Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 29:8
Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise [men] turn away wrath.
8. bring a city into a snare ] Rather, set a city on fire, A. V. marg., or, in a flame, R.V.; , LXX. Comp. Pro 20:10; Pro 26:21; and, for an illustration of the proverb, the story of Sheba the son of Bichri and the wise woman, 2 Samuel 20.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Scornful men – The men who head political or religious revolutions, who inflame (literally as in the margin) the minds of the people against the powers that be.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Pro 29:8
Scornful men bring a city into a snare.
The snares of the metropolis
As residents in London we ask, Is there as much wickedness here as in other great cities? Are there snares and temptations of a peculiar character, and highly dangerous to the rising youth of the age?
1. One of the snares is the spirit of the world–the spirit of competition and a low tone of moral feeling.
2. Irreligious habits.
3. Irreligious associates; such as the young man who is not conscientious in the discharge of his ordinary duties; the young man who is devoted to pleasure.
4. Late hours. This leads to neglect of prayer. And the late hour is the hour of sin.
5. Lewd women. This snare involves great moral debasement, the prostration of all intellectual power, and the annihilation of all benevolent and elevated feeling. And to this specific form other vices will adhere. (R. Ainslie.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Bring a city into a snare; expose it to Gods wrath and to destruction by their self-conceit and wilfulness, by their wicked counsels and courses, whereby they seduce and infect the generality of the people, by their contempt of God, of his just laws and righteous judgments, and of the opinions and advice, of wise men.
Wise men, who do not scorn, but hearken to the counsels of God and of prudent men, turn away wrath; the wrath of God or of men, who were enraged against it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8. Scornful menthose whocontemptuously disregard God’s law.
bring(Compare Margin),kindle strife.
turn away wraththatis, “abate wrath.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Scornful men bring a city into a snare,…. Such as despise dominion, speak evil of dignities; proud and haughty men, that speak Loftily, and with a contempt of their superiors; or who make a mock at religion, and scoff at all that is good and serious; these bring the inhabitants of a city into a snare, to rebel against their governors, and so into mischief and ruin: or, they “burn a city”, as the Septuagint and Syriac versions o; they inflame it, or blow it up into a flame; raise a combustion in it, and fill it with strifes and contentions; and bring down the wrath of God upon it, like fire: or, they “blow upon a city” p; raise storms and tempests in it; turn all things upside down, and throw it into the utmost confusion, or blow it up;
but wise [men] turn away wrath; the wrath of men, by their wise counsels and advice, and appease tumults and seditions, and restore things to a quiet and settled state; or the wrath of God, by interposing with their prayers between him and a sinful people, as Moses did, Ps 106:23.
o “Inflammant urbem”, Junius Tremellius, Piscator. p “suffiant, vel periflant civitatem”, Gejerus “diffiant civitatem”, Gussetius, p. 667. “exsuffiant civitatem”, Cocceius, Schultens.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
8 Men of derision set the city in an uproar,
But wise men allay anger.
Isa. 28 shows what we are to understand by : men to whom nothing is holy, and who despise all authority. The Hiphil does not signify irretiunt , from ( Venet. , after Kimchi, Aben Ezra, and others), but sufflant , from (Rashi: ): they stir up or excite the city, i.e., its inhabitants, so that they begin to burn as with flames, i.e., by the dissolution of the bonds of mutual respect and of piety, by the letting loose of passion, they disturb the peace and excite the classes of the community and individuals against each other; but the wise bring it about that the breathings of anger that has broken forth, or is in the act of breaking forth, are allayed. The anger is not that of God, as it is rendered by Jerome and Luther, and as freely translated might mean. The Aram. err in regard to in passages such as Pro 6:19.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
8 Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.
