Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 19:8
He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
8. wisdom ] Heb., a heart. Comp. Pro 7:7, Pro 9:4; Job 12:3; Job 34:10; in all which places the Heb. word rendered understanding is the same as here.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Wisdom – literally, as in the margin, to gain a heart, i. e., the higher faculties both of reason and feeling, is identical with gaining wisdom, i. e., the faculty which seeks and finds.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Pro 19:8
He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul
On getting and keeping wisdom
The way of getting this wisdom is to be sensible of our need of it; to trust in Him to whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge belong, for the communication of it; and to be diligent in the use of the means which He hath appointed, and will bless, for conveying it to us.
We must not only get, but keep, this precious treasure, retaining it in our hearts, showing it forth in all our behaviour, and refusing to part with it on any account. (George Lawson, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Loveth his own soul, or loveth himself, because he procures great good to his soul, or to himself, as it follows; as sinners, on the contrary, are said to hate their souls, Pro 29:24, because they bring mischief upon them. That keepeth understanding; that observeth and carefully practiseth its precepts, as that phrase is commonly used.
Shall find good; shall have great benefit by it, both for his conduct in this life, and for his happiness in the next.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8. (Compare Margin; Pr15:32).
loveth . . . soulor,”himself,” which he evinces by regarding his bestinterests.
keepethor, “regards.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul,…. Wisdom and knowledge in things natural and civil; and especially in things divine, spiritual, and evangelical; particularly he that gets Christ, the Wisdom of God, and a saving knowledge of him; see Pr 3:13. Or, “he that getteth a heart” p; a good heart, as the Targum explains it; which is a new heart, and a new spirit; a clean heart and a right spirit; a heart of flesh, a soft, tender, and contrite one, in opposition to a hard heart, a heart of stone: a wise and understanding heart, such an one as Solomon had; a heart to know the Lord, and to fear him; in which his laws are written, the graces of his Spirit are implanted; and in which God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, dwell: he who is desirous of such a he art seeks after it, prays for it, and uses all means to obtain it; and who, through the grace of God; does possess it, as the word signifies; he by all this shows that he has a regard to the good and welfare of his immortal soul; when such, who indulge to ignorance and a wicked heart, wrong and hate their own souls; see
Pr 29:24;
he that keepeth understanding shall find good; retains the wisdom he has got; holds fast instruction, and keeps it, which is committed to him; abides by the doctrines of the Gospel, and does not depart from them; keeps the ordinances of it, which it is his wisdom and understanding to do; see De 4:6; he finds his account in all this; he finds that which is good, good for him now and hereafter; he finds Christ, and life in him; peace, joy, and comfort in this world: and, in the world to come, glory, honour, and happiness.
p “cor”, Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Mercerus, &c.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
8 He that getteth understanding loveth his soul,
And he that values reasonableness will acquire good;
or, more closely, since this would be the translation of , Pro 16:20; Pro 17:20: so it happens, or it comes to this, that he acquires good (= ); the inf. with is here, as at Pro 18:24, the expression of a fut. periphrasticum, as in the Lat. consecturus est . Regarding , vid., Pro 15:32, and vol. i. p. 119. That the deportment of men is either care for the soul, or the contrary of that, is a thought which runs through the Book of Proverbs.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
Those are here encouraged, 1. That take pains to get wisdom, to get knowledge, and grace, and acquaintance with God; those that do so show that they love their own souls, and will be found to have done themselves the greatest kindness imaginable. No man ever hated his own flesh, but loves that, yet many are wanting in love to their own souls, for only those love their souls, and consequently love themselves, aright, that get wisdom, true wisdom. 2. That take care to keep it when they have got it; it is health, and wealth, and honour, and all, to the soul, and therefore he that keeps understanding, as he shows that he loves his own soul, so he shall certainly find good, all good. He that retains the good lessons he has learnt, and orders his conversation according to them, shall find the benefit and comfort of it in his own soul and shall be happy here and for ever.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
The Good of Wisdom
Verse 8 suggests that he who seeks and finds wisdom and understanding cares for himself; and gains the good of peace and satisfaction that results from a realization of the sufficiency of the LORD for every need, Pro 16:20; Pro 8:35; Jer 29:13; Jer 17:7; Psa 34:8; Psa 73:25-26.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(8) He that getteth wisdom.Literally, heart. For that wisdom, or knowledge, that begins with the fear of the Lord (see above on Pro. 1:7), and ends with loving Him, is not a matter of intellect only, but of the heart alsoi.e., the will and affections.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. Getteth wisdom Hebrews, heart; tropical of intelligence, understanding.
Loveth his own soul Himself; does good to himself. The latter clause is explanatory of the former. “To him that watches over discernment the result shall be finding good.” Miller. Compare Pro 15:32; for opposite Pro 8:36; Pro 29:24.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
v. 8. He that getteth wisdom,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Pro 19:8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
Ver. 8. He that getteth wisdom. ] Heb., He that getteth, or possesseth a heart; for we are born brutes, and are compared to “the horse and mule that have no understanding.” Psa 32:9 Hearts we have all, but our “foolish hearts are darkened,” Rom 1:21 yea, “a deceived heart hath turned us aside that we cannot deliver our souls, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?” Isa 44:20 Well may the rich have many friends, but not many hearts: for without wisdom no man can love his own soul, much less can he truly love another. Therefore, by how much better it is for a man to love his own soul as he ought than to be beloved of others for his gifts, by so much it is better to get wisdom than to get wealth.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
wisdom. Hebrew “heart”, put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for the understanding. See note on Pro 1:2.
understanding. Hebrew. btnah. See note on Pro 1:2.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Pro 19:8
Pro 19:8
“He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: He that keepeth understanding shall find good.”
Tate observed that, “In the first line here, the New English Bible is more accurate here than the RSV. Here are both renditions: “He who gets wisdom loves himself. “To learn sense is true self-love.” Note also, that wisdom should not only be “gotten,” it should also be “retained.” Those who forsake the right way are guilty of violating this injunction.
Pro 19:8. He loves his soul because wisdom is good for the soul (Pro 19:2). Proverbs pictures wisdom as something to get (Pro 4:7). We are to buy the truth (Pro 23:23). We are to give wisdom an exalted place in our lives (Pro 4:8). But this verse also talks about keeping understanding. Get it, and then forget it not Pro 4:5 would tell us.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
wisdom: Heb. an heart, Pro 17:16, Eze 36:26
loveth: Pro 8:35, Pro 8:36, Joh 12:25, 1Pe 3:10
he that keepeth: Pro 2:1-9, Pro 3:18, Pro 3:21, Pro 4:4, Pro 4:6, Pro 4:21, Pro 16:20, Pro 22:18, Psa 19:11, Joh 14:21
Reciprocal: Pro 4:5 – Get wisdom Pro 10:14 – lay
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pro 19:8. He that getteth wisdom That takes pains, and labours to get knowledge, grace, and acquaintance with God; loveth his own soul Or, loveth himself, because he procures great and lasting, yea, everlasting good to himself, as sinners, on the contrary, are said to hate their souls, chap. 29:24, because they bring evil upon them; he that keepeth understanding That observes, and carefully practises its precepts; shall find good Shall have great benefit by it, both for his conduct in this life, and for his happiness in the next.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
19:8 He that getteth wisdom {b} loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
(b) He that is upright in judgment finds favour from God.