Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 29:2
When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
2. in authority ] This rendering is supported by the parallelism, but it is relegated to the margin in R.V. The rendering, increased, R.V. text, A.V. marg., gives the more usual meaning of the Heb. word, See Pro 28:28, and Pro 29:16 below.
the wicked ] Or, a wicked man, R.V. The word is singular, but may be taken with A.V. collectively, , LXX.; cum impii sumserint principatum, Vulg.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Pro 29:2
When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice.
The happiness of the people
Man is, for the most part, equally unhappy when subjected, without redress, to the passions of another, or left, without control, to the dominion of his own. Government is necessary to the safety of particular men and the happiness of society. The people cannot rejoice except the righteous are in authority.
I. The duty of those in authority to promote the happiness of the people. No man is born merely for his own sake, to consult his own advantage or pleasure, and unconnected with the good of others. This is more evidently true of those who are exalted into high rank, dignified with honours, and vested with authority. He who wears the honours and receives the revenues of an exalted station, without attending to the duties of his post, is, in a very high degree, criminal, both in the eye of God and man.
II. By what means the happiness of the people may be most effectually promoted. The only uniform and perpetual cause of public happiness is public virtue. Without virtue nothing can be securely possessed or properly enjoyed. In a country like ours the great demand is for the security of property, the confirmation of liberty, and the extension of commerce. If riches and liberty could make us happy, it would remain to be considered how riches and liberty can be secured. Human laws must be limited in their effects. The deficiencies in civil life can be supplied only by religion. The first duty of a governor is therefore to diffuse through the community a spirit of religion. To this end it is necessary that the external order of religion be diligently maintained, that the solemnities of worship be duly observed, and a proper reverence preserved for the times and places appropriated to piety. And governors must co-operate with their laws by their own examples.
III. How the people are to assist and further the endeavours of their governors. Nations cannot be governed but by their own consent. The first duty of subjects is obedience to the laws. No man thinks laws unnecessary for others; and no man, if he considers his own inherent frailty, can justly think them unnecessary for himself. Even the errors and deficiencies of authority must be treated with respect. All institutions are defective by their nature, and all rulers have their imperfections, like other men. As government is difficult to be administered, so it is difficult to be understood; and where very few have capacity to judge, very few have a right to censure. The laws will be easily obeyed by him who adds to human sanctions the obligations of conscience; and he will not easily be disposed to censure his superiors whom religion has made acquainted with his own failings. (John Taylor.)
A righteous government
I. Some of the chief advantages that people enjoy under a righteous government.
1. The laws are duly executed. This keeps all the springs of the body politic in their right tone, and gives life and vigour to their motion.
2. True merit finds protection and encouragement under it. This enlivens peoples spirits and makes them study to be serviceable upon a right principle.
3. Such a government appears abroad with weight and authority. Righteousness exalteth a nation and spreads its fame and reputation in countries far remote.
4. Such a government is attended with the blessing of God.
II. How ought people to express their joy when the righteous are in authority?
1. By a ready and cheerful obedience to authority.
2. By grateful acknowledgments to God for so great a blessing.
3. The people should express their joy by their gratitude to such rulers. (Bp. John Hough.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
In authority; which interpretation is confirmed from the opposite clause. The Hebrew word signifies to increase either in number, or in dignity and power.
The people rejoice, for the blessed effects of their good government.
The people mourn, both for the oppressions and mischiefs which they feel, and for the dreadful judgments of God which they justly fear.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. (Compare Pro 11:10;Pro 28:28).
in authority(CompareMargin), increased in power.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
When the righteous are in authority,…. Or “are increased” g; either in number or in riches, or in power and dominion; are set in high places, and have the exercise of civil government and the execution of the laws in their hands; for the protection of good men in their civil and religious privileges, and for the punishment of evil men; for the encouraging of all that is good, and for the discouraging of everything that is bad;
the people rejoice; the whole body of the people, because of the public good; a state is happy under such an administration; everyone feels and enjoys the advantage of it; see 1Ki 4:20;
but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn; or “groan” h, or “will groan”, under their tyranny and oppression, and because of the sad state of things; the number of good men is lessened, being cut off, or obliged to flee; wicked men and wickedness are encouraged and promoted; heavy taxes are laid upon them