Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 12:14
A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of [his] mouth: and the recompense of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.
14. recompence ] Rather, doings, R.V., as at once more literal and clearer. Comp. Mat 7:2; Luk 6:37-38.
The point of the proverb is, that his speech and action have their consequences for a man himself, as well as for his neighbour.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
See Pro 13:2 note.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Pro 12:14
A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompense of a mans hands shall be rendered unto him.
Obedience to Gods will and its fruits
Wheresoever goodness is, whether it bridle our tongue, or guide our hand, or regulate our fancy, it carries its satisfaction, its recompense, along with it. Our songs of praise echo back again upon us; the works of our hands follow us, and fill us with joy; and our thoughts, if goodness raise them, are comforts. Goodness, whether in thought, word, or deed, will satisfy us, that is, fill us with joy; and nothing will satisfy us but goodness. The argument will hold a contrario: if that which is good satisfy us, then that which is evil cannot.
I. Goodness doth satisfy.
1. This we cannot doubt, if we know what goodness is, and consider the nature of it, and the fountain from whence it springs. For it flows from God. It is a beam from that Eternal Light, an emanation from God Himself. The nearer goodness carrieth to the fountain of goodness, the more satisfaction it brings with it, and the fuller is our cup. Without God we cannot be happy in heaven itself, nay, without Him there could be no heaven.
2. As we draw an argument from piety, so may we draw another from the love of it. As Augustine saith, We do not only love goodness, but even the love with which we embrace it, and delight in both. Joy and satisfaction is a resultancy from love. That which we love is also the joy of our heart.
3. If the bare opinions of piety, in those who are not yet made perfect, satisfy, though it be but for a while, then piety itself will satisfy much more. If the shadow hath this operation, what hath the substance, the thing itself! If a form of godliness, then much more godliness in its full power, will fill and satisfy us.
II. Nothing else can satisfy us but goodness. It is the prerogative of goodness and piety to be alone in this work.
1. Satisfaction is but a name on earth.
2. Such is the nature and quality of the soul, that it is not fashioned nor proportioned to the things of this world.
3. God hath imprinted in the soul and in the very nature of man an infinite and insatiable desire, which cannot be satisfied with anything that the world can present. The soul which is made capable of God, can be satisfied with nothing but God.
4. In wickedness, impiety, the licentiousness of the tongue, and the wantonness of the hands, no satisfaction can possibly be found.
5. To show how unsatisfying a thing sin is, you may behold it tormenting the wicked man, and that not only after the act, but also before and in it, first forbidding itself, then perplexing him in the act, and after gnawing the heart.
Application:
1. If the fruit of our hands and lips be that alone which can satisfy us, let us then be up and doing, buckle on the armour of light, and quench every fiery dart of Satan.
2. Let us level our actions and endeavours on this, and not spend and waste ourselves on that which is not bread, and will never fill us.
3. If nothing will satisfy us but righteousness and piety, we need not consult what we are to choose here.
4. If this be the prerogative of goodness, godliness, to be alone in this work, then let her have prerogative also in our hearts, and exercise full power, and authority, and dominion over our desires. (A. Farindon, B.D.)
Retributions of the lip and life
I. The retributions of the lip. Speech, to be good, must be–
1. Sincere.
2. Truthful.
3. Benevolent. How will such speech satisfy a man?
(1) In its action upon his own mind.
(2) In the effect he sees produced on others.
(3) In the conscious approbation of God.
II. The retributions of the life. The hand here stands for the whole conduct of life. It means that man should receive the reward of his works. And this is inevitable–
1. From the law of causation.
2. From the law of conscience.
3. From the law of righteousness. There is justice in the universe. (Homilist.)
Mischievous language
The language of keen irritation, reproach, invective and scorn, often inflicts wounds on the heart that are deep and hard of cure–wounds like the piercings of a sword. This is especially the case when the words are from the lips of a friend, or of one we love, when heated by sudden passion. Wit, too, when not chastened and controlled by an amiable disposition, often wounds deeply. Jibes, jests, irony, raillery, and sarcasm, fly about. No matter what the wounds, or where they be inflicted, if the wit be but shown. A happy hit, a clever, biting repartee, will not be suppressed for the sake of the feelings, or even the character, of a neighbour, or, as it may happen, of a friend The man of wit must have his joke, cost what it may. The point may be piercing in the extreme; but if it glitters, it is enough; to the heart it will go. Such a man is feared, hated, avoided. (R. Wardlaw.)
