Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 18:11
The rich man’s wealth [is] his strong city, and as a high wall in his own conceit.
11. his strong city ] There is a sense in which it is really so (Pro 10:15); but a sense also in which, in designed contrast to the “strong tower” of the preceding verse, it is only so in his own opinion.
conceit ] i.e., imagination, as R.V.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
What the name of the Lord is to the righteous Pro 18:10, that wealth is to the rich. He flees to it for refuge as to a strong city; but it is so only in his own conceit or imagination.
High – In the Hebrew the same word as safe Pro 18:10, and manifestly used in reference to it.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 11. The rich man’s wealth] See Pr 10:15.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He trusts to his wealth, as that which will either enable him to resist his enemy, or at least purchase his favour.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11. contrasts with Pr18:10 (compare Pr 10:15).Such is a vain trust (compare Ps73:6).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The rich man’s wealth [is] his strong city,…. In which he dwells, over which he presides; in which he places his trust and confidence, and thinks himself safe from every enemy and from all trouble: as one s observes,
“the abundance of a rich man’s wealth he conceives to be as it were the abundance of people in a “city”; the telling of his money he imagines to be the walking of people up and down the streets; his bags standing thick together to be so many houses standing close one to the other; his iron barred chests to be so mary bulwarks; his bonds and bills to be his cannons and demi-cannons, his great ordinance; and in the midst of these he thinketh himself environed with a “great wall”, which no trouble is able to leap over, which no misery is able to break through.”
As it follows;
and as a high wall in his own conceit: which not only separates and distinguishes him from others; but, as he imagines, will secure him from all dangers, and will be abiding, lasting, and durable: but all this is only “in his own conceit”, or “imagery” t; in the chambers of his imagery, as Jarchi, referring to Eze 8:12; where the same word is used; for this wall shall not stand; these riches cannot secure themselves, they take wing and fly away; and much less the owner of them, not from public calamities, nor from personal diseases of body, nor from death, nor from wrath to come.
s Jermin its loc. t “in imaginatione ejus”, Pagninus, Montanus, Piscator, Cocceius, Gejerus, Schultens; “in imagine sua”, Mercerus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
11 The possession of the righteous is his strong fort,
And is like a high wall in his imagination.
Line first = Pro 10:15. from , Chald. (whence after Megilla 14a, , she who looks), R. , cogn. , to pierce, to fix, means the image as a medal, and thus also intellectually: image (conception, and particularly the imagination) of the heart (Psa 73:7), here the fancy, conceit; Fleischer compares (Arab.) tswwr , to imagine something to oneself, French se figurer . Translators from the lxx to Luther incorrectly think on ( ), to entertain; only the Venet. is correct in the rendering: ; better than Kimchi, who, after Ezr 8:12, thinks on the chamber where the riches delighted in are treasured, and where he fancies himself in the midst of his treasures as if surrounded by an inaccessible wall.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
Having described the firm and faithful defence of the righteous man (v. 10), Solomon here shows what is the false and deceitful defence of the rich man, that has his portion and treasure in the things of this world, and sets his heart upon them. His wealth is as much his confidence, and he expects as much from it, as a godly man from his God. See, 1. How he supports himself. He makes his wealth his city, where he dwells, where he rules, with a great deal of self-complacency, as if he had a whole city under his command. It is his strong city, in which he intrenches himself, and then sets danger at defiance, as if nothing could hurt him. His scales are his pride; his wealth is his wall in which he encloses himself, and he thinks it a high wall, which cannot be scaled or got over, Job 31:24; Rev 18:7. 2. How herein he cheats himself. It is a strong city, and a high wall, but it is so only in his own conceit; it will not prove to be really so, but like the house built on the sand, which will fail the builder when he most needs it.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Verse 11 emphasizes the folly of the rich who trust in their wealth for security. Equally foolish are those who trust in any provision of man for security, Pro 10:15; Job 31:24-28.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
11. Man’s wealth strong city This and the preceding proverb may have been placed in juxtaposition to exhibit the different objects of trust which men have. One makes Jehovah his fortress; another trusts in uncertain riches. Which is the safer? Compare Pro 10:15.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
v. 11. The rich man’s wealth is his strong city and as an high wall in his own conceit,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility. He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
If a man’s gift which at the utmost must be of a scanty and transitory nature, hath such a power of opening the heart, what effect, ought the great, the glorious, durable, and eternal gift of God’s dear Son to have in opening our souls to love him who hath so loved us? Qh! that a deep sense of this unspeakable Mercy may bring my soul continually before the Lord, with all the acknowledgments of love, and obedience, and faith, and praise.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Pro 18:11 The rich man’s wealth [is] his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
Ver. 11. The rich man’s wealth is his strong city.] It is hard to have wealth, and not to trust to it. Mat 19:24 1Ti 5:17 ; see the notes there But wealth was never true to those that trusted it; there is an utter uncertainty, 1Ti 5:17 a nonentity, Pro 23:5-6 an impotence to help in the evil day, Zep 1:18 an impossibility to stretch to eternity, unless it be to destroy the owner for ever. Ecc 5:13 Jam 5:1-2 A wicked man beaten out of earthly comforts is as a naked man in a storm, and an unarmed man in the field, or a ship tossed in the sea without an anchor, which presently dasheth upon rocks, or falleth upon quicksands. Totam igitur anchoram sacram figamus in Deo, qui solus nec potest, nec vult fallere; Cast we anchor therefore upon God, who neither can nor will fail us, saith a learned interpreter.
And as an high wall in his own conceit.
a , &c. – Cedr.
as = [it is]as.
conceit = imagination. See note on Pro 25:11.
Pro 18:11
Pro 18:11
“The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And as a high wall in his own imagination.”
“The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it an unscalable wall. Effective as wealth is for many purposes, it is an unspeakably poor security for one’s soul. God help all wealthy persons to anticipate that hour when the death angel shall say, “Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee.
Pro 18:11. The first statement is also in Pro 10:15. In contrast to the righteous persons God, the rich man makes wealth that in which he trusts. This is forbidden in 1Ti 6:17 : Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God. Dont overlook the connection of high wall, strong city, and tower in Pro 18:10-11.
Pro 10:15, Pro 11:4, Deu 32:31, Job 31:24, Job 31:25, Psa 49:6-9, Psa 52:5-7, Psa 62:10, Psa 62:11, Ecc 7:12, Luk 12:19-21
Reciprocal: 1Ch 6:54 – castles Pro 28:11 – rich Jer 48:36 – the riches Eze 28:4 – General Hab 2:9 – set Zep 1:18 – their silver Mar 10:24 – trust Luk 18:24 – How
Wealth does provide some security, but one may falsely imagine it a higher safeguard against calamity than it really is, "as anyone who has faced a terminal illness knows." [Note: Ibid., p. 77.]
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)