Proverbs 22:15

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. FOOLISHNESS (IS) BOUND IN (OR TO) THE HEART OF A CHILD - not merely by slight threads, but as it were by chains, so that it cannot easily be torn from it. The Hebrew, qªshuwraah (H7194), expresses firm, compact, and close embrace (Genesis 44:30; 1 Samuel 18:1). (BUT) (NOTWITHSTANDING THE INTIMACY OF THE BOND OF UNION BETWEEN FOOLISHNESS AND A CHILD'S HEART) THE ROD OF CORRECTION (THE ROD WHICH IS NOT USED IN BLIND PASSION, AND IMMODERATELY, BUT FOR THE AMENDMENT OF THE CHILD) SHALL DRIVE IT FAR FROM HIM ...

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 22:1 A GOOD NAME IS RATHER TO BE CHOSEN THAN GREAT RICHES. It will be observed that "good" in the Authorized Version is in italics, showing that the epithet is not expressed in the Hebrew, which is simply שֵׁם (_shem_)_, _"name." But this word carried with it the notion of good repute, as in Ecclesiastes 7:1; for being well known implied honour and reputation, while being nameless (Job 30:8) signified not only obscurity, but ignominy and discredit. Hence the versions have ὄνομα καλόν_, nomen bonum, _and Ecclesiasticus 41:12, "Have regard to thy name (περὶ ὀνόματος)_, _for that shall continue with thee above a thousan

FOOLISHNESS [IS] BOUND IN THE HEART OF A CHILD,.... That is, sin, the greatest of all folly; this is naturally in the heart of man; it is in the heart of a child, it is in him from his infancy; it is bound in his heart, it is rooted and riveted in him, being conceived in sin, and shapen in iniquity; it is what cleaves close to him, and he has a strong affection for and desire after: the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth, Genesis 8:21; so that he is not easily brought off of sin, or becomes wise; [BUT] THE ROD OF CORRECTION SHALL DRIVE IT FAR FROM HIM; the rod used by parents, for the correction of sin and folly, is a means of making children wise, and of restraining the folly that is bound up in them; and of reclaiming them from those sinful ways, which the folly of their hearts leads them to, and so in some measure of driving it far from them....

CHAPTER 22 INSTRUCTIONS CONTINUED Better than great riches, better than silver and gold is a name and loving favor. If a person has riches and a bad name and is not well thought of, he is less honorable than the poor man who has a name and good reputation. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon says: “A good name is better than precious ointment” Ecclesiastes 7:11). The third verse has a wise message: “The prudent man foreseeth the evil and hideth himself, but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.” The Lord has revealed in His Word the evil which is in store for the sinner and the impenitent. He also has prepared a hiding place, an ark of safety, in His Son, our Lord. The prudent believeth the Word and flees to the refuge; the simple, the unbelieving, pass on and suffer for it when the evil comes. Humility and the fear of the Lord has a reward, while thorns and snares are in the way of the

PROVERBS 22:6. IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO puts more into the Heb. than it contains. It is lit. train up a child in proportion to his way_ i.e._ train him suitably. The moral implication is absent. The stress is on the effect of training. Proverbs 22:11. RV hides disorder of MT. Read, probably, The king loves the pure in heart, grace of lips is his good pleasure. Proverbs 22:12 a is difficult. RV will not pass. The lit. Heb. is the eyes of Yahweh guard knowledge. The abstract knowledge in Heb. cannot mean its possessors; the eyes of Yahweh are nowhere said to guard anybody, and no Hebrew would say that the eyes of Yahweh guard knowledge in the sense of possessing it, nor does it give any

FOOLISHNESS. Hebrew. _'evil._ See note on Proverbs 1:7....

_bound_ Better, BOUND UP, R.V. Comp., for the force of the Heb. word, Genesis 44:30....

FOOLISHNESS IS BOUND, &C.— Ignorance, weakness, inclination to evil, corruption of heart, are maladies which accompany all men from their birth: education, instruction, correction, under the influence of Divine grace, cure them, or diminish very much their ill effects. Calmet. Dr. Taylor's gloss is, "How strong soever appetite may be in children, proper discipline will correct and regulate it....

TEXT Proverbs 22:11-21 11. He that loveth pureness of heart, For the grace of his lips the king will be his friend. 12. The eyes of Jehovah preserve him that hath knowledge; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous man. 13. The sluggard saith, There is a lion without; I shall be slain in the streets. 14. The mouth of strange women is a deep pit; He that is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall therein. 15. Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. 16. He that oppresseth the poor to increase his gain, And he that giveth to the rich, shall only come to want. 17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thy heart unto my knowledge. 18. For it is a pleasant thing i

1. To be regarded with favour is better than silver and gold. This v. is inscribed in large letters on the walls of Manchester Exchange. Rabbi Simeon used to say: 'There are only three crowns; the crown of the Law, the crown of priesthood, and the crown of kingdom; but the crown of a good name excels them all.'...