The fruit of the mouth
The word which issues out of the lips is the greatest power in human life. Words will change the currents of life. On the use of the tongue depend the issues of a mans own life. Such fruits as a mans tongue bears, a man must eat. If his words have been good, then he shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth. The fools lips are always coming into strife, and his mouth is always calling for stripes. His lips are the snare of his soul. An old proverb says, A fools tongue is always long enough to cut his own throat.
1. The tongue is a fruitful source of quarrelling and discord. A fool cannot hide his vexation, but must immediately blurt it out with the tongue, and make mischief.
2. The tongue is the instrument of lying. It is the tongue which by false witness so often condemns the innocent.
3. Closely allied to lying is flattery, which is always a mistake.
4. Another evil use of the tongue is whispering and tale-bearing. Disclosing the secret of another is a sure way of incurring reproach and lasting infamy.
5. The tongue is sometimes employed to plot, plan, and execute mischief.
6. More pardonable vices are rashness and inopportuneness of speech. Yet these are evil enough in their way.
7. We need caution against excessive speech. There are good and beautiful uses of the tongue. It is the instrument of peace-making, of wise reproof, of the instruction of the innocent, and the championship of the distressed. (R. F. Horton, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
By the fruit of his mouth; by his pious and profitable discourses.
Of a mans hands, i.e. of his works and actions, of which the hand is the great instrument; whereby also may be implied that God will not regard nor recompense good works, unless they be accompanied with a good conversation.
Shall be rendered unto him, to wit, by God, to whom the work of retribution belongs.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of [his] mouth,…. The wholesome advice, the good instruction, and sound doctrine he delivers to others, which are the fruit of his lips, and come forth by them from his heart; these redound to his own advantage, are not only a satisfaction to his mind upon reflection, but because of these he is filled with good things, even to satiety, both in this life and that to come; see 1Ti 4:6; or a “man shall be satisfied with good from the fruit of the mouth”; or “be satisfied from the fruit of the mouth of a man” z; that is, of another man; either of a private man, by his prayers, by the account he gives of his own experience, by the conversation he has with him about the truths of the Gospel; or of a faithful minister of the word, who is the means of feeding the souls of men with good things, even to satisfaction, with the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ, with the sincere milk of the word, with the bread of life, even with the finest of the wheat;
and the recompence of a man’s hand shall be rendered unto him; if his words turn to his account, much more his works; if he is filled with good things for the sake of the one, much more will he be recompensed in a way of grace on account of the other; and not for the one without the other, nor for words without works: or “the recompence of a man’s hands”, or of his works which his hands do, “he shall render to him” a; that is, God, who renders to every man according to his works; which serves not to establish the doctrine of merit, but to show the goodness and grace of God in taking notice of and accepting the imperfect works of men through Christ, and for his sake.
z “de fructu oris viri”, Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus, Schultens. a “reddet ei”, Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus, Gejerus, Michaelis; “restituet ei”, Munster, so Aben Ezra; “ei refundet”, Schultens.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
14 From the fruit which the mouth of the man bringeth forth is he satisfied with good,
And what the hands of the man accomplish returns back to him.
The proverb finds its final verification in the last judgment (cf. Mat 12:37), but it is also illustrated in the present life. If the mouth of a man bringeth forth fruit – namely, the fruit of wholesome doctrine, of right guidance, of comforting exhortation, of peace-bringing consolation for others – this fruit is also to his own advantage, he richly enjoys the good which flows out of his own mouth, the blessing he bestows is also a blessing for himself. The same also is the case with the actions of a man. That which is done, or the service which is rendered by his hands, comes back to him as a reward or as a punishment. signifies primarily accomplishment, execution, and is a twofold, double-sided conception: a rendering of good or evil, and merit on the side of men (whether merited reward or merited punishment), as well as recompense, requital on the side of God. The first line is repeated, somewhat altered, at Pro 13:2; Pro 18:20. The whole proverb is prophetically echoed in Isa 3:10. The Ker has Jahve as the subject, or rather the subject remains undefined, and “one requites him” is equivalent to: it is requited to him. The Chethb seems to us more expressive; but this use of the active with the undefined subject, instead of the passive, is certainly as much in the Mishle style (cf. Pro 13:21) as the development of the subject of the clause from a foregoing genitive.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.
