Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 23:9

Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

The fool here is one willfully and persistently deaf to it, almost identical with the scorner.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Speak not in the ears of a fool; cast not away good counsels upon obstinate and incorrigible sinners. We have the same advice given Mat 7:6.

He will despise the wisdom of thy words; he will scornfully reject thy wise and good admonitions.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

9. (Compare Pr9:8). “Cast not your pearls before swine” (Mt7:6).

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

Speak not in the ears of a fool,…. For it is only beating the air, and speaking to the wind; it is casting pearls before swine, and that which is holy to dogs. By the “fool” is meant a wicked man, one abandoned to sin, and hardened in it; that scoffs at all admonitions and reproofs, that derides the word, and the preachers of it, and makes a mock at all good men, and everything they say; and therefore what is serious and sacred should not be said to them, since it only becomes the object of their banter and ridicule;

for he will despise the wisdom of thy words; not only the words of doctrine, reproof, and correction, but the “wisdom” of them; or let them be ever so wisely spoken; for if the wisdom of God and his words, the truths of the Gospel, are foolishness with such, and despised by them, then much more the wisdom even of the best of men, and the wisest things they say; yea, when they deliver the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, the Gospel of Christ, which therefore should be spoken among them that are perfect, 1Co 1:24.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

Another case in which good words are lost:

Speak not to the ears of a fool,

For he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

To speak in the ears of any one, does not mean to whisper to him, to so to speak that it is distinctly perceived. , as we have no often explained, is the intellectually heavy and dull, like pinguis and tardus ; Arab. balyd , clumsy, intellectually immoveable (cf. bld , the place where one places himself firmly down, which one makes his point of gravity). The heart of such an one is covered over (Psa 119:70), as with grease, against all impressions of better knowledge; he has for the knowledge which the words spoken design to impart to him, no susceptibility, no mind, but only contempt. The construction has been frequently met with from Pro 6:30.

Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament

      9 Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

      We are here directed not to cast pearls before swine (Matt. vii. 6) and not to expose things sacred to the contempt and ridicule of profane scoffers. It is our duty to take all fit occasions to speak of divine things; but, 1. There are some that will make a jest of every thing, though it be ever so prudently and pertinently spoken, that will not only despise a wise man’s words, but despise even the wisdom of them, that in them which is most improvable for their own edification; they will particularly reproach that, as if it had an ill design upon them, which they must guard against. 2. Those that do so forfeit the benefit of good advice and instruction, and a wise man is not only allowed, but advised, not to speak in the ears of such fools; let them be foolish still, and let not precious breath be thrown away upon them. If what a wise man says in his wisdom will not be heard, let him hold his peace, and try whether the wisdom of that will be regarded.

Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary

Fools Despise Wisdom

Verse 9 declares that there are fools who despise wisdom; there is no need to speak to such, Pro 1:7; Pro 9:8.

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

MAIN HOMILETICS OF Pro. 23:9

THE MORALLY INCURABLE

I. A man may become morally incurable by human instructors. There are cases of bodily disease which it would be quite useless for the most skilful physician to attempt to cure; such an attempt would only be a throwing away of time and energy on his part which might be usefully employed upon another patient. And so there is at least one form of moral disease which is beyond the reach of human effort. It is that of the man who scoffs at everything, and upon whom, therefore, the most affectionate entreaties and the most solemn warnings are thrown away.

II. To offer to such an incurable fool the wisdom of God is to break a Divine commandment. The Redeemer Himself, under the Gospel dispensation, issued such a prohibition. Even among the beneficent utterances of the Sermon on the Mount comes the command, Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. (Mat. 7:6.) Although Christ and His disciples were sent forth to proclaim the Gospel message among men who, on account of their bitter animosity to Him and to His teachings were compared to wolves (Luk. 10:3.), there were others in a far more hopeless condition before whom they were forbidden to place the great truths of the kingdom of God, and they were such characters as the fool of this proverb, who would have despised the wisdom of their words. The deep import of the words of Solomon are fully seen when we consider the even more startling utterance of Him who loved and died for all men.

III. There is Divine compassion for the sinner in this commandment. To offer to such a man what he would scoff at, would be to give him an occasion of increasing his own guilt by a new refusal of Divine truth. Mercy, therefore, is mingled with the stern judgment of the prohibition.

OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS

We often speak of retribution as if it always lay beyond the grave, and the day of grace as extending through the whole life of man; but such is not the fact. Retribution begins with many men here. The day of grace terminates with many men before the day of death. There are those who reach an unconvertible state, their characters are stereotyped and fixed as eternity. The things that belong to their peace are hid from their eyes. They are incorrigible. Such is the character referred to in the text.Dr. David Thomas.

Those that are reproved by ministers, and Christian friends may learn from this verse that they have no reason to take it amiss, or to think that they are treated with contempt. They are considered as offenders, but at the same time as offending brethren, who are not incurably perverse. They would be treated in a very different way, and might reckon themselves with more justice to be considered in the light of scorners, and dogs, and swine if there were no means used to recover them to repentance.Lawson.

Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell

(9) Speak not in the ears of a fool.Do not waste thy time in explaining matters to him.

A fool.A dull, stupid person. (Comp. Pro. 1:22.)

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

9. Speak not in the ears of a fool Compare Mat 7:6: “Cast [not] ye your pearls before swine.” Waste not your time in talking to him who despises all you say. Compare Pro 9:8.

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

Ninth Saying (Distitch) Pro 23:9 forms a single proverbial thought using two lines, which is called a distitch.

Pro 23:9  Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

Pro 23:9 Word Study on “wisdom” Gesenius says the Hebrew word “understanding” ( ) (H7922) means, “understanding, intelligence, prudence.” Strong says it means, “intelligence, success.” The Enhanced Strong says it is used 16 times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as, “understanding 7, Wisdom 3, wise 1, prudence 1, knowledge 1, sense 1, discretion 1, policy 1.”

Strong says ( ) (H7922) comes from the primitive root ( ) (H7919), which means, “to be circumspect, and hence, intelligent.” The Enhanced Strong says it is used 63 times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as, “understand 12, wise 12, prosper 8, wisely 6, understanding 5, consider 4, instruct 3, prudent 2, skill 2, teach 2, misc 7.”

This Hebrew noun is a key word woven throughout in the book of Proverbs being used six times:

Pro 3:4, “So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.”

Pro 12:8, “A man shall be commended according to his wisdom : but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.”

Pro 13:15, “Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.”

Pro 16:22, “ Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.”

Pro 19:11, “ The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.”

Pro 23:9, “Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.”

This word refers to the ability of a man to think straight in contrast to the person who has a twisted mind.

Pro 23:9 Comments – In Mat 7:1-6 Jesus teaches us about judging our neighbour. We are to avoid being critical of our neighbour (Pro 7:1-4). Instead, we are to live a lifestyle of godliness so that we can speak words of wisdom and advice into the lives of others (Pro 7:5). If they reject what we have to offer, we are not to push Christian teachings into their face, lest they become offended at God’s Word and further bring judgment upon themselves (Pro 7:6). Rather, we are to discern their hearts and help those who will accept our ministry (Pro 7:6). This is why Paul wrote to the church at Corinth and told them that he that is spiritual is to judge (or discern) all things while not being found guilty of sin and judged by others (1Co 2:15). That is, we are supposed to live a godly lifestyle without sin by being mature enough to be able to discern between good and evil in our lives as well as those around us.

1Co 2:15, “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.”

Solomon made a similar statement in Pro 9:8, “Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.” We are to correct those who are in error. If they are rebellious, the burden to correct them is not upon us. However, we are to have enough discernment to recognize when someone is receptive to correction, and offer such in a spirit of love. Solomon as well said, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” (Pro 27:6) If we speak the truth in love when correcting others, we may initially wound someone’s heart, but such wounds in the lives of the humble will quickly heal.

Pro 23:9 Scripture References – Note similar verses:

Pro 9:8, “Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.”

Mat 7:6, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”

Fuente: Everett’s Study Notes on the Holy Scriptures

v. 9. Speak not in the ears of a fool; for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann

Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words. Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee. Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

Here are precepts against another great leading sin, the lust of the eye, the coveting what is not our own; and in the accomplishment of wishes so dishonourable to trample over the just rights of such as cannot stand up for themselves. 1Jn 2:16 . What a blessed security, and indeed the only security is that, which ariseth from resting upon Christ, and having him for our treasure and portion. We have a beautiful sentiment of the Psalmist upon this occasion. Psa 17:14-15 .

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Pro 23:9 Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

Ver. 9. Speak not in the ears of a fool. ] That is, of a wilful fool, that seldom asketh council, but never followeth any, as it is said of James, King of Scotland. a See Trapp on “ Pro 9:7 “ See Trapp on “ Pro 9:8 “ See Trapp on “ Mat 7:6 “

a Daniel’s History.

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