Proverbs- Everyday Bible Commentary

By Irving L. Jensen

The wisdom of Proverbs sometimes comforts and sometimes confuses. It contains some of our most cherished verses, as well as odd metaphors, and strange pronouncements that can feel cold or even cruel. What we need is a guide—someone who can explain the confusing bits and bring familiar passages to life. This is what the best preachers do, but you don’t have to wait until Sunday’s sermon. Encounter the beautiful depth of Proverbs through an enlightening verse-by-verse commentary from Irving Jensen that’s both straightforward and insightful. You’ll gain:

• Important historical and cultural background
• Useful charts and graphs
• Help with the difficult passages
• And more!

You don’t have to go to seminary to encounter God in exciting, new ways through His Word. Discover how much more enjoyable your personal study will be with understandable, quality Bible commentary for everyday life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Moody Publishers
• Release date: Mar 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9780802497673

Irving L. Jensen

IRVING L. JENSEN (B.A., Wagner College; S.T.B., Biblical Seminary; Th.D., Northwestern Theological Seminary), was professor and chairman of the department of Bible at Bryan College, Dayton, Tennessee, and the author of numerous books, including the entire Bible Self-Study Series; Jensen's Survey of the Old Testament; Jensen's Survey of the New Testament; Jensen's Bible Study Charts; Acts: An Inductive Study; Independent Bible Study; and How to Profit from Bible Reading.

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© 1982 by THE MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO

Everyday Bible Commentary edition 2019

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Scripture quotations marked RSV are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The use of Scripture references from various versions of the Bible in this publication does not necessarily imply publisher endorsement of the versions in their entirety.

Interior design: Puckett Smartt

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Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Jensen, Irving Lester Proverbs.

I. Bible. O.T. Proverbs–Criticism, interpretation, etc. I. Title.

BSl465.2.J45 1982

ISBN 0-8024-2021-4

223’.706  82-14102

ISBN: 978-0-8024-1896-8

eBook ISBN: 978-0-8024-9767-3

We hope you enjoy this book from Moody Publishers. Our goal is to provide high-quality, thought-provoking books and products that connect truth to your real needs and challenges. For more information on other books and products written and produced from a biblical perspective, go to www.moodypublishers.com or write to:

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CONTENTS 

List of Charts

Publisher’s Note

Preface

Outline

1. Background and Setting of Proverbs

2. Survey of the Book of Proverbs

3. Who the Truly Wise Man Is

4. How the Wise Man Should Live

5. Appeal to Action

6. Further Descriptions of Godliness

7. Epilogue

Sources for Further Study

Notes

More from the Publisher

LIST OF CHARTS

1. Dates of the Writing of Proverbs

2. Poetical Books Compared

3. Proverbs Compared with Other Old Testament Books

4. New Testament Quotes of Proverbs

5. Hebrew Prophet, Priest, and Philosopher Compared

6. Basic Structure of the Book of Proverbs

7. Survey Chart of Proverbs

8. Context of Chapters 1–9

9. Survey of 2:1–4:27

10. The Biography of David in 2 Samuel

11. Survey of 5:1–7:27

12. Context of Chapters 8–9

13. Six Comparisons of 8:1–9:18

14. Counsel of Wise Men 22:17–24:34

15. Further Descriptions of Godliness 25:1–31:31

16. Kingships of Solomon and Hezekiah

17. General Styles of Chapters 25–29

Friend,

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

For over sixty years, the Everyday Bible Commentary series (formerly titled Everyman’s Bible Commentary series) has served millions of readers, helping them to grow in their understanding of both God and His Word. These commentaries—written by a wide variety of evangelical scholars who are experts in their respective fields—provide biblical interpretation that is both accessible and rich, impacting the daily lives of Christians from diverse cultural and theological backgrounds.

