Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 8:6

Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips [shall be] right things.

6. excellent things ] The word is always used elsewhere of persons, princes, or leaders. Here, poetically, my words shall march forth, instinct with the nobility of truth and rectitude.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Excellent – literally, princely things. The word is not the same as in marginal reference, and is elsewhere always used of persons (compare captain in 1Sa 9:16; 2Sa 5:2). The poetic style of this part of the book applies it here to the things taught, or to the character of the teaching.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Pro 8:6

Hear; for I will speak of excellent things.

The excellency of wisdom

Wisdom is represented as making a public appearance in a rude, ignorant, and corrupt world, loudly proclaiming her doctrines and counsels, and calling upon all men to hearken to them. What consideration could be more powerful to engage their attention than this, that she speaketh of excellent things: the opening of her lips is of right things, and her mouth speaketh truth. I propose to show that this is the just character of the instructions and precepts of religious virtue.

I. The excellence of the doctrines and injunctions of wisdom, absolutely and in themselves. We must fix an idea of excellence, making it the standard whereby to try everything which pretendeth to that character. There must be some common and plain rule wherein all men are agreed, and which must have so deep a foundation in nature as the necessary invariable determination of our minds. If you suppose the character of excellent and right to be the result of arbitrary human constitutions, it would never be uniform. But our notions of excellent and right are before the consideration of all laws, appointments, orders, and instructions whatsoever; for we bring all these to the test in our own minds, and try them by a sense which we have prior to any of them. Nor does this sense depend on any positive declaration of Gods will. The original idea of excellence is essential to our nature. It is one of those perceptions to which we are necessarily determined when the object fitted to excite it is presented to us. There is a test, or power of discerning, in the mind. And this discerns the excellency of religious things. Set right and true against their opposites, in any case wherein you are competent judges, and you will see to which of them your own minds must necessarily give the preference. There is eternal truth in all Gods testimonies; they are founded on self-evident maxims.

II. Compare the doctrines and precepts of wisdom with other things which are most valued by man, and show their superior worth. That wisdom is better than rubies, pearls, or whatever else can be described in this world, is shown–

1. In that none of them come up to the character of excellence before insisted on, and which must be attributed to wisdom. They all have only a limited and relative worth.

2. The most precious treasures of this world are not valued but with some regard to virtue, but religious wisdom is necessarily esteemed excellent independently of them, and without any manner of regard to them.

3. The things of this world, which rival wisdom in our esteem, have many inconveniences attending the acquisition and use of them, which do not affect this invaluable possession. Application:

(1)We should hear the counsels of wisdom, make it our choice, and use our utmost endeavours to attain it.

(2) We should entertain our minds with the excellency of wisdom as a very agreeable contemplation.

(3) The excellence of wisdom should affect the characters of men in our esteem, and regulate our regards to them. (J. Abernethy, M. A.)

Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell

Verse 6. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things] negidim, things which are pre-eminent, and manifestly superior to all others. The teaching is not trifling, though addressed to triflers.

The opening of my lips shall be right things.] meysharim, things which are calculated to correct your false notions, and set straight your crooked ways. Hence she declares,

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Of excellent things, Heb. of princely things, worthy of princes to learn and practise them; or such as excel common things as much as princes do ordinary persons.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

6. excellent thingsor,”plain,” “manifest.”

opening . . . thingsuprightwords.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Hear; for I will speak of excellent things,…. Such are the things of the Gospel; they not only excel what the light of nature dictates and directs to, but even what the law of Moses commands and requires; the doctrines of the Gospel are excellent in their author, nature, and use; particularly those which respect the love, grace, and mercy of God, the person and offices of Christ, the efficacy of his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice, and the great salvation which he has wrought out. These are the doctrines of grace which proceed out of Wisdom’s mouth, and are such as never man spake the like; they are to be approved of, being what differ from others, and to be preferred unto them, Php 1:9; or “princely things” u, as the word may be rendered; which became him who is the Prince of the kings of the earth, and the Prince of peace to speak; and are worthy to be received by princes, though little known and valued by the princes of this world; and are embraced and, esteemed by those who are the princes of the Lord s people: or they are “principal” ones, or “leading” truths w; of the greatest importance, interesting ones; “praiseworthy”, as Aben Ezra, or “honourable”, as Gersom, and to be had in the highest esteem and veneration;

and the opening of my lips [shall be] right things: agreeable to right reason, though above it; consonant to the righteous law of God, and even to the perfection of God’s righteousness, which is greatly glorified by the obedience, sufferings, and death of Christ, and redemption through him; and these are the excellent and principal doctrines of the Gospel, even justification by Christ’s righteousness, atonement by his sacrifice, and redemption through his blood; all which are consistent with and greatly display the justice of God: nor are any of the doctrines of the Gospel licentious ones, but on the contrary teach men to live soberly and righteously; as well as they are plain and easy to such who are conversant with them, as is often expressed, and may be the sense of the word here used also.

u “principalia, i.e. digna principibus”, Mercerus, Gejerus, Michaelis; “ducalia”, Gussetius, p. 485. w “Praecipua quaedam”, Tigurine versions.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

wisdom’s Objective

(Pro 8:6-13)

Verses 6-9 declare WHAT wisdom seeks to impart: That which is EXCELLENT (Vs. 6), RIGHT (Vs. 6), TRUSTWORTHY (Vs. 7) and UNDERSTANDABLE (Vs. 9). Nothing perverse is included, Vs. 8.

Verses 10-11 explain that wisdom’s benefits of instruction (discipline), knowledge and wisdom are of far greater value than silver, gold or rubies. Things can be misused, 11:22. Wisdom’s worth is incomparable, Job 28:12-19; Pro 3:13-15; Pro 4:5-7; Pro 16:16.

Verses 12-13 further emphasize the excellence of wisdom. With the personal “I” wisdom declares affinity with prudence, knowledge and discretion. She is free of the traits of evil, pride, and perverse speech which all who fear the LORD hate. Hate appears twice in Verse 13 and signifies that in which the LORD has no pleasure, and from which He separates Himself, Pro 4:24; Pro 6:16-19; Psa 19:9; Zec 8:17; 1Pe 5:5.

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

(6) The opening of my lips shall be right things.That is, I will open my mouth to speak them.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

6. Excellent things Noble, princely things; things of primary importance, or plain, obvious things, (Pro 8:9.) The word is elsewhere always used of persons: see 1Sa 9:16; 2Sa 5:2, in both which cases the word is rendered captain; that is, foremost, leader.

Right things Straight; the opposite of every thing tortuous, disingenuous, dishonest.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

The Characteristics of Wisdom (Her Words) – You will not find wickedness and perverseness on the lips of the wise. You will only hear them speaking truth and righteousness. We learn to find wisdom by listening to the words of others, of those who are speaking words of righteousness (Pro 8:6-8). Thus, wisdom’s characteristics are reflected in the lives of people. The first characteristic that reveals wisdom is in the words that wisdom speaks. This is similar to the first description of the wicked man and the adulteress, whose descriptions also begin with their words (Pro 6:12; Pro 7:5).

Pro 6:12, “A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.”

Pro 7:5, “That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.”

Pro 8:6  Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

Pro 8:6 Word Study on “excellent things” Strong says the Hebrew word “excellent things” ( ) or ( ) (H5057) means, “a commander (as occupying the front), civil, military, religious,” and “honorable.” The Enhanced Strong says it is used 44 times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as, “ ruler 20, prince 9, captain 6, leader 4, governor 3, nobles 1, excellent things 1.”

Pro 8:7  For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

Pro 8:8  All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

Fuente: Everett’s Study Notes on the Holy Scriptures