Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 21:14
A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
14. pacifieth ] The Heb. word occurs only here, and scholars, both ancient and modern, are divided between pacifieth (A.V. and R.V. text), turneth away, or bendeth ( , LXX.; frangit, Syr.; bendeth, R.V. marg.), and extinguisheth (extinguit, Vulg.); the word in this last case being regarded as synonymous with the similar word rendered quenched (of God’s anger), Jer 7:20. Both renderings are admissible, but the former is to be preferred.
a reward ] Rather, a present, R.V., as the same Heb. word is rendered in Pro 6:35, Pro 17:8, A.V.
in the bosom ] brought in the folds of the garment from which it is drawn out stealthily and presented, see Pro 17:23.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
A gift, to a person offended and angry with us, as the following words show.
In secret; which makes it more acceptable; for gifts openly given savour of ostentation in the giver, and cause some shame or contempt to the receiver.
In the bosom; secretly conveyed into his bosom. See Poole “Pro 17:8“, See Poole “Pro 18:16“.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
14. The effect of bribery (Pr17:23) is enhanced by secrecy, as the bribed person does not wishhis motives made known.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
A gift in secret pacifieth anger,…. Appeases an angry man; humbles and “brings [his anger] down” y, as Aben Ezra and Gersom observe the word signifies; which before rose very high, and showed itself in big words and disdainful looks, as proud wrath does; or extinguishes it, as the Targum and Vulgate Latin version render it, and very fitly. Anger is a fire in the breast; and a restraining or causing it to cease is properly expressed by an extinguishing of it: this a gift or present does, as it did in Esau from Jacob, in David from Abigail; but then it must be secretly given, otherwise it may more provoke; since it may show vanity in the giver, and covetousness in the receiver; and the former may have more honour than the latter. Some understand this of a gift for a bribe to a judge, to abate the severity of the sentence; and others of alms deeds to the poor, to pacify the anger of God z: Jarchi interprets it of alms; and the Jews write this sentence upon the poor’s box, understanding it in this sense; but the first sense is best;
and a reward in the bosom strong wrath: the same thing in different words; the meaning is, that a reward or gift, secretly conveyed into the bosom of an angry man, pacifies his wrath, when at the greatest height. The Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, understand it in a quite different sense, of a gift retained in the bosom, and not given, and render it thus, “he that spareth gifts stirreth up strong wrath”.
y “deprimit”, Piscator; so some in Mercerus; “subigit”, Cocceius; “pensat nasum”, Schultens. z “Munera (crede mihi) placant hominesque deosque”, Ovid. de Arte Amandi, l. 3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
14 A gift in secret turneth away anger;
And a bribe into the bosom violent wrath.
Hitzig reads with Symmachus, the Targ., and Jerome, , and translates: “extinguishes anger;” but it does not follow that they did read ; for the Talm. Heb. signifies to cover by turning over, e.g., of a vessel, Sanhedrin 77a, which, when it is done to a candle or a fire, may mean its extinction. But of the post-bibl. Heb. also means to bend, and thence to force out (Aram. , ), according to which Kimchi hesitates whether to explain: overturns = smothers, or: bends = forces down anger. The Venet. follows the latter signification: (for Villoison’s rests on a false reading of the MS). But there is yet possible another derivation from the primary signification, curvare, flectere, vertere , according to which the lxx translates , for which would be yet better: , to bend away, to turn off, , arcere , altogether like the Arab. (compared by Schultens) kfa , and kfy , , to prevent, whence, e.g., ikfni hada : hold that away from me, or: spare me that (Fleischer); with the words hafka sharran (Lat. defendaris semper a malo ) princes were anciently saluted; kfy signifies “to suffice,” because enough is there, where there is a keeping off of want. Accordingly we translate: Donum clam acceptum avertit iram , which also the Syr. meant by mephadka ( ). This verb is naturally to be supplied to 14b, which the lxx has recognised (it translates: but he who spares gifts, excites violent anger). Regarding , vid., at Pro 17:8; and regarding , at Pro 17:23. Also here ( = ), like Arab. jayb , ‘ubb , , denotes the bosom of the garment; on the contrary (Arab.) hijr , hidn , , is more used of that of the body, or that formed by the drawing together of the body ( e.g., of the arm in carrying a child). A present is meant which one brings with him concealed in his bosom; perhaps 13b called to mind the judge that took gifts, Exo 23:8 (Hitzig).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
Here is, 1. The power that is commonly found to be in gifts. Nothing is more violent than anger. O the force of strong wrath! And yet a handsome present, prudently managed, will turn away some men’s wrath when it seemed implacable, and disarm the keenest and most passionate resentments. Covetousness is commonly a master-sin and has the command of other lusts. Pecuni obediunt omnia—Money commands all things. Thus Jacob pacified Esau and Abigail David. 2. The policy that is commonly used in giving and receiving bribes. It must be a gift in secret and a reward in the bosom, for he that takes it would not be thought to covet it, nor known to receive it, nor would he willingly be beholden to him whom he has been offended with; but, if it be done privately, all is well. No man should be too open in giving any gift, nor boast of the presents he sends; but, if it be a bribe to pervert justice, that is so scandalous that those who are fond of it are ashamed of it.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Bribes and Gifts
Verse 14-See comment on Pro 15:27; Pro 17:23; Pro 18:16.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
MAIN HOMILETICS OF Pro. 21:14
THE PACIFICATION OF ANGER
I. Human anger is an evil to be avoided. Even the anger of a righteous man exposes the object of it to danger. David had good reason to be angry with Nabal, but his anger, though it was the anger of a man just in the main, so nearly overmastered him for the time as to lead him to meditate a very bitter revenge. For even righteous indignation has a tendency to run into unrighteous action, as in the case of Esau and Jacob. The elder brother had just cause to be angry with the younger for his meanness and deceit, but lawful displeasure soon degenerated into an unlawful purpose, and Jacob had to flee for his life. If, then, even the anger of the righteous man is to be feared because it may lead him to visit the offender with justice without mercy, much more is the anger of the unrighteous man likely to lead him to extreme measures, and the anger of either is an evil to be avoided when it can be done without sin.
