Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 22:5
Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
Verse 5. Thorns and snares] Various difficulties, trials, and sufferings.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward; the wicked by their evil courses expose themselves to many dangers and occasions both of sin and mischief.
He that doth keep his soul, that taketh heed to himself, and to his actions, and to the saving of his life and soul,
shall be far from them; either,
1. Will avoid the society of such froward persons. Or,
2. Shall by that circumspection preserve himself from those thorns, &c., with which the pronoun them agrees in number.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5. he that . . . themThosewho properly watch over their own souls are thus preserved from thedangers which attend the way of perverse men (Pr16:17).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the froward,…. Who walks contrary to the will and law of God; such a man meets with troubles, which are as thorns, grieving and distressing to him; and is taken in snares, and brought into difficulties, out of which he is not easily extricated; the thorns of affliction, and the snares of Satan: by the one his way is hedged up, and in the other his feet are taken;
he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them; he that is concerned for the good of his soul, is careful for the welfare of that, and takes heed to his ways where and how he walks, will be far both from the way of the froward, and from the thorns and snares which are in his way.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
5 Thorns, snares, are on the way of the crooked;
He that guardeth his soul, let him keep far from them.
Rightly the Venet. . The meaning of (plur. of , or , the same as ) and (from , Arab. fah ), stands fast, though it be not etymologically verified; the placing together of these two words (the lxx obliterating the asyndeton: ) follows the scheme , Hab 3:11. The (perverse of heart, crooked, Pro 17:20; Pro 11:20) drives his crooked winding way, corresponding to his habit of mind, which is the contrast and the perversion of that which is just, a way in which there are thorns which entangle and wound those who enter thereon, snares which unexpectedly bring them down and hold them fast as prisoners; the hedge of thorns, Pro 15:19, was a figure of the hindrances in the way of the wicked themselves. The thorn and snares here are a figure of the hindrances and dangers which go forth from the deceitful and the false in the way of others, of those who keep their souls, i.e., who outwardly and morally take heed to their life (Pro 16:17; Pro 13:3, pred. here subj.), who will keep, or are disposed to keep, themselves from these thorns, these snares into which the deceitful and perverse-hearted seek to entice them.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
Note 1. The way of sin is vexatious and dangerous: In the way of the froward, that crooked way, which is contrary to the will and word of God, thorns and snares are found, thorns of grief for past sins and snares entangling them in further sin. He that makes no conscience of what he says and does will find himself hampered by that imaginary liberty, and tormented by his pleasures. Froward people, who are soon angry, expose themselves to trouble at every step. Every thing will fret and vex him that will fret and vex at every thing. 2. The way of duty is safe and easy: He that keeps his soul, that watches carefully over his own heart and ways, is far from those thorns and snares, for his way is both plain and pleasant.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Thorns and Snares in Path of Wicked
Verse 5 warns that there are thorns and snares in the way of the wicked; he who would avoid the hurt and guilt of evil will keep away from this path, Pro 13:15; Pro 15:9; Pro 21:23; 1Jn 5:18.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(5) Thorns.Comp. note on Pro. 15:19.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. Thorns and snares, etc. There is no conjunction here again. “Thorns” denote the various difficulties, dangers, and sufferings to which the froward, or utterly perverse, are continually exposed, as “snares,” or nets, do the entanglements into which they run.
Keep his soul That suitably regards his soul or life.
Shall be far from them Will keep himself far away from such associations.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
v. 5. Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Pro 22:5 Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
Ver. 5. Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward. ] In opposition to the reward of righteousness; Pro 22:4 which is to say, “The ungodly are not so.” Or if they have riches, they prove thorns to them to prick and choke their souls; if honour, and long life to enjoy it, these prove snares to them. Of carnal hearts it may be said, as Pharaoh said of the Israelites, “They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.” Exo 14:3 They have treasures in the field, of wheat, barley, and oil, as those ten men had, Jer 41:8 and are therefore loath to die. And yet before they die – live they never so long in all abundance of riches and honours – God can bring them to that pass that Charles V was at, whom of all men the world judged most happy. Philip of Mornay reports of him that he cursed his honours in his old age, his victories, trophies, riches, saying, Abite hinc, abite longe: Away, away, get you far away.
He that doth keep his soul, shall be far from them.
a Lactant., De Opificio Dei.
and. Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulg, read this “and” in the text.
froward = perverse. See note on Pro 2:12, Pro 2:15; Pro 3:32. Illustrations: Israel (Jdg 2:2, Jdg 2:3. Jos 23:12, Jos 23:13; contrast with Jos 21:43-45; Jos 24:31); Ahab (1Ki 17:1; 1Ki 18:5; 1Ki 21:4, 1Ki 21:20; 1Ki 22:6, 1Ki 22:37).
Pro 22:5
Pro 22:5
“Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He that keepeth his soul shall be far from them.”
He that keepeth his soul carries the frightening implication that one may lose his soul, a fact emphasized by Jesus (Mat 16:26). “Many toils, trials and sufferings will be met by the sinful. One’s soul is that immortal part of him that shall at last give an account in the presence of God.
Pro 22:5. What a contrast with Pro 22:4! While the righteous reap riches, honor and life (Pro 22:4), Thorns and snares await the perverse. Pro 15:19 combines both groups: The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns; But the path of the upright is made a highway. The wicked are perverse (perverted from what God has intended them to be). The godly are those who keep their souls; they shall avoid the thorns and snares that come upon the ungodly. Another reason (a sensible one) for being godly rather than ungodly.
Thorns: Pro 13:15, Pro 15:19, Jos 23:13, Job 18:8, Psa 11:6, Psa 18:26, Psa 18:27
he: Pro 13:3, Pro 16:17, Pro 19:16, Psa 91:1, 1Jo 5:18, Jud 1:20, Jud 1:21
Reciprocal: Gen 3:18 – Thorns Pro 4:23 – Keep Pro 14:27 – to
Pro 22:5. Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward The wicked, by their evil practices, expose themselves to many dangers, and occasions both of sin and mischief: he that keeps his soul That takes heed to himself, and to his actions, and to the saving of his soul; shall be far from them Will avoid the society of such froward persons; or rather, by that circumspection shall preserve himself from those thorns and snares to which the froward are exposed.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments