Proverbs 29:8

Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath. SCORNFUL MEN (WHO, WHEN REPROVED FOR SIN, NOT ONLY DO NOT REPENT, BUT SCORN AT DIVINE AND HUMAN LAWS) BRING A CITY INTO A SNARE. Scorners are especially dangerous in the legislature, as they sneer at all warnings of danger caused to the State by innovations against the divine law. Dangers are no longer light when they are despised as light. "Bring into a snare" [ yaapiychuw (H6315), from puwach (H6315), 'a snare']; or, as margin, 'set on fire' (from piyach, a spark); or, 'blow violently upon' (from naapach, to blow) - i:e., excite seditions in a city. BUT WISE (MEN) TURN AWAY WRATH - the wrath of God, incurred by the city through scornful men ...

SCORNFUL MEN - The men who head political or religious revolutions, who inflame (literally as in the margin) the minds of the people against the powers that be....

EXPOSITION This chapter reinforces many precept given previously. PROVERBS 29:1 HE THAT BEING OFTEN REPROVED HARDENETH HIS NECK; literally, _a man of reproofs—_one_ _who has had a long experience of rebukes and warnings. Compare "a man of sorrows" (Isaiah 53:3). The hardening of the neck is a metaphor derived from obstinate draught animals who will not submit to the yoke (Deuteronomy 10:16; Jeremiah 2:20; Jeremiah 27:8). Christ calls his yoke easy, and bids his followers

SCORNFUL MEN BRING A CITY INTO A SNARE,.... Such as despise dominion, speak evil of dignities; proud and haughty men, that speak Loftily, and with a contempt of their superiors; or who make a mock at religion, and scoff at all that is good and serious; these bring the inhabitants of a city into a snare, to rebel against their governors, and so into mischief and ruin: or, they "burn a city", as the Septuagint and Syriac versions o; they inflame it, or blow it up into a flame; raise a combustion in it, and fill it with strifes and contentions; and bring down the wrath of God upon it, like fire: or, they "blow upon a city" p; raise storms and tempests in it; turn all things upside down, and throw it into the utmost confusion, or blow it up; BUT WISE [MEN] TURN AWAY WRATH; the wrath of men, by their wise counsels and advice, and appease tumults and seditions, and restore things to a quiet a...

CHAPTER 29 THE FINAL INSTRUCTIONS These final instructions given in proverbs cover the similar ground as those in the previous Chapter s. Wisdom shines out in each, and the contents of every proverb shows that the author is not Solomon but He who is perfect in knowledge. “He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” Scripture abounds with examples of cases of hardening the neck and the heart, like Pharaoh, Ahab and others. This proverb will be finally proven to be the truth when an ungodly age will end with judgment for those who were often reproved and continue in sin. Once more the sin of flattery is mentioned. “A man that flattereth his neighbor spreadeth a net for his feet” Proverbs 29:5. Flattery is akin to lying and can never be right, but is always a mistake, which results in the gravest consequences. More servants

PROVERBS 29:2. _cf._ Proverbs 11:10 f., Proverbs 28:12. Proverbs 29:4. he that exacteth gifts: lit. a man of presents. Proverbs 29:9 b. Who is the subject? If it is the wise man, the meaning is that however he treats his opponent, seriously or lightly, he cannot end the matter. If it is the fool, the thought will be that he shows no decorum of manner. The proverb seems directed against a wise man's going to law with a fool....

SCORNFUL MEN. Scoffers. Hebrew "men of scorning". BRING. CITY, &C. Illustrations: Judah (2 Chronicles 36:16); rulers (Isaiah 28:14. and Matthew 27:39). TURN AWAY WRATH. ILLUSTRATIONS: Moses (Exodus 32:10) and Aaron (Numbers 16:48); Elijah (James 5:18). Contrast Sodom (Genesis 18:32); and...

_bring a city into a snare_ Rather, SET A CITY ON FIRE, A. V. marg., or, IN A FLAME, R.V.; ἐξέκαυσαν, LXX. Comp. Proverbs 20:10; Proverbs 26:21; and, for an illustration of the proverb, the story of Sheba the son of Bichri and the wise woman, 2 Samuel 20....

CHAPTER 29 TEXT Proverbs 29:1-9 1. He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck Shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. 2. When the righteous are increased, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man beareth rule, the people sigh. 3. Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father; But he that keepeth company with harlots wasteth his substance. 4. The king by justice establisheth the land; But he that exacteth gifts overthroweth it. 5. A man that flattereth his neighbor Spreadeth a net for his steps. 6. In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare; But the righteous doth sing and rejoice. 7. The righteous taketh knowledge of the cause of the poor; The wicked hath not understanding to know it. 8. Scoffers set a city in a flame;

KINGS AND FATHERS 3. Cp. the prodigal son (Luke 15)....