Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 25:12
[As] an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [so is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
12. earring ] Or, nose-ring, R.V. marg. See Pro 11:22, note.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The theme of this proverb being the same as that of Pro 25:11, its occurrence suggests the thought that rings used as ornaments for ears, or nose, or forehead, and other trinkets formed part of the works of art spoken of in the foregoing note, and that the king had something at once pointed and wise to say of each of them.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 12. As an ear-ring of gold] I believe nezem to mean the nose-ring with its pendants; the left nostril is pierced, and a ring put through it, as in the ear. This is very common in almost every part of the East, among women of condition. This is a farther illustration of the above metaphor.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold; highly acceptable, and a great ornament, and not an offence and dishonour, as fools esteem it;
so is a wise reprover, that reproves an offender faithfully; yet prudently, in the fittest manner and season.
Upon an obedient ear; to a man that hearkens to it, and is instructed and reformed by it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
12. Those who desire to know anddo rightly, most highly esteem good counsel (Pro 9:9;Pro 15:31). The listening ear isbetter than one hung with gold.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
[As] an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold,…. As a golden earring, when first put on, gives pain and uneasiness; but, being well hung and fixed, is very ornamental, being of fine gold, and especially when any jewels are upon it; which may be meant by the ornament, as the word is rendered, So 7:1;
[so is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear; such is the reproof of a wise man, which is seasonably given, in a fit and proper manner; and which appears to proceed from love, and is designed for good, and done in great affection and faithfulness: this, though it may be a little grating to the ear at first, yet, when well considered and received, instead of leaving any infamy or reproach on the person reproved, it is an ornament to him, as well as reflects honour upon the reprover. It may be rendered, “[so is] he that reproveth a wise man, upon” or “with an obedient ear” g; a wise man that has an obedient or hearing ear, who is so wise as to altered to reproofs given him, and which he takes kindly, and receives profit and advantage from them; see Pr 9:8.
g “qui arguit sapientem”, V. L. Pagninus, Mercerus, Gejerus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Another proverb continues the commendation of the effective word; for it represents, in emblem, the interchangeable relation of speaker and hearer:
A golden earring and an ornament of fine gold –
A wise preacher to an ear that heareth;
i.e., as the former two ornaments form a beautiful ensemble, so the latter two, the wise preacher of morality and an attentive ear, form a harmonious whole: , down upon, is explained by Deu 32:2. , at Pro 11:12, standing along with , meant a ring for the nose; but here, as elsewhere, it means an earring (lxx, Jerome, Venet.), translated by the Syr. and Targ. by , because it serves as a talisman. A ring for the nose
(Note: Vid., Gieger’s Zeitschrift, 1872, pp. 45-48, where it is endeavoured to be shown that , as an earring, is rejected from the later biblical literature, because it had become “an object used in the worship of idols,” and that the word was used only of a ring for the nose as a permissible ornament, while was used for the earring. But that does not apply to the Solomonic era; for that, in the passage under review, signifies a ring for the nose, is only a supposition of Geiger’s, because it accords with his construction of history.)
cannot also be here thought of, because this ornament is an emblem of the attentive ear: willingly accepted chastisement or instruction is an ear-ornament to him who hears (Stier). But the gift of the wise preacher, which consists in rightly dividing the word of truth, 2Ti 2:15, is as an ornament for the neck or the breast (= Arab. khaly , fem. = hilyt ), of fine gold ( , jewel, then particularly precious gold, from , Arab. katam , recondere ).
(Note: Hitzig compares Arab. kumet ; but this means bayard, as Lagarde remarks, the Greek ; and if by gold foxes (gold money) are to be thought of, yet they have nothing whatever to do with bayards (red-brown horses); cf. Beohmer, de colorum nominibus equinorum , in his Roman. Stud. Heft 2, 1872, p. 285.)
The Venet. well: (fine gold); on the contrary (perhaps in want of another name for gold), is translated, by the lxx and Syr., by sardine; by the Targ., by emerald; and by Jerome, by margaritum.
(Note: Another Greek translates . This is a philological mystery, the solution of which has been attempted by Bochart, Letronne, and Field.)
It looks well when two stand together, the one of whom has golden earrings, and the other wears a yet more precious golden necklace – such a beautiful mutual relationship is formed by a wise speaker and a hearer who listens to his admonitions.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
CRITICAL NOTES.
Pro. 25:12. An obedient ear. Literally an ear that heareth.
Pro. 25:13. The cold of snow, etc. The coolness of snow is not that of a fall of snow, which in the time of harvest would be a calamity, but of drink cooled with snow, which was brought from Lebanon, or elsewhere, from the clefts of the rocks; the peasants of Damascus store up the winters snow in a cleft of the mountain, and convey it in the warm months to Damascus and the coast towns. (Delitzsch.)
MAIN HOMILETICS OF Pro. 25:12
GIVING AND TAKING
I. To give reproof effectually needs
1. A character which deserves respect. An iron pin when cold may by the exercise of much strength and the expenditure of much time be driven through a plate of iron, but if it be red hot, it goes through it with speed and ease. A blunt axe may fell a tree, but if it has a good edge the work is done far more quickly and effectually. So a very faulty man may obtain a hearing when he reproves, and his reproofs may do good, but the same reproof from the lips of one who possesses a high moral character will be far more likely to reach the conscience of the listener and lead him to repentance.
2. A knowledge of the character and disposition of him whom he reproves. It is indispensable that the physician who ministers a powerful drug to a patient, or who subjects him to a critical operation, should first know something about his bodily constitution, should ascertain if there is tendency to disease which his treatment might strengthen, or exceptional weakness of any organ which would make it unable to bear the strain he is about to put upon it. If he do not make some preliminary investigation on these matters he may be developing an evil as great as the one he seeks to eradicate. A reprover should remember that all men are not alike in their temperament and moral development, and that consequently what would do real good to one transgressor would only harden another, and that, therefore, there must be acquaintance with the patient before the medicine is administered.