So why rerelease the Everyday Bible Commentary series given its immense success? These commentaries have served readers tremendously well in generations past, and we want to ensure that they serve many more for generations to come. While these commentaries are not new, they remain relevant as the content in each volume provides timeless scriptural exposition. And perhaps today more than ever, Christians need reliable biblical instruction that has stood the test of time. With so many voices vying for our attention and allegiance, Christians need to understand the voice of the One calling out to us in Scripture so we may faithfully live for Him and His glory. And it is to this end that these commentaries were written: that believers may encounter God through His Word and embody it in their everyday lives.

PREFACE

Most Christians are acquainted with the book of Proverbs, but not many have ever read or studied its entire text. Here is a book that is as important as it is practical. It surely was intended by God to make an impact on the lives of all His children.

God knows all. That is why His Book, the Bible, should be received as true doctrine and true instruction. When a Christian reads in Proverbs about a path to be avoided, he should heed the warning and stay away from such a path. He does not have to learn the hard way by tasting the bitter fruits of sinful acts. He should learn God’s way by instruction of His Word. And when Proverbs describes a path to be trodden, that is where the believer should be walking. Such is the kind of help the book offers.

Every honest reader of Proverbs has to be impressed with how many small details of everyday conduct are the full concern of God: all the words of Proverbs are the very breathings of the Spirit of God. H. A. Ironside has described his reactions:

And this is amazing grace: to think that He who spoke worlds into being, who wrought out redemption when man had fallen, who shall eventually bring in a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness; to think, I repeat, that He, the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, should stoop in grace to give instruction for the very details of His creatures’ lives down here, is cause for worship and admiration forever. What an importance attaches to all that I do if the God who created me and redeemed me does not consider it beneath His notice to instruct me concerning my behavior in the family, my place in society, and my methods in business. All are under His eye.¹

Among my main purposes of writing this commentary are the following:

1. To describe the background and setting of the book as a whole, and of its individual parts.

2. To survey and examine the structure of the Bible text, which is its compositional organization. This supports the full scope of studying not only what the Bible author writes but how he writes it.

3. To comment on selected parts of the Bible text (interpretation).

4. To serve as a companion to other helps in the reader’s study of Proverbs.

5. To relate Proverbs to a Christocentric view of God’s revelation.

6. To inspire application of the Bible text.

It is my hope that this book will introduce the reader to many exciting and fruitful studies of this portion of God’s Word.

OUTLINE

1. Background and Setting of Proverbs

I. Title

II. Authorship

III. Date

IV. Purposes

V. Place in the Bible

VI. The New Testament and Proverbs

VII. Variety of Subjects

VIII. Literary Characteristics

A. Type

B. Style

1. Various Forms

2. Common Devices

3. Prominent Teaching Method

4. Length

5. Symmetry

IX. Interpreting Proverbs

X. Applying Proverbs

2. Survey of the Book of Proverbs

I. Main Divisions of the Book

II. Overall Theme

III. Outline of the Commentary

3. Who the Truly Wise Man Is (1:1–9:18)

I. Prologue (1:1–6)

II. The Beginning of Wisdom (1:7–33)

A. A Key Verse (1:7)

B. God’s Counsel to His Children (1:8–19)

C. God’s Invitation to the Lost (1:20–33)

1. Call to Repentance (1:20–22)

2. Sinner’s Rejection of God (1:23–25)

3. Recompense for Rejection (1:26–27)

4. God’s Rejection of Sinners (1:28–32)

5. Invitation Repeated (1:33)

III. Wisdom Is the Principal Thing (2:1–4:27)

A. Search for Wisdom and Rewards (2:1–9)

B. Wisdom as a Guide (2:10–22)

C. Need for Guarding Wisdom (3:1–4:27)

1. For Prosperity (3:1–10)

2. For Happiness (3:11–20)

3. For Security (3:21–26)

4. For a Testimony to Others (3:27–35)

5. For Honor (4:1–9)

6. For Lighted Paths (4:10–19)

7. For Total Consecration (4:20–27)

IV. Enticement to Sin (5:1–7:27)

A. Adultery: Warning and Appeal (5:1–23)

1. Warning Not to Forfeit Personal Honor (5:1–14)

a. Warning to the Reader to Listen (5:1–2, 7)

b. Description of the Adulteress (5:3–6)

c. Command (5:8)

d. Judgment for Yielding (5:9–14)