We are here assured, for our quickening to every good word and work, 1. That even good words will turn to a good account (v. 14): A man shall be satisfied with good (that is, he shall gain present comfort, that inward pleasure which is truly satisfying) by the fruit of his mouth, by the good he does with his pious discourse and prudent advice. While we are teaching others we may ourselves learn, and feed on the bread of life we break to others. 2. That good works, much more, will be abundantly rewarded: The recompence of a man’s hands for all his work and labour of love, all he has done for the glory of God and the good of his generation, shall be rendered unto him, and he shall reap as he has sown. Or it may be understood of the general rule of justice; God will render to every man according to his work, Rom. ii. 6.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Reaping What Is Sown
Verse 14 repeats the principle of reaping as has been sown. It is applied here to both words and deeds. See also comment on Pro 11:17.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(14) A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth . . .Even in this life the wise counsels and kindly deeds by which others are aided, the bread cast upon the waters (Ecc. 11:1), return to the giver in the shape of love and respect, and. it may be, of similar aid; while the full recompense, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, will come later, at the great day of retribution.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
14. Satisfied fruit of his mouth His discourse; his wholesome counsels and wise instructions. A man shall reap the fruit of these in good to himself.
Shall be rendered unto him Or, He (Jehovah) shall render unto him. Compare Isa 3:10; Mat 10:41-42: 2Th 1:6.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
v. 14. A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Pro 12:14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of [his] mouth: and the recompence of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.
Ver. 14. A man shall be satiated with good, &c. ] There are “empty vines that bear fruit to themselves.” Hos 10:1 And as empty casks sound loudest, and base metal rings shrillest, so many empty tattlers are full of discourse – sed cui bono? as he said. Plato and Xenophon thought it fit and profitable that men’s speeches at meals should be written. And if Christians should so do, what kind of books would they be! And yet “for every idle word account must be given,” Mat 12:36 as for every good word there is “a book of remembrance.” Mal 3:16 Much fruit will redound by holy speeches to ourselves – much to others. Paul shows that the very report of his bonds did a great deal of good in Caesar’s house. Php 1:14 A poor captive maid was the means of Naaman’s conversion, as afterwards the words of his servants were greater in operation with him than the words of the great prophet Elisha. One seasonable truth, falling upon a prepared heart, hath oft a strong and sweet influence. Sometimes also, though we know that which we ask of others as well as they do, yet good speeches will draw us to know it better by giving occasion to speak more of it, wherewith the Spirit works most effectually, and imprints it deeper, so that it shall be a more rooted knowledge than before; for that satiates the soul which is graciously known, and that is graciously known which the Spirit seals upon our souls. “In the morning, therefore, sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand, for thou kuowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.” Ecc 11:6
And the recompense of a man’s hands shall be given unto him.] He “shall eat the fruit of his doings.” Isa 3:10 “For the talk of the lips, if that be all, tendeth only to penury.” Pro 14:23 Nos non eloquimur magna, sed vivimus, said they of old. Origen’s teaching and living were said to be both one. He cannot look to be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, qui operibus destruit quod recto docet – who says one thing and doeth another. A smooth tongue and a rough hand carries away double judgment.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Pro 12:14
Pro 12:14
“A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth; And the doings of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.”
“A person is rewarded because of the good things that he says; and in the same way the work he does gives him profit.” One of the best ways to oil the gears of human relations, to make friends and influence people, is simply that of saying nice, friendly, complimentary and gracious things to the people with whom we are in daily contact.
Pro 12:14. Compare Pro 13:2 for a similar statement. One who has answered kindly is satisfied with the peace that results (Pro 15:1). A good mans doings will also bring him blessings (Luk 6:38; Pro 31:28-31).
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
satisfied: Pro 13:2, Pro 18:20, Pro 18:21, Psa 63:5
and: Isa 3:10, Isa 3:11, Mat 10:41, Mat 10:42, Mat 16:27, 2Th 1:6, 2Th 1:7, Heb 2:2, Heb 11:26
Reciprocal: Pro 13:23 – food Pro 14:14 – filled Pro 15:23 – joy Ecc 10:12 – words