See here, 1. Who are the men that are dangerous to the public–scornful men. When such are employed in the business of the state they do things with precipitation, because they scorn to deliberate, and will not take time for consideration and consultation; they do things illegal and unjustifiable, because they scorn to be hampered by laws and constitutions; they break their faith, because they scorn to be bound by their word, and provoke the people, because they scorn to please them. Thus they bring a city into a snare by their ill conduct, or (as the margin reads it) they set a city on fire; they sow discord among the citizens and run them into confusion. Those are scornful men that mock at religion, the obligations of conscience, the fears of another world, and every thing that is sacred and serious. Such men are the plagues of their generation; they bring God’s judgments upon a land, set men together by the ears, and so bring all to confusion. 2. Who are the men that are the blessings of a land–the wise men who by promoting religion, which is true wisdom, turn away the wrath of God, and who, by prudent counsels, reconcile contending parties and prevent the mischievous consequences of divisions. Proud and foolish men kindle the fires which wise and good men must extinguish.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Wise Men Turn Away Wrath
Verse 8 refers again to the scorner who deliberately provokes anger and contention, Pro 21:24; Pro 22:10. If permitted, he will inflame the city, Vs 8a; Pro 11:11 b; but wise men turn away wrath, Vs 8b; Pro 11:11 a; Pro 16:14.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
CRITICAL NOTES.
Pro. 29:8. Bring a city, etc., literally, set a city on fire.
Pro. 29:9. The second clause should rather be he rageth and laugheth (i.e., the fool), and there is no rest.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF Pro. 29:8
THE CITIZENS ENEMY AND THE CITIZENS FRIEND
I. A scornful man is a social calamity. A scorner is a man who has a great opinion of his own wisdom and ability, and a very low one of all who oppose him. From his self-constructed elevation he looks down upon those who refuse to obey him, and counts them his inferiors simply because they do so. This is a perilous course to pursue even when only individual interests are at stake, but when the scornful man holds the welfare of others in his hand, the disastrous effects of his conduct are more widely spread. When he is the only person who suffers from over-estimating himself and underrating the strength of his opponents the issue is hardly to be regretted, but Solomon here has in his mind a public man who brings ruin upon many besides himself by his proud disdain of their foes, and by his refusal to recognise a common danger. Goliath was such a man. As the representative and champion of the Philistines he over-estimated the value of his physical strength, and set too low an estimate upon the unseen power arrayed against him, and his scorn of his enemies brought a great calamity upon his nation. A scornful man brings the heaviest calamity upon a people when he scoffs at the power of God and persuades his followers to set at nought His demands and threatenings. This was the great crime of many of Solomons successors to the throne, and of the false prophets of Judah and Israel, and hence the sentence passed upon them and upon those who listened to them: Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. Because ye have said, we have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we in agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us; for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: Therefore thus saith the Lord God Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuges of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place, etc. (Isa. 28:14-22.)
II. A wise man is a social blessing. We have before seen (see on chap. Pro. 14:16, page 364) that it is one of the characteristics of a wise man that he recognises the presence of moral danger in relation to himself, and the same may be said concerning danger of every kind, not only as regards himself, but others also. The recognition of danger is quite distinct from the fear of it; indeed those who are most quick to discern it have generally the most courage to meet it and the most wisdom to avert it. Scornful men generally have nothing but scorn wherewith to meet a foe, but the man who is truly wise can afford to acknowledge the strength of his enemies because he is fully prepared to meet them. If he seek to turn away the wrath of man by persuasion, he will be able to back his persuasion by wise reasoning, and if he strive to avert the wrath of God he will endeavour to bring those for whom he intercedes to such a state of mind as will render them fit to appreciate Divine pardon. But if he cannot do this his own character will give effect to his prayers, and as in the case of Moses and the children of Israel, God will spare many sinners for the sake of one righteous man.
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
Surely it was wisdom in the king and people of Nineveh, instead of bringing their city into a snare by scornful rebellion, to avert by timely humiliation the impending destruction. (Jon. 3:5-10.) Let the people be gathered; let the ministers of the Lord gird themselves to their work of weeping and accepted pleaders for the land. (Joe. 2:17.) Surely except the Lord of Hosts had left us a very small remnant of these powerful intercessors, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. (Isa. 1:9.) Praised be God! The voice is yet heardDestroy it not, for a blessing is in it. (Isa. 65:8.) The salt of the earth preserves it from corruption. (Mat. 5:13.) Shall not we, then, honour these wise men with reverential gratitudeMy fathermy father! the chariots of Israel, and the horsemen thereof? MosesExo. 32:10-14; Deu. 9:8-20; Psa. 106:23; AaronNum. 16:48; Phinehas Pro. 25:11; Psa. 106:30. Elijah1Ki. 18:42-45; Jas. 5:16; Jas. 5:18; Jer. 18:20; Dan. 9:3-20; Amo. 7:1-6. The righteous remnantIsa. 1:9; Isa. 6:13. Comp. Gen. 18:32; Job. 22:30; Jer. 5:1; Eze. 22:30-31. Contrast Pro. 13:5.Bridges.
