Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 25:4
Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the refiner.
4. a vessel for the finer ] Such pure metal as the refiner, who has with that very object taken away the dross, can make into a goodly vessel or vase. Egredietur vas purissimum, Vulg.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Pro 25:4-5
Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
Purifying fires
No text in Scripture brings out with equal distinctness the higher office of affliction, i.e.,, to develop in us preparation for a true usefulness. The object of furnace fires is not to melt the precious metal, or even to release the dross, but to make the metal ready for the purposes of manufacture. Not the silver ingot, however, but the silver vessel, is the object of the assayer. When God tries His children, it is not simply that they shall come forth as gold, glorious as is purity of character, but that they may be both ready to be shaped for His purposes and capable of being used to fulfil His will. Paul seems to refer to this proverb in 2Ti 2:19-21, the only other passage in which the same truth is taught by the same figure. (Homiletic Review.)
Take away the wicked from before the king.
The removal of wicked men from influential positions
This shows that the vigorous endeavour of a prince to suppress vice, and reform the manners of his people is the most effectual way to support his government.
I. What the duty of magistrates is. To take away the wicked; to use their power for the terror of evil works and evil-workers, to banish those from the court who are vicious and profane, and to frighten them, and restrain them from spreading the infection of their wickedness among the people. Wicked people are the dross of a nation.
II. The advantage of doing this duty.
1. It will be the bettering of their subjects. They shall be made like silver refined; fit to be made vessels of honour.
2. It will be the settling of the prince. His throne shall be established in this righteousness, for God will bless his government, the people will be pliable to it, and so it will become durable. (Matthew Henry.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 4. Take away the dross from the silver] You cannot have a pure silver vessel till you have purified the silver; and no nation can have a king a public blessing till the wicked – all bad counsellors, wicked and interested ministers, and sycophants – are banished from the court and cabinet. When the wise and good only are the king’s ministers and advisers, then the throne will be established in righteousness, and his administration be a universal blessing.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Then, and not till then, it is fit for that use.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4, 5. As separating impuritiesfrom ore leaves pure silver, so taking from a king wicked counsellorsleaves a wise and beneficent government.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Take away the dross from the silver,…. By putting it into the furnace, and purging it from it:
and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer; not out of the furnace, a vessel formed and shaped, but pure silver shall come out of it for the refiner; of which a vessel may be made, very honourable, beautiful, and fit for use: the application of it is in Pr 25:5.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
There now follows an emblematic ( vid., vol. i. p. 10) tetrastich:
4 Take away the dross from silver,
So there is ready a vessel for the goldsmith;
5 Take away the wicked from the king,
And his throne is established by righteousness.
The form (cf. the inf. Poal , Isa 59:13) is regarded by Schultens as showing a ground-form ; but there is also found e.g., , whose ground-form is ; the verb , R. (whence Arab. hajr , discedere ), cf. (whence , semovit , 2Sa 20:13 = Syr. awagy , cf. Arab. awjay , to withhold, to abstain from), signifies to separate, withdraw; here, of the separation of the , the refuse, i.e., the dross ( vid., regarding the plena scriptio , Baer’s krit. Ausg. des Jesaia, under Pro 1:22); the goldsmith is designated by the word , from morf , to turn, change, as he who changes the as yet drossy metal by means of smelting, or by purification in water, into that which is pure. In 5a is, as at Isa 27:8, transferred to a process of moral purification; what kind of persons are to be removed from the neighbourhood of the king is shown by Isa 1:22-23. Here also (as at Isa. l.c.) the emblem or figure of Pro 25:4 is followed in Pro 25:5 by its moral antitype aimed at. The punctuation of both verses is wonderfully fine and excellent. In Pro 25:4, is not pointed , but as the consecutive modus ; this first part of the proverb refers to a well-known process of art: the dross is separated from the silver ( inf. absol., as Pro 12:7; Pro 15:22), and so a vessel (utensil) proceeds from the goldsmith, for he manufactures pure silver; the is here similarly used as the designation of the subject in the passive, Pro 13:13; Pro 14:20. In Pro 25:5, on the contrary, ( ) is not the punctuation used, but the word is pointed indicatively ; this second part of the proverb expresses a moral demand ( inf. absol. in the sense of the imperative, Gesen. 