Vulg.; Proverbs 1:22; Psalms 1:1, and notes there in this Series), must be _smitten_, punished with severity (μαστιγουμένου, LXX.; flagellato, Vulg.), but not with any hope of his amendment, but only "that others admonished by his example may be the more afraid to offend." But if _one that hath understanding_errs, he only needs to be reproved (ἐὰν δὲ ἐλέγχῃς, LXX.; si corripueris, Vulg.) to make him know better....

TEXT Proverbs 19:21-29 21. There are many devices in a man's heart; But the counsel of Jehovah, that shall stand. 22. That which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness; And a poor man is better than a liar. 23. The fear of Jehovah tendeth to life; And he that hath it shall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil. 24. The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25. Smite a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; And reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge. 26. He that doeth violence to his father, and chaseth away his mother, Is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach. 27. Cease, my son, to hear instruction Only to err from the words of knowledge.

19:25 beware; (i-8) Or 'will become prudent,' as ch. 15.5; 1 Samuel 23:22 ....