II. Gifts may appease human anger. This proverb does not, we think, refer to bribery but to lawful tokens of goodwill, and of a desire to be reconciledto gifts by which we seek to make some atonement for a wrong done. Such were the presents which Jacob offered to Esau, and Abigail to David. A bribe is a gift offered to a third person who is to judge between the parties at strife, but the gift here is from the offender to the person offended.
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
A gift in itself is gracious, but if it be secretly given it is yet more acceptable; for privy bestowing taketh away the blush of open receiving. When as then a present shall even so closely be conveyed unto the receiver as that it shall covertly be put into his bosom, then it will be most welcome and even forcible.Muffett.
Have gifts, says a judicious writer, such a powerful influence to disarm resentment? Then let no man plead, in apology for the fury of his passions, that he is not able to conquer them. If money can conquer them, shall reason, and the fear of God, and the command of Christ, be too weak to bridle them? Surely the commandments of God our Saviour have too little authority with us, if they have less influence upon our spirits than gold and jewels have upon the spirits of almost all men.Wardlaw.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
(14) A gift in secret.Comp. Abigail and David (1Sa. 25:18).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
14. A gift pacifieth Subdues, allays, or diverts. The proverb only states a fact, without approving or condemning. It is presumed to refer to lawful presents, not to bribes. Compare Pro 17:8; Pro 17:23; Pro 18:16; Pro 19:6. The Septuagint reads the latter clause: “But he that forbears to give, stirs up strong wrath.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
v. 14. A gift in secret pacifieth anger,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Pro 21:14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
Ver. 14. A gift in secret pacifieth anger. ] That is, say some, Alms rightly performed Mat 6:1 pacifieth God’s displeasure – compare Dan 4:27 ; and the Jews at this day write this sentence of Solomon (in an abbreviation) upon their alms box. a This sense suits well with the previous verse; but I conceive the wise man’s drift here is to show how prevalent gifts are, if closely conveyed especially – which takes away the shame of open receiving – and what a pave they have to an amicable reconciliation. Thus Jacob pacified Esau; Abigail, David; Hezekiah, the Assyrian that came up against him. 2Ki 18:24-25 Howbeit this doth not always do the deed. Our chronicler tells us that the Lady de Bruse had, by her virulent and railing tongue, more exasperated the fury of King John, whom she reviled as a tyrant and a murderer of her husband, than could be pacified by her strange present – viz., four hundred kine and one bull, all milk-white, except only the ears, which were red – sent unto the queen. b See Trapp on “ Pro 17:8 “
a Buxtorf., Synag. Jud.
b Speed, p. 572.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Pro 21:14
Pro 21:14
“A girl in secret pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath.”
Here is another proverb regarding bribery. The statement here corresponds with the others. “Bribery works”! But this should not be interpreted to mean that God approves of it. The word `pacifieth’ is understood in the second line.
Pro 21:14. A triple parallel: gift and present, in secret and in the bosom, and anger and strong wrath. Pulpit Commentary: A gift offered secretly to one incensed, whether personal enemy, judge, or prince, averts the consequences of the offence. Concerning in the bosom Pulpit Commentary remarks, A present kept handy in the bosom of the petitioners garment, ready to be transferred at a fitting moment. Though this is the way it often works, it is not right (1Sa 12:3-5) Pro 8:3; Amo 5:12).
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
gift: Pro 17:8, Pro 17:23, Pro 18:16, Pro 19:6, Gen 32:20, Gen 43:11, 1Sa 25:35
in secret: Mat 6:3, Mat 6:4
Reciprocal: Gen 21:27 – took Gen 32:13 – a present Jdg 3:15 – sent a present 1Sa 25:18 – took two
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pro 21:14. A gift Bestowed on a person offended and angry with us, as the following words show; in secret That is, given in secret, which makes it more acceptable; for gifts openly given savour of ostentation in the giver: and cause some shame to the receiver; pacifieth anger Removes all resentment, and conciliates love; and a reward in the bosom Secretly conveyed into the bosom; strong wrath Will extinguish that wrath which was thought implacable.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
21:14 A {g} gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
(g) To do a pleasure to the angry man pacifies him.