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Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 27:11

Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 27:11

My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

The voice of the teacher to his true disciple. He pleads with him that the uprightness of the scholar will be the truest answer to all attacks on the character or teaching of the master.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

For being the father of a wicked son, as if I had either deserved him as a curse from God, or made him so by my example, or by the neglect of his education. See Eze 16:44; 1Th 3:4.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

11. The wisdom of children bothreflects credit on parents and contributes to their aid indifficulties.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,…. That is, show thyself to be a wise man by thy words and actions; endeavour to get a good share of wisdom and knowledge, and make a good use of it, and that will rejoice my heart; as nothing more gladdens the heart of a parent than the wisdom and prudent behaviour of his son; see

Pr 10:1;

that I may answer him that reproacheth me; with begetting a foolish son, or a wicked man; or making him such by ill examples; or through neglect of education; or by using too much severity in it.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

This proverb has, in common with the preceding tristich, the form of an address:

Become wise, my son, and make my heart rejoice,

That I may give an answer to my accusers.

Better than “be wise” (Luther), we translate “become wise” (lxx ); for he who is addressed might indeed be wise, though not at present so, so that his father is made to listen to such deeply wounding words as these, “Cursed be he who begat, and who educated this man” (Malbim). The cohortative clause 11b (cf. Psa 119:42) has the force of a clause with a purpose (Gesen. 128:1): ut habeam quod iis qui me convicientur regerere possim ; it does not occur anywhere in the Hezekiah collection except here.

Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament

      11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

      Children are here exhorted to be wise and good, 1. That they may be a comfort to their parents and may make their hearts glad, even when the evil days come, and so recompense them for their care, ch. xxiii. 15. 2. That they may be a credit to them: “That I may answer him that reproaches me with having been over-strict and severe in bringing up my children, and having taken a wrong method with them in restraining them from the liberties which other young people take. My son, be wise, and then it will appear, in the effect, that I went the wisest way to work with my children.” Those that have been blessed with a religious education should in every thing conduct themselves so as to be a credit to their education and to silence those who say, A young saint, an old devil; and to prove the contrary, A young saint, an old angel.

Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary

The Teacher’s Goal

(For verse 11 – See comment on Pro 10:1 and references, also Pro 29:3; 1Th 2:19-20; 1Th 3:8.)

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

(11) My son.The address of a father to his son, or master to pupil.

That I may answer him that reproacheth me for having brought you up badly when he sees you ignorant or ill-behaved. So Christians are exhorted to let their light so shine before men that their Father in heaven may be thereby glorified (Mat. 5:16).

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

11. May answer him Literally, that I may return a word, etc.

That reproacheth me That is, with want of care in the education of my child. The good and wise conduct of children is the best compliment to their parents. Instead of “that I may answer,” etc., some Versions, as the Vulgate, read: “That thou mayest answer.” Compare Pro 1:8, et seq.; Pro 10:1; Pro 22:21; Pro 23:15; Pro 23:24; Psa 119:42; Psa 127:5.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Wisdom and Humility Go Hand in Hand

v. 11. My son, be wise and make my heart glad, the inspired author again addressing all his readers in the tone of fatherly admonition, that I may answer him that reproacheth me, since the wise behavior of a pupil will enable the teacher to stop the reviling of an enemy who would mock at his teaching.

v. 12. A prudent man foreseeth the evil, he is able to judge the signs of the times, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on and are punished, they come to harm because they take no steps to avoid it. cf Pro 22:3.

v. 13. Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, foolishly pledging himself, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman, rather, “on account of strange things. ” cf Pro 20:16.

v. 14. He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, in an attempt to appear most friendly and sincere and thus to hide his real feeling, it shall be counted a curse to him, it will so be charged against him on account of his hypocrisy and insincerity.

v. 15. A continual dropping in a very rainy day, when the drip of the spouts persists with maddening monotony, and a contentious woman, one always nagging and quarreling, are alike, namely, in their disagreeable effect upon others.

v. 16. Whosoever hideth her, that is, whoever attempts to restrain such a woman, hideth the wind, it is just as foolish to try to shut out the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself, rather, “and his right hand encounters oil,” something which always slips out of his grasp; for it is impossible to put a stop to the shrew’s scolding.

v. 17. Iron sharpeneth iron, namely, when a file is used; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend, namely, by the stimulation of his conversation and the encouragement of his example.