For Homiletics on the subject of Pro. 29:9, see on chaps. Pro. 23:9, and Pro. 26:3-11, pages 665 and 716.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
(8) Scornful men.See above on Pro. 1:22.
Bring a city into a snare.Rather, excite the passions of; literally, fan, as a flame.
Wise men turn away wrath.By their gentle counsels.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. Scornful men Those who scoff at prudent counsels and good management.
Bring a city into a snare The best critics prefer to render this, “inflame a city” blow up a flame incite the people.
Turn away wrath Abate it, allay excitement. Comp. Eze 22:30; Exo 32:10-14; Psa 106:23.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Pro 29:8 Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise [men] turn away wrath.
Ver. 8. Scornful men bring a city into a snare. ] The Vulgate render it, Pestilent persons undo a city or a state; as Nahash did the Ammonites, 1Sa 11:2 ; 1Sa 11:11 and as his son Hanan did much more. 2Sa 10:4 ; 2Sa 12:31 Mocking is catching, as the pestilence, and no less pernicious to the whole country. Geraldus Cambrensis tells of three Irish kings that, being derided for their rude habits and fashions, rebelled, and set the country in a combustion. And the young King of France, jesting at William the Conqueror’s great belly, whereof he said he lay in at Rouen, so irritated him, as he being recovered of a sickness, entered France in the chiefest time of their fruits, making spoil of all in his way, till he came even to Paris, where this scornful king then was, to show him of his visiting, and from thence marched to the city of Mants, which he utterly sacked and ransacked, razed and harassed. a
But wise men turn away wrath.
a Dan. Chron., 42.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Scornful men = Scoffers. Hebrew “men of scorning”.
bring a city, &c. Illustrations: Judah (2Ch 36:16-21); rulers (Isa 28:14-22; and Mat 27:39-43).
turn away wrath. Illustrations: Moses (Exo 32:10-14) and Aaron (Num 16:48); Elijah (Jam 5:18). Contrast Sodom (Gen 18:32); and Jer 5:1. Eze 22:30.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Pro 29:8
Pro 29:8
“Scoffers set a city in a flame; But wise men turn away wrath.”
“Unscrupulous men kindle strife in a city; the sensible discourage party-spirit. “Insolent men set the city in an uproar, but wise men assuage popular anger. These three renditions give us three synonyms for the evil man in line one: “scoffers, unscrupulous, and insolent.”
Pro 29:8. The setting of this verse is an attacked or besieged city. Men may scoff at the enemy that is able to overthrow the city. Conquerors often spared a city destruction if it surrendered, but if it resisted, it was conquered and then destroyed. Thus, it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked (Pro 11:11). The wise men who turn away wrath would be those who, seeing that they were hopelessly outnumbered and defeated, asked for terms or conditions of peace.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Scornful: Pro 11:11, Isa 28:14-22, Mat 27:39-43, Joh 9:40, Joh 9:41, Joh 11:47-50, 1Th 2:15, 1Th 2:16
bring a city into a snare: or, set a city on fire, Jam 3:5, Jam 3:6
wise: Exo 32:10-14, Num 16:48, Num 25:11, Deu 9:18-20, 2Sa 24:16, 2Sa 24:17, Jer 15:1, Eze 22:30, Amo 7:2-6, Jam 5:15-18
Reciprocal: Pro 6:26 – by Pro 24:9 – the scorner
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pro 29:8. Scornful men That mock at religion, the obligations of conscience, the fears of another world, and every thing that is sacred and serious; who when employed in the business of the state do things with precipitation, because they scorn to deliberate and take time for consultation; who do things illegal and unjustifiable, because they scorn to be bound and shackled by laws and constitutions; who provoke the people, because they scorn to please them; bring a city into a snare Expose it to Gods wrath, and to destruction, by their self-conceit and wilfulness, by their wicked counsels and practices, whereby they seduce and infect the generality of the people; by their contempt of God, of his just laws and righteous judgments, and of the opinion and advice of wise men; but wise men Who do not scorn, but hearken to, the counsels of God, and of prudent men; turn away wrath The wrath of God or of men, who were enraged against it.