Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 21:29
A wicked man hardeneth his face: but [as for] the upright, he directeth his way.
29. directeth ] Or, ordereth, R.V. corrigit, Vulg. There is another reading, noticed in the marg. both of A.V. and R.V., considereth; , LXX.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Directeth – i. e., Makes straight and firm. On one side it is the callousness of guilt; on the other side it is the confidence of integrity.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 29. He directeth his way] Instead of yachin, he directeth, upwards of fifty of Kennicott’s and De Rossi’s MSS., several ancient editions with some of the versions, read yabin, he understands; and because he understands his way, he is able to direct himself in walking in it.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Hardeneth his face; continueth in evil courses with obstinacy and impudence, in spite of all the commands of God, or counsels of men.
He directeth his way; he ordereth his steps aright; and if at any time, he goeth awry, he doth not add rebellion to his sin, nor persist in his error, but considereth his ways, and turneth his feet to Gods testimonies, as David did, Psa 119:59. Or, considereth his way, remembering with grief and shame what he hath done, and taking better heed to himself for the future.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
29. hardeneth his faceisobstinate.
directeth . . . wayconsidersit, and acts advisedly.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
A wicked man hardeneth his face,…. Against all corrections and reproofs of parents, masters, ministers, and others; he blushes not at sins committed, and is not ashamed of them, but glories in them: or, he “strengthens with his face” l; he puts an impudent face upon his words, and confirms them by his impudence; if he tells the most notorious lies, and says things the most shameful and scandalous, his countenance does not alter, by which he would be thought to have spoken what is right and true;
but [as for] the upright, he directeth his way; or “his ways” m; according to the various reading; the man that is upright in heart, and walks uprightly, he directs his way according to the word of God; and, if he does amiss, when sensible he is ashamed of it, and amends.
l “roborat vultu suo”, Baynus; “in faciebus suis”, Montanus. m , Sept. “vias suas”, Baynus, Tigurine version, Mercerus, Gejerus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Another proverb with : –
A godless man showeth boldness in his mien;
But one that is upright-he proveth his way.
The Chethb has ; but that the upright directeth, dirigit , his way, i.e., gives to it the right direction (cf. 2Ch 27:6), is not a good contrast to the boldness of the godless; the Ker , , deserves the preference. Aquila, Symmachus, the Syr., Targ., and Venet. adhere to the Chethb , which would be suitable if it could be translated, with Jerome, by corrigit ; Luther also reads the verb with , but as if it were (whoever is pious, his way will stand) – only the lxx render the Ker ( ); as for the rest, the ancients waver between the Chethb and the Ker : the former refers to manner of life in general; the latter (as at Pro 3:31 and elsewhere) to the conduct in separate cases; thus the one is just as appropriate as the other. In the circumstantial designation (cf. Pro 11:7) we have the stamp of the distinction of different classes of men peculiar to the Book of Proverbs. (to make firm, defiant) had, Pro 7:13, as accus.; the here is not that used in metaphoristic expressions instead of the accus. obj., which we have spoken of at Pro 15:4; Pro 20:30, but that of the means; for the face is thought of, not as the object of the action, but, after Gesen. 138, 1, as the means of its accomplishment: the godless makes (shows) firmness, i.e., defiance, accessibility to no admonition, which is countenance; but the upright considers, i.e., proves (Pro 14:8), his way. ( ) means a perceiving of the object in its specific peculiarity, an understanding of its constituent parts and essential marks; it denotes knowing an event analytically, as , as well as synthetically (cf. Arab. shakl ), and is thus used as the expression of a perception, which apprehends the object not merely immediately, but closely examines into its circumstances.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.
Here is, 1. The presumption and impudence of a wicked man: He hardens his face–brazens it, that he may not blush–steels it, that he may not tremble when he commits the greatest crimes; he bids defiance to the terrors of the law and the checks of his own conscience, the reproofs of the word and the rebukes of Providence; he will have his way and nothing shall hinder him, Isa. lvii. 17. 2. The caution and circumspection of a good man: As for the upright, he does not say, What would I do? What have I a mind to? and that will I have; but, What should I do? What does God require of me? What is duty? What is prudence? What is for edification? And so he does not force his way, but direct his way by a safe and certain rule.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Wisdom the Better Way
Verse 29 declares that a wicked man steels himself against rebukes of truth and conscience and pursues desired evil with a brazen face; but the upright man considers and plans his ways according to wisdom and understanding, Vs 10; Pro 1:7; Pro 12:5; Pro 15:28; Pro 24:3; Pro 4:7-8; Pro 4:14-17.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
CRITICAL NOTES.
Pro. 21:29. Hardeneth his face, or putteth on a bold countenance. Directeth, or considereth or establisheth.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF Pro. 21:29
THE FACE AND THE WAY
The last verb in the text is better translatedestablisheth, or maketh firm.