v. 18. Whoso keepeth the fig-tree, giving it the care which it needs, shall eat the fruit thereof, thus finding his labor rewarded; so he that waiteth on his master, having the proper regard for him, cultivating the spirit of loyal service in his employ, shall be honored, his faithfulness being properly rewarded.

v. 19. As in water face answereth to face, the surface of the water acting as a mirror which reflects all objects, so the heart of man to man, being mirrored in that of his fellow, a true knowledge of men being gained best by a thorough study of self.

v. 20. Hell and destruction are never full, the grave and the realm of the dead are insatiable, they never have enough; so the eyes of man, of him who has given way to covetousness, are never satisfied, the avaricious man never has enough.

v. 21. As the fining-pot for silver and the furnace for gold, both of them serving to bring out the purity of the metals tried in them, so is a man to his praise, he is tested, his real character is disclosed, by his glorying or boasting, whether this is concerned with praiseworthy or with blameworthy and trivial things, or, according to the opinion in which he is held by honorable people. cf Pro 12:8.

v. 22. Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, stamping him into little bits in a crucible in an effort to find at least a grain of sense, yet will not his foolishness depart from him, since it pervades every atom of his being.

v. 23. Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, literally, “the face of thy sheep,” their condition, and look well to thy herds, as a careful manager must do.

v. 24. For riches are not forever, they are unstable and must therefore be carefully looked after; and doth the crown endure to every generation? Even the king is not sure that his royal dignity and power will descend in his family, so uncertain and vain is all human possession; whence it behooves man all the more to make use of care and circumspection.

v. 25. The hay appeareth, and the tender grass showeth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered, the careful and provident manager insuring a sufficient supply for his herds, so that they do not lack food.

v. 26. The lambs are for thy clothing, their fleece furnishing wool for garments, and the goats are the price of the field, their value being so great that the money obtained by their sale will pay for the farm.

v. 27. And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, the family and the house-servants, and for the maintenance for thy maidens, the female slaves which were always found in large establishments. Prosperity is a blessing of the Lord, but that does not exclude diligence and care on the part of every person, for prayer and industry must go hand in hand.

Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann

My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me. A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished. Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him. A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself. Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured. As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man. Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise. Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him. Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. For riches are not forever: and doth the crown endure to every generation? The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.

There are many charming things spoken of through these verses, and which, if explained upon gospel principles, have a gracious tendency. But it will be better for the Reader to have them opened to his understanding by the Holy Ghost, whose infallible teaching will secure from the possibility of error. Jesus hath said concerning him, that he shall guide into all truth: and it is he which shall take of the things of Jesus and shew unto his people. Joh 16:13-14 .

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Pro 27:11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

Ver. 11. My son, be wise, and make my heart glad. ] See Trapp on “ Pro 10:1 “

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

My son. Marking the Structure (p. 899), as being the Words of the Wise, for Solomon.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

Pro 27:11

Pro 27:11

“My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him that reproacheth me.”

The speaker is the youth’s father, his teacher, or some friend. The reproach (2nd line) probably refers to some real or contemplated misdemeanor by the youth. “The speaker is concerned for the youth’s career, and desires that he may so conduct himself as to furnish a triumphant answer to all assailants.

Pro 27:11. Saying My son, and then urging him to listen to what the father was about to say was common in the first part of Proverbs (Pro 1:8-10; Pro 2:1, Pro 3:1-2; Pro 4:1-2; Pro 5:1-2; Pro 6:1-2; Pro 7:1-3), but in this verse is the only time it appears in this latter part of the book, Good children are one of a mans best recommendations. A wise son not only makes a glad father (Pro 10:1), but fathers with good children shall not be put to shame, When they speak with their enemies in the gate (Psa 127:5). Many leaders, even in religion, have been put to shame by the bad behavior and reputation of their sons.

Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary

be wise: Pro 10:1, Pro 15:20, Pro 23:15, Pro 23:16, Pro 23:24, Pro 23:25, Ecc 2:18-21, Phm 1:7, Phm 1:19, Phm 1:20, 2Jo 1:4

that I: Psa 119:42, Psa 127:4, Psa 127:5

Reciprocal: Pro 29:3 – loveth

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

"The teacher is held responsible for the faults of the pupil." [Note: Ibid., p. 487.]

Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)