3. A sincere desire to benefit the offender. He who reproves without a real feeling of pity and a wish to help him whom he reproves will find that his words will do about as much good as water does to a rock when it falls upon it. It may drop day and night for years, but the rock is rock stillno moisture penetrates it and no verdure clothes it. So reproof that is not dictated by love will never reach the heart, and no fruits of repentance will result from fault-finding for its own sake.
4. A due regard to a fitting time and place. He must not rebuke his child when he is suffering pain, or charge home a fault upon the father of a family before his children. We are not likely to reform a drunkard by upbraiding him when he is under the influence of drink, or to convince a proud man that he is wrong by putting him to shame before others. A wise reprover will not only see to it that his medicine is suited to his patient, but will consider when it is most fitting to administer it.
II. To take reproof meekly
1. Reveals a man under the control of reason. It is only the delirious patient or the child who angrily resists the surgeons knife, and looks no further than the present pain. A reasonable man may cry out under the operation, but he knows that his future health depends upon it, and he therefore submits patiently, although he suffers acutely. If a man looks at reproof in the same light, he will receive it in the same spirit, and give a convincing proof that he is not ruled by passion but by reason.
2. Reveals a man governed by true self-love. Love for our own true interests prompts us to welcome every hand stretched out to help us, and every means afforded us of becoming better and wiser. A wise reprover is a true friend, and he who does not recognise him as such shows that his own advancement is not the aim of his life and the object of his desire. But no greater proof of a sincere regard for our own moral and spiritual growth can be given than that of lending an obedient ear to a wise reproof.
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
The wise reprover or instructor, who lovingly and seasonably telleth his neighbour of his fault or duty, may fitly be likened unto a jewel of pearl; for he lighteneth and enricheth him that is instructed with knowledge and the gifts of Gods Holy Spirit. The attentive and obedient hearer who desires to increase in learning, and who receiveth the word of God with meekness, may also be aptly resembled to a golden earring; for he is transformed from glory to glory, by the ministry and instruction of the prudent and learned teacher.Muffett.
When a reproof is both administered in wisdom and received in humility and in good part,then there is a union of two equal rarities. A reproof well-administered is rare; and not less so is a reproof well taken. We may remark, however, that the rareness of the latter arises, to no small extent, out of the rareness of the former. It is because reproof is so seldom wellgiven, that it is so seldon well-taken.Wardlaw.
An earring is fastened to the ear, and that it may be fastened, it pierceth the ear, and being so fastened, it is an ornament to the whole face; so like-wise is a reproof upon an obedient ear. First, it pierceth it, and is received willingly into it; secondly, it is fastened upon it, so that it stays with it; thirdly, it is an ornament to his whole life, which is thereby reformed.Jermin.
For Homiletics on the subject of Pro. 25:13, see on chap. Pro. 13:17, page 321.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
12. As an earring The original means either an earring or a nose-ring. The Orientals are as fond of rings in their nostrils as our modern ladies of rings in their ears.
An ornament of fine gold A necklace or collar “of fine gold.” An ear attentive to instruction is better than one ornamented with gold rings.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Pro 25:12 [As] an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [so is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
Ver. 12. As an earring of gold, &c. ] Ut in auris aurea, &c. A seasonable word falling upon a tractable ear hath a redoubled grace with it, as an earring of gold, and as an ornament of fine gold, or as a diamond in a diadem. It is a hard and happy thing to “suffer the words of exhortation,” to digest a reproof; to say with David, “Let the righteous smite me,” &c.; to be of Gerson’s disposition, of whom it is recorded that he rejoiced in nothing more, quam si ab aliquo fraterne et charitative redargueretur, a than if he were friendly and freely reproved by anyone. Every vice doth now go armed; touch it never so gently, yet like the nettle it will sting you. If you deal with it roughly and roundly it swaggereth, as the Hebrew did with Moses, “Who made thee a man of authority?” &c. Exo 2:14 Earrings and ornaments are ill bestowed upon such uncircumcised ears.
a In vita Jo. Gers.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
obedient = attentive.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
an earring: Job 42:11
a wise: Pro 1:8, Pro 1:9, Pro 9:8, Pro 15:5, Pro 15:31, Pro 15:32, Pro 27:5, Pro 27:6, 1Sa 25:31-34, Psa 141:5
Reciprocal: Gen 20:16 – thus 1Sa 25:33 – blessed 2Sa 12:13 – I have sinned 1Ki 12:8 – General 2Ki 5:14 – went he down 2Ki 20:14 – What said 2Ch 10:8 – he forsook 2Ch 18:7 – Let not the Ezr 10:5 – arose Job 6:24 – Teach me Pro 9:9 – General Pro 10:20 – tongue Pro 13:18 – he Pro 15:2 – tongue Pro 15:23 – joy Pro 16:24 – Pleasant Pro 18:20 – General Pro 20:15 – but Pro 24:26 – shall Ecc 10:12 – words Ecc 12:10 – acceptable words Eze 3:20 – because Eze 16:11 – General Mat 12:35 – good man Act 6:5 – the saying Act 10:33 – are we Act 18:26 – expounded Eph 4:29 – that which Eph 5:11 – but Col 4:6 – your 2Th 3:15 – admonish
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pro 25:12. As an ear-ring of gold, &c. That is, highly acceptable, and a great ornament, and not an offence and dishonour, as fools think it; is a wise reprover One who reproves an offender faithfully, and yet prudently, in the fittest manner and season; upon an obedient ear To the man that hearkens to the reproof, and is instructed and reformed by it.