Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 15:5

A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

5. is prudent ] Rather, becometh prudent, by “regarding reproof.”

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

A fool despiseth, doth not regard nor obey, which is an evidence of contempt,

his fathers instruction; who hath both love to him, and authority over him; which greatly aggravates his folly.

Reproof; the reproof of any person whatsoever, and much more of a father.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

5. (Compare Pro 4:1;Pro 10:17; Pro 13:1-18).

is prudentactsdiscreetly.

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

A fool despiseth his father’s instruction,…. They are fools that despise any instruction that is wise, good, and profitable; and especially a father’s instruction, whose love, tender affection, and care, will not suffer him, knowingly, to give any but what is good and wholesome: wherefore to despise it is not only a contempt of his authority, but a slight of his love; which are both very aggravating, and sufficiently demonstrate his folly; and of which he may be himself convinced when it is too late, and say, “how have I hated instruction [and] despised reproof?” Pr 5:12. He is a fool that despises the instruction of anyone superior to him in years and experience; of ministers of the word; and especially of our Father which is in heaven, declared in the sacred Scriptures, which are written for instruction in righteousness;

but he that regardeth reproof is prudent; the reproof of a father, whose corrections are to be submitted to, and received with reverence; and especially of the Father of spirits, whose rebukes are in love, and for profit and advantage; yea, he is a wise man that regards the reproof of the word of God, and the ministers of it; and indeed of any Christian, whether his superior, equal, or inferior, as David did,

Ps 141:5.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

      5 A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

      Hence, 1. Let superiors be admonished to give instruction and reproof to those that are under their charge, as they will answer it in the day of account. They must not only instruct with the light of knowledge, but reprove with the heat of zeal; and both these must be done with the authority and affection of a father, and must be continued, though the desired effect be not immediately perceived. If the instruction be despised, give reproof, and rebuke sharply. It is indeed against the grain with good-humoured men to find fault, and make those about them uneasy; but better so than to suffer them to go on undisturbed in the way to ruin. 2. Let inferiors be admonished, not only to submit to instruction and reproof (even hardships must be submitted to), but to value them as favours and not despise them, to make use of them for their direction, and always to have a regard to them; this will be an evidence that they are wise and a means of making them so; whereas he that slights his good education is a fool and is likely to live and die one.

Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary

Regard For Parental Instruction

Verse 5 declares that he who despises or refuses his father’s instruction (such as urged in chapters 1-7, Pro 23:22) is a fool; but he that heeds such is wise and will profit from it, Pro 13:1; Pro 13:18.

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

(5) A fool (evl).See above, on Pro. 1:7.

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

5. A fool despiseth instruction The sense is: He that rejects the restraint placed upon him by his father, who loves him, is a fool.

But he that regardeth reproof is prudent Acts discreetly. Comp. Pro 10:1.

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

v. 5. A fool despiseth his father’s instruction, he reveals his folly by refusing to be corrected; but he that regardeth reproof, always willing to accept correction, is prudent, shows the proper discretion. cf Pro 19:25; 1Sa 23:22.

Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann

Pro 15:5 A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

Ver. 5. A fool despiseth his father’s instruction.] Heb., Entertains it with contumelious and opprobrious language; as a madman doth a potion offered him for his health. Jerome oft renders the word, “to blaspheme”; and indeed to reject good counsel, of a father especially, with scorn and reproach, is blasphemy in the second table.

But he that regardeth reproof, is prudent. ] Wise he is, and wiser he will be. This made David prize and pray for a reprover. Psa 141:5 And it is said of Gerson, that great and wise chancellor of Paris, that he took pleasure in nothing more, quam si ab aliquo fraterne et charitative redargueretur, a than in a friendly reproof. The like is reported of Sir Anthony Cope, by Dr Harris, who preached his funeral; b and of that famous man of God, Mr William Wheatly, by Mr Scudder, who writes his life. He was glad, saith he, when any of the righteous smote him, and would take it well, not from his superiors only, but from his equals, and far inferiors. c

a In vita Gers.

b Samuel’s Fun. Epist.

c Mr Wheatly’s Archetyp., Pref.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)