Proverbs 3:16

Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. LENGTH OF DAYS IS IN HER RIGHT HAND (CF. NOTE, ); AND IN HER LEFT HAND RICHES AND HONOUR. Wisdom is described as a royal virgin or queen, with both hands full of gifts: in her right hand (the superior hand) is length of life, the chief of earthly blessings, and one which probably (though not expressly) God promised to Solomon himself in connection with the gift of wisdom (). True wisdom is the path to life, because it shuns perils and averts them, and provides advantages; controls the passions; teaches prudence and temperance; and especially because eternal life is its final issue (Cornelius a Lapide)....

13-20 No precious jewels or earthly treasures are worthy to be compared with true wisdom, whether the concerns of time or eternity be considered. We must make wisdom our business; we must venture all in it, and be willing to part with all for it. This Wisdom is the Lord Jesus Christ and his salvation, sought and obtained by faith and prayer. Were it not for unbelief, remaining sinfulness, and carelessness, we should find all our ways pleasantness, and our paths peace, for his are so; but we too often step aside from them, to our own hurt and grief. Christ is that Wisdom, by whom the worlds were made, and still are in being; happy are those to whom he is made of God wisdom. He has wherewithal to make good all his promises....

Verse Proverbs 3:16. _LENGTH OF DAYS_ IS _IN HER RIGHT HAND_] A wicked man shortens his days by _excesses_; a righteous man prolongs his by _temperance_. _IN HER LEFT HAND RICHES AND HONOUR._] That is, her hands are full of the choicest benefits. There is nothing to be understood here by the _right hand_ in preference to the _left_....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 3:1 4. _Fourth admonitory discourse. _The third chapter introduces us to a group of admonitions, and the first of these (Proverbs 3:1) forms the fourth admonitory discourse of the teacher. To all intents and purposes this is a continuation of the discourse in the preceding chapter, for inasmuch as that described the benefits, spiritual and moral, which follow from the pursuit of Wisdom, in promoting godliness and providing safety from evil companions, so this in like manner depicts the gain flowing from Wisdom, the happiness of the man who finds Wisdom, and the favour which he meets with both with God and man. The discourse embraces exhortations to obedience ...

LENGTH OF DAYS [IS] IN HER RIGHT HAND,.... Wisdom is here represented as a queen, as indeed she is above all kings and queens; see Proverbs 8:15; holding in one hand, instead of a sceptre, "length of days"; and in the other, instead of a globe, riches and honour: the allusion is thought by some on this clause to be to an ancient custom of numbering things, and the ages of men, by the hand and fingers, beginning with the left hand, and when they came to a hundred went to the right z; so that in that might be truly said to be "length of days", few arriving to that number: or rather the reference is to what Solomon received of the Lord, who, asking wisdom, had not that only, but a long life, and riches and honour; see 1 Kings 3:11. Some think that only temporal blessings are here meant, and, because health and

CHAPTER 3 _ 1. The call and promise of wisdom (Proverbs 3:1)_ 2. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom (Proverbs 3:11) 3. Promise and instruction (Proverbs 3:21) Proverbs 3:1. The call to obedience is followed by promise. The promise is like all the promises to an earthly people “for length of days and long life”. Here are some blessed exhortations loved and cherished by all His people (Proverbs 3:5). How happier, and more fruitful the children of God would be if they obeyed constantly this instruction: “in all thy

FOURTH Discourse. The sage exhorts the young man to heed his oral instruction (_torah),_ and to trust in Yahweh, fear Him, and honour Him in the prescribed manner of firstfruits. It is interesting to find _torah_ used in its earlier prophetic sense of oral instruction, without reference to its later sense of the whole body of legislation represented by the Pentateuch. The torah of the wise man represents not his own individual authority, but the accumulated wisdom of experience. The torah of the prophet, although delivered in the name of Yahweh, represents ultimately the accumulated moral consciousness of the nation; while the torah of the priest in its later form at least represents the traditional and inherited ritual, the prescribed method of the cultus. Hence the primary idea of torah is the same in all three forms. (See pp. 121, 620, Deuteronomy 1:5 *, and for a fuller disc

IN HER RIGHT HAND. in her power; "hand" put by Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of Cause), for use as. grand agency for good of all kinds. Not necessarily. long life conferred. See note on Proverbs 3:2 and App-75. RICHES, &C.. to be used aright. See App-75....

The LXX. add at the end of this verse: "Out of her mouth proceedeth righteousness; Instruction and compassion she beareth upon her tongue....

LENGTH OF DAYS IS IN HER RIGHT HAND— The wise man represents wisdom (i.e. _holiness_ or _religion_) as other authors have done, particularly the excellent Cebes, in the shape of a beautiful woman, or rather queen; with her arms extended, in the posture not only of directing, but also of rewarding, her lovers and followers; for she holds forth in her right hand the great blessing of _health_ and _length of days,_ unto all those who will walk in the way to which she points; and it was but just to place this in her right hand; i.e. to give it the precedence, because it was the chief temporal promise of the law, and indeed the most desirable of all earthly blessings. After this follow _wealth_ and _reputation;_ which he places in her left hand, as inferior blessings, but which proceed also from her gift. Spiritually, these blessings refer to eternity, and the glories of heaven. As for _cheer...