Category: Proverbs

Proverbs discusses the wise man in his various relationships. A few of the major ones are mentioned below. What is man’s relationship to God? Since the fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom, many of the proverbs discuss man’s relationship to God. Two areas the book of Proverbs deal with are divine guidance (3.5-6, 11.14, 15.22, and 16.9), which states that to depend exclusively on one’s own understanding may lead to tragic results and that God gives guidance through godly counselors. And, the avoidance of sin (6.16-19). These proverbs catalog seven sins that God especially hates. The wise man will take note and avoid these.

Another relationship mentioned is man’s relationship to his nation. God has advice regarding two possible relationships of a man to his nation. The first is to the leaders of the nation. Leaders are chosen and controlled by the sovereign God (8.15-16 and 21.1-2). They are to rule with equity (29.4) and are to be especially wary of the snares laid by strong drink and strange women (31.1-9). The second is to the citizenry of the nation. The people who are governed are to remember that God honors righteousness and punishes sin in the nation as a whole (11:11 and 14.34).

A third relationship is man’s relationship to his business. There are two lines of thought that are emphasized in relation to everyday business affairs. The first is having honesty and integrity. These principles are to guide the wise man’s dealings. False weights and balances are condemned (11.1, 16.11, and 20.10). The businessman who cheats his customers cannot expect the blessing of God. The second is to be cautious. In loaning money, the wise man will be especially cautious (6.1-2, 11.15, 17.18, 22.26, and 27.13). To loan money with no security is foolishness, not generosity.

The fourth relationship is man’s relationship to his friends. The author of these proverbs stresses two thoughts in regard to friends. The first is that friendships are valuable, and it is important to remember that a man wins friends by being friendly himself (18.24). Friendships can be of great spiritual benefit. The right kind of friend is faithful (18.24), tactful (27.14), and helpful (27.6). The second is that friendships are vulnerable. People who entice to sin are to be shunned (1.10-19). Some friendships are based on wrong things, such as money (19.4). Like any other good thing, friendships may be misused (16.28 and 17.9).

The fifth relationship is man’s relationship to his family. This involves both his wife and children. A wife is a gift and blessing from God (18.22). This is true only if she is a good wife, i.e., sensible (19.14), capable (31.10), and a stabilizing influence in the home (14.1). The wrong kind of wife is quarrelsome and nagging (21.19, 25.24, and 27.15-16). It is the responsibility of parents to provide direction for the child (22.6) and also to administer discipline (13.4, 22.15, and 23.13-14).

The sixth and final relationship presented here is a man’s relationship to himself. The book of Proverbs discusses personal habits. it contains a series of contrasting personality traits which are accompanied be a description in which the virtues or limitations are clearly stated. Some of the more significant ones are: diligence and laziness (20.13 and 24.33-34), speech and silence (15.1-2, 20.19, and 26.20), pride and humility (15.25, 16.18-19, and 21.4), joy and sorrow (17.22), drunkenness and sobriety (23.29-32).

Two critical approaches to the book will be discussed. The one not taken by this author is the liberal approach and the other, which is held by this author, is the conservative approach. Liberals take the evolutionary approach to Proverbs. That is, the late model. In so doing they deny most, if not all, proverbs as ascribed to Solomon as his. They date the writing to be around 800 BC. To refute this we point to Date and Authorship.

Conservatives say the style of Proverbs agrees with Ugaritic epics. There are at least forty word parallels between Proverbs and these epics. One such is I Aqht I,1:13 when compared to Proverbs 27.2. The liberals also say that the author of Proverbs copied from The Wisdom of Amenemope. However, recent studies prove this to be reversed.

Solomon is the chief author as stated in 1.1, 10.1, and 25.1. First Kings 4:32 gives more insight into this. The verse explains that Solomon was the author of more than 3,000 proverbs and 1,500 songs. If he was famous for all these proverbs, he must have written a few. Proverbs contains 915 verses and at least as many proverbs.

Other authors include Agur who is the author of the chapter thirty. While 31.1-9 was authored by Lemuel and 31.10-31 was by an unknown author.

The name of the book of Proverbs is a play on words with the author of many of the proverbs the book contains. The word “Proverb” is משל (taken from mashal meaning “parable or proverb”). Solomon’s name is שלמה (shelomah, i.e. Proverbs of Solomon).

The main purpose of Proverbs is to instruct in principles of wisdom. There are three “types” of wisdom mentioned in the book. The basic word “wisdom” means to grasp the basic issues of life, which is to discern between good and evil. As we look across America today, we see little of this. We are more concerned with people feeling accepted than with actual good and evil. The word “understanding” is discerning between what appears to be real and what actually is real. The third word or phrase is “abiding success,” which is insight into spiritual or psychological truths.

The book of Proverbs contains a balanced antithesis. That is the two sides of a truth are presented in clearest opposition for didactic purposes. This leaves the reader with a clear-cut choice with no possible compromise. It is not a philosophy of life which is circular and man-centered, which is the philosophy of ancient Greece. It is linear and God centered, which is more Hebraic. It prepares those who desire wisdom and not philosophy for day to day living.

Be definition, a proverb is universal in that it applies to all times and all places. It has little historical background in Israel. Historical situations do not occur in the book of Proverbs. All proverbs are not applicable to all situations. Different circumstances require a different proverb.