I. What is intended to reveal may be used to conceal. The human countenance is intended to express the feelings of the mind, and when a man is not afraid for another to read his thoughts and intentions, his face is to a great extent the index of his heart. But a bad man is unwilling that his neighbour should know what is passing within himhis thoughts and purposes will not bear the lightthey are so selfish or impure that he is ashamed of them, or they are occupied with some malicious plan which must be concealed if it is to be successful. He therefore hardens his faceputs on an appearance of innocence and frankness as a cloak of the evil underneath. But this method of life is not an easy or a pleasant onethe contrast in the second clause seems to imply that such a man walks in an uneven or a miry roadit is hard to be always acting a part and to be obliged at all times to look what we do not feel, and there may come unguarded moments and unlooked-for surprises when the mask will fall and the truth come to light.
II. The godly man has no need to practise hypocrisy. His thoughts and desires, and aims, are toward the true and the goodhis heart is filled with goodwill towards his fellow-men, and he has, therefore, nothing to fear or to be ashamed of when his face reveals his inner self. This way of the upright is, in comparison with the way of the wicked, as a firm and level roadhe who walks on it finds solid ground beneath his feet, and has no need to be ever on the look-out for bogs and pitfalls.
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
A hardened heart and a hardened face,a face that has learned to brave accusation and to look innocent under conscious guilt, are the most undesirable of all attainments. The confusion of innocence, when evil is imputed, is far preferable. Better far to be innocent and thought guilty, than to be guilty and thought innocent. Better far to have the sentence of acquittal in our own bosoms, though condemned by men, than to succeed in getting acquittal from men, and carry within us the sentence of guilt. How painful soever the former, we can still look up to God, and forward to His tribunal, as that of unerring rectitude,where He will bring forth our righteousness as the light, and our judgment as the noon-day. O! there will be no hardening of the face then. Conscience will do its duty. The eyes which are as a flame of fire will search the inmost soul. Every eye will quail, and every countenance, even the most hardened, sink, before the look of Him that sitteth upon the throne. He will then at once wipe off the reproach of his people, and bring to light the hidden things of darkness. And then they who, under the influence of faith, and fear, and love, have considered their way, shall lift up their faces without dread, and meet the smiles of their gracious Judge!Wardlaw.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
(29) A wicked man hardeneth his face.Is insensible to rebuke, and will not confess himself in the wrong, but the upright directeth his way, as God would have him, or, as the margin implies, looks well to it, sees that it is in accordance with His commandments.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
29. Hardeneth his face Puts on a bold, impudent look.
Directeth Establishes, prepares, his way. “Beats firm.” Miller. What the other attempts to do by impudence he does by unassuming uprightness of character.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
v. 29. A wicked man hardeneth his face,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Pro 21:29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but [as for] the upright, he directeth his way.
Ver. 29. A wicked man hardeneth his face. ] Procaciter obfirmat vultum suum, so the Vulgate renders it. The false witness Pro 21:28 impudently defends, or at least extenuates and excuses his falsities. Frontem perfricat, assuens mendacium mendacio, as the Hebrew hath it. Psa 119:69 He thinks to make good one lie by another; to outface the truth, to overbear it with a bold countenance. It seems to be a metaphor from a traveller that sets his face against the wind and weather, and holds on his journey, though he be taking long strides towards destruction. a
But as for the upright, he directeth his way.
a . Act 27:15
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Pro 21:29
Pro 21:29
“A wicked man hardeneth his face; But as for the upright, he establisheth his ways.”
Delitzsch translated thus: “A godless man showeth boldness in his mien; but one that is upright, he proveth his way. “For the godless man, his demeanor is the arrogant callousness of guilt; but for the upright it is the manifest integrity of his life.” Sometimes the one can be mistaken for the other.
Pro 21:29. Another contrast between the wicked and the upright in which the wicked hardens his face instead of repenting and having his ways established like the upright. Septuagint: An ungodly man shamelessly withstands with his face. This continued wickedness will bring destruction. After showing the prosperity of the righteous, Psa 1:4-6 says, The wicked are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For Jehovah knoweth the way of the righteous; But the way of the wicked shall perish.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
hardeneth: Pro 28:14, Pro 29:1, Jer 3:2, Jer 3:3, Jer 5:3, Jer 8:12, Jer 44:16, Jer 44:17
he directeth: or, he considereth, Pro 11:5, Psa 119:59, Eze 18:28, Hag 1:5, Hag 1:7, Hag 2:15, Hag 2:18, Hag 2:19, Luk 15:17, Luk 15:18, 1Th 3:11
Reciprocal: Pro 11:20 – upright Jer 36:25 – but Eze 2:4 – impudent
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pro 21:29. A wicked man hardeneth his face Continues in his evil practices with obstinacy and impudence, in spite of all the commands of God, or counsels of men; but the upright directeth his way Ordereth his steps aright; and, if at any time he errs from the right path, he does not add rebellion to his sin, nor persist in his error, but considers his ways, and turns his feet to Gods testimonies.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
A wicked man puts up a show of confidence, but it is a bluff. His bold face reflects a hard heart that holds the opinions and views of others in contempt. [Note: Plaut, p. 224.] The upright, on the other hand, does not need to pretend to be something he is not because he is walking on the right path.