2. Appeal to Cherish Personal Honor (5:15–23)

B. Paths to Avoid (6:1–19)

1. Irresponsibility (6:1–5)

2. Laziness (6:6–11)

3. Wickedness (6:12–19)

C. Adultery: The Guilt (6:20–35) and The Lure (7:1–27)

1. The Guilt (6:20–35)

2. The Lure (7:1–27)

a. Prologue (7:1–5)

b. Drama (7:6–23)

c. Commentary (7:23b, 26–27)

d. Epilogue (7:24–27)

V. Call to Righteousness (8:1–9:18)

A. General Survey

B. Stanza Analysis

1. The Call of Wisdom (8:1–11)

2. Wisdom and Rewards (8:12–21)

a. True Morality (8:12–14)

b. Wise Government (8:15–16)

c. True Wealth (8:17–21)

3. Wisdom of God (8:22–31)

4. Exhortation to Listen (8:32–36)

5. Two Contrasting Invitations (9:1–18)

a. Wisdom’s Feast Invitation (9:1–6)

b. Two Reactions and One Reward Principle (9:7–12)

c. Folly’s Feast Invitation (9:13–18)

4. How the Wise Man Should Live (10:1–22:16)

I. Survey of 10:1–22:16

II. Outlines of 10:1–22:16

III. Principles of Organization in the Lists of Proverbs

A. Identity

1. General

2. Specific

B. Continuity

C. Similarity

D. Unity

IV. Marks of Godly Living (10:1–15:33)

A. Things in Life That Profit (10:1–14)

1. Righteousness (10:1–3)

2. Diligence (10:4–5)

3. Integrity (10:6–10)

4. Righteous Speech (10:11–14)

B. Life at Its Best (10:15–32)

1. True Wealth (10:15–17)

2. Choice Speech (10:18–21)

3. Much Fruit (10:22–32)

C. Righteousness Works Everywhere (11:1–15)

1. In Business (11:1–4)

2. In Personal Problems (11:5–8)

3. In Government (11:9–15)

D. Sure Rewards (11:16–31)

1. For Christian Virtues (11:16–23)

2. For Liberal Giving (11:24–26)

3. For Seeking Good (11:27–31)

E. The Root of the Righteous (12:1–12)

1. Unmovable (12:1–3)

2. Upright (12:4–8)

3. Fruitful (12:9–12)

F. Escape from Trouble: Two Ways (12:13–28)

1. Prudent Lips (12:13–23)

2. Diligent Hands (12:24–27)

3. Conclusion (12:28)

G. Fruits of the Wise Man’s Living (13:1–25)

H. Further Maxims of Christian Living (14:1–15:33)

1. Chapter 14

2. Chapter 15

V. Ways of Man That Please the Lord (16:1–22:16)

A. Trusting the Lord as Sovereign King of the World (16:1–33)

1. The Lord (16:1–9)

a. His Activities (16:1–2, 4, 9)

b. Believers’ Relation to Him (16:3, 5–7)

2. Kings (16:10–15)

3. Miscellaneous Proverbs (16:16–31)

4. Kings (16:31–32)

5. Lord (16:33)

B. Peacemakers and Troublemakers (17:1–28)

1. Theme (17:1)

2. Speech (17:2–9)

3. Deeds (17:10–20)

4. Wisdom and Folly (17:21–28)

C. Alienation or Friendship? (18:1–24)

1. Ruin for the Fool’s Mouth (18:1–9)

2. Defense for the Humble Spirit (18:10–16)

3. Power of the Tongue (18:17–21)

4. Fruit of Love (18:22–24)

D. Miscellaneous Maxims (19:1–22:16)

1. Chapter 19

a. The Poor Man (19:1–7)

b. The Good Man (19:8–17)

c. Counsel and Discipline (19:18–29)

2. Chapter 20

a. Prudence (20:1–5)

b. Words and Deeds (20:6–11)

c.