Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 1:3
To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
3. the instruction of wisdom ] Rather, instruction (or discipline) in wise dealing, R.V. The word is not the same as that rendered wisdom in Pro 1:2 ; Pro 1:7.
justice ] Rather, righteousness, R.V. as a wider word. The three words, righteousness, judgement, equity, may be simply cumulative and comprehensive; or possibly righteousness may denote the abstract and inclusive principle, as it affects the character; judgement, the same principle in action generally; equity (lit. equities, marg.), the varied application of that principle in different cases.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Wisdom – Not the same word as in Pro 1:2; better, perhaps, thoughtfulness.
Justice – Rather, righteousness. The word in the Hebrew includes the ideas of truth and beneficence as well as justice.
Judgment – The teaching of the Proverbs is to lead us to pass a right sentence upon human actions, whether our own or anothers.
Equity – In the Hebrew (see the margin) the plural is used, and expresses the many varying forms and phases of the one pervading principle.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Pro 1:3
To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment and equity.
Judgment and equity
Judgment is used for discerning right from wrong; for the law, manner, or rule of it; for punishment or execution of judgment. Equity in Hebrew means, straight ways, that go on foreright, and even, like plains; when men go not uphill and downhill in their actions, but proceed in an even course. It signifies also a thing right in Gods or mans eyes, which they approve as just and equal. Some understand by equity moderation, that we use not the extremity of the law, nor do all that we may. Others, integrity of mind in working and discerning. The doctrines suggested are–
1. Matters of practice must not be perceived only, but received. There is a piercing of truth into the understanding, and receiving of it into the judgment.
2. Knowledge is ordinarily received from others.
3. A spiritual wisdom is required to guide all our actions.
4. Every cues right must be preserved.
5. Men must study to know how to judge of interests.
6. Extremity of justice is not always to be used; moderation sometimes is to be exercised. (Francis Taylor.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 3. To receive the instruction] haskel, the deliberately weighing of the points contained in the teaching, so as to find out their importance.
Equity] mesharim, rectitude. The pupil is to receive wisdom and instruction, the words of wisdom and understanding, justice and judgment, so perfectly as to excel in all. Wisdom itself, personified, is his teacher; and when God’s wisdom teaches, there is no delay in learning.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
To receive the instruction; willingly to receive the counsels of others, which is a good step to wisdom, and a part of it.
Of wisdom; such as is wise, and tends to make men wise and prudent. This is opposed to the instruction of fools and folly, of which Pro 16:22; 19:27. For folly or wickedness hath its school, and multitudes of scholars, that are very apt to learn its lessons.
Justice, and judgment, and equity; which teach men just judgment or equity, to wit, their whole duty, both to God and to others, and to themselves. These three words seem to signify the same thing, and are heaped together to note either the necessity of the precept, or the exactness and diligence which is required in the practice of it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. To receive . . . of wisdomForreceiving that discipline which discretion imparts. The Hebrewfor “wisdom” differs from that of Pr1:2, and denotes rather discreet counsel. Compare the oppositetraits of the fool (Pr 16:22).
justice . . . equityallthe attributes of one upright in all his relations to God and man.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
To receive the instruction of wisdom,…. Or “prudence” h; of wise and prudent men; and especially of Christ himself, who bears those names, whose instructions this book is full of; and the design of which is to engage the attention of men to them, and prevail upon them to receive them, and act conformably to them. Which instructions respect the following things; and which are added by way of illustration and amplification, viz.
justice, and judgment, and equity; that which is just in itself, and according to the nature of God and his will; and is judged so by right reason; and is equitable between man and man, and agrees with the law of God. These three, R. Levi Ben Gersom says, signify one and the same thing; true righteousness, doing that which is just to God and man; which the doctrines of grace, or the instructions of wisdom, teach men to do; concerning which many rules may be collected from this book.
h “prudentiae”, Munster, Vatablus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(3) To receive the instruction of wisdom.To take in, or appropriate, the discipline which results in prudence (haskl) or practical wisdom; so David behaved himself wisely (1Sa. 18:5).
Equity.Literally, what is straight, so true, honest.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. To receive (acquire) the instruction (discipline) of wisdom Rather, prudence, thoughtfulness.
Justice , tsedhek, rightness, rectitude; and judgment, , mishpat, a word of comprehensive meaning, including all distinction, regulation, ordering, right, custom. It seems to have special reference to administrative justice, or doing right in official capacity, never trespassing upon the rights of others, but preserving and defending them. Hence it is frequently joined with tsedhek “justice and judgment.” Perhaps the two terms, when definitely used, may correspond to morality in social and civil relations.
Equity , mesharim, ( plural,) equities or rectitudes, straightforwardness, from , yashar, to be straight, even, smooth, right. The plural here may indicate that it is used in its most comprehensive sense. The whole may be paraphrased thus: The design of my instructions is to enable you to acquire an intelligent discipline, or habit of prudence in your personal conduct, of morality in your social and civil relations, and of rectitude in all things.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Pro 1:3. To receive the instruction Or, to learn the discipline. Schultens paraphrases the clause thus: “To conceive and cherish in the inmost heart, as a heavenly seed, the discipline of perfection, by which both thy prudence and happiness may be completed.” According to Grotius, by justice is meant whatever is comprehended under the idea of benevolence or goodness: By judgment, that branch of justice which maybe termed commercial, or distributive, and which relates to contracts and their violation; and by equity is understood every other branch of justice which relates to any virtue, and is generally implied by the term rectitude.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Pro 1:3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
Ver. 3. To receive the instruction. ] Tertullian calls the Bible (and the Proverbs by a specialty) nostra digesta, from the lawyers; and others our pandects, a from them also. Is there not a thin veil laid over them, which is more ratified by reading, and at last wholly worn away? Surely as by much reading the statute book men grow worldly wise; and as a friend (it is Chrysostom’s comparison) that is acquainted with his friend will get out the meaning of a letter or phrase which another could not that is a stranger, so it is in Scripture. And herein, as one well observeth, the poorest idiot being a sound Christian, goeth beyond the profoundest clerks that are not sanctified, that he hath his own heart instead of a commentary to help him to understand even the most needful points of the Scripture.
a A complete body of the laws of any country or of any system of law.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
wisdom. Hebrew. sakal. See note on Pro 1:2 (No. 5), above.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
receive: Pro 2:1-9, Pro 8:10, Pro 8:11, Job 22:22
equity: Heb. equities, 1Ki 3:28
Reciprocal: Pro 8:33 – Hear Pro 22:17 – and hear Jer 17:23 – nor Joh 17:8 – received
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1:3 To receive the {c} instruction of wisdom, {d} justice, and judgment, and equity;
(c) To learn to submit ourselves to the correction of those who are wise.
(d) By living justly and rendering to every man that which belongs to him.