131, 4b like Pro 17:12, or an optative or concessive conjunction): let the godless be removed, , i.e., not from the neighbourhood of the king, for which the words are ; also not those standing before the king, i.e., in his closest neighbourhood (Ewald, Bertheau); but since, in the absolute, , not an act of another in the interest of the king, but of the king himself, is thought of: let the godless be removed from before the king, i.e., because he administers justice (Hitzig), or more generally: because after that Psalm (101), which is the “mirror of princes,” he does not suffer him to come into his presence. Accordingly, the punctuation is , not (Pro 16:12); because such righteousness is meant as separates the from it and itself from him, as Isa 16:5 ( vid., Hitzig), where the punctuation of denotes that favour towards Moab seeking protection.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. 5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
This shows that the vigorous endeavour of a prince to suppress vice, and reform the manners of his people, is the most effectual way to support his government. Observe, 1. What the duty of magistrates is: To take away the wicked, to use their power for the terror of evil works and evil workers, not only to banish those that are vicious and profane from their presence, and forbid them the court, but so to frighten them and restrain them that they may not spread the infection of their wickedness among their subjects. This is called taking away the dross from the silver, which is done by the force of fire. Wicked people are the dross of a nation, the scum of the country, and, as such, to be taken away. If men will not take them away, God will, Ps. cxix. 119. If the wicked be taken away from before the king, if he abandon them and show his detestation of their wicked courses, it will go far towards the disabling of them to do mischief. The reformation of the court will promote the reformation of the kingdom, Psa 101:3; Psa 101:8. 2. What the advantage will be of their doing this duty. (1.) It will be the bettering of the subjects; they shall be made like silver refined, fit to be made vessels of honour. (2.) It will be the settling of the prince. His throne shall be established in this righteousness, for God will bless his government, the people will be pliable to it, and so it will become durable.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Verses 4-5 affirm that to establish the throne in righteousness, the dross (the wicked) must be removed from positions of authority, as dross is separated in the refining of silver. The king or ruling authority must himself set a righteous example, and must assure that subordinates do likewise, or be removed from office, Pro 16:12; Pro 20:8; Pro 25:4-5. The N. T. emphasizes that the incentive to purge oneself and be a vessel of honor stems from being led to a personal trust in and love for the LORD, 2Ti 1:12; 2Ti 2:20-21.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(4) And there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.Or, So there results a vessel to the refiner, or silversmith. He is able to make one.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4, 5. Take away the dross, etc. Let wicked counsellors and companions be removed from the king, and their places filled with good men, and the government will be established by equity and justice. A good proverb this for kings, and all who are in authority. Compare Pro 16:12; Pro 20:8; Pro 29:14.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Pro 25:4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
Ver. 4. Take away the dross from the silver. ] The holy prophets were not only most exactly seen in the peerless skill of divinity, but most exquisitely also furnished with the entire knowledge of all things natural. Hence their many similies wherewith they learnedly beautify their matter, and deck out their terms, words, and sentences, giving thereunto a certain kind of lively gesture, attiring the same with light, perspicuity, easiness, estimation, and dignity; stirring up thereby men’s drowsy minds to the acknowledgment of the truth, and pursuit of godliness.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
finer = refiner.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Pro 17:3, Isa 1:25-27, Mal 3:3, 2Ti 2:20, 2Ti 2:21, 1Pe 1:7
Reciprocal: Lev 14:40 – take away Jer 6:30 – Reprobate silver
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pro 25:4-5. Take away the dross from the silver, &c. When the dross is separated from the silver, and not before, it becomes so pliable, that the finer may cast or work it into what form he pleases; thus, take away the wicked from before the king Remove from his court and counsels those who, by their wicked advices and practices, provoke Gods displeasure against him, blast his reputation, and alienate the hearts of his subjects from him, and his throne shall be established in righteousness By such impartial execution of justice, his kingdom will be settled in peace, and his government become as durable as it will be beneficial.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
25:4 Take away the {f} dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the refiner.
(f) When vice is removed from a king, he is a meet vessel for the Lord’s use.