Proverbs 25:15

By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. BY LONG FORBEARING IS A PRINCE (WHOSE ANGER IS MORE VIOLENT AND DESPOTIC) PERSUADED - much more is a private individual. A SOFT TONGUE BREAKETH THE BONE - breaketh a heart hard as bone, (; etc.; Judges 8:2; , etc.) So Issachar "crouching down instead of kicking against the "two burdens" (). 'It is a common error that the shortest road to peace is to howl with wolves, and give back curse for curse' (Cartwright)....

Verse Proverbs 25:15. _A SOFT TONGUE BREAKETH THE BONE._] This is similar to another proverb on the same subject: "A soft answer turneth away wrath." An _angry_ word does nothing but _mischief_....

A SOFT TONGUE - Winning and gentle speech does what it seems at first least capable of doing; it overcomes obstacles which are as bones that the strongest jaws would fail to crush....

EXPOSITION VERSE 1-29:27 PART VI. SECOND GREAT COLLECTION OF SOLOMONIC PROVERBS, gathered by "the men of Hezekiah," in which wisdom is set forth as the greatest blessing to the king and his subjects. PROVERBS 25:1 _The_ _superscription: _THESE ARE ALSO PROVERBS OF SOLOMON, WHICH THE MEN OF HEZEKIAH KING OF JUDAH COPIED OUT. The word "also" implies that a previous collection was known to the compiler of the present book—probably the one which we have in Pr 10-22:16, of which nine proverbs are inserted here. But there was still a large number of proverbial sayings attributed to Solomon, and preserved partly by oral tradition and partly in writing, which it was advisable to colle

BY LONG FORBEARING IS A PRINCE PERSUADED,.... To come into measures, and do that which his council and ministry advise him to, and to which he may seem at first very averse; but by a mild and gentle representation of things, by an humble submission of them to him, and by frequent remonstrances and patient waiting, his mind is softened, bent, and inclined to take their advice, and pursue the measures suggested to him; which, had they been pressed with heat, haughtiness, and haste, would have been rejected; AND A SOFT TONGUE BREAKETH THE BONE; or "hardness", as the Vulgate Latin version renders it; soft words, or words delivered in soft language, remove hardness and roughness from the minds of men; and work upon, influence, and bend men, whose wills are obstinate and stubborn, and make them pliable and tractable: so David, with a soft tongue, wrought upon Saul, his enemy; and Abigail, by...

IV. THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON COLLECTED BY THE MEN OF HEZEKIAH CHAPTER 25 Here begin the proverbs which the good king Hezekiah, under the guidance of the Spirit of God, added to this book. “This title is interesting as affording a proof that a revival of literary activity accompanied the revival of religion and of national prosperity which marked the reign of Hezekiah. The men of Hezekiah were doubtless a body of scribes engaged under the direction of the king in literary labors.” Very fittingly the opening verses of this collected portion of proverbs relate to the king. While it is the glory of God to conceal a thing, the glory of kings is to search out a matter. God has many things concealed as to Himself, the great universe, creation and His ways in providence; but kings should inquire diligently into the matters brought before them and search them out in their administration of justi...

FIRST DIVISION. In general character this division shows a resemblance to the Sayings of the Wise, containing a number of quatrains and synthetic couplets, and but few antithetic couplets. PROVERBS 25:2 B. A series of three quatrains relating to kings. Proverbs 25:4 b. Very obscure. Refining silver does not produce a vessel, and the parallelism with Proverbs 25:5 b is unsatisfactory. LXX it will be wholly purified probably represents the original text. Proverbs 25:6 f. _cf._ Luke 14:8....

PRINCE: or judge, persuaded. Compare Genesis 26:13. TONGUE. Put by Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of Cause), for what is spoken by it. BREAKETH THE BONE: i.e. overcometh obstinacy....

We have an illustration of this proverb in the effect of the "long forbearing" of David during his persecution by Saul, and of his "soft tongue" at Engedi (1 Samuel 24), and in the wilderness of Ziph (_Ib_. Proverbs 26:7 ff.): "And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept: "Return, my son David; for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day....

TEXT Proverbs 25:11-19 11. A word fitly spoken Is like applies of gold in network of silver. 12. As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. 13. As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, So is a faithful messenger to them that send him; For he refresheth the soul of his masters. 14. As clouds and wind without rain, So is he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely. 15. By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone. 16. Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. 17. Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor's house, Lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee. 18. A man that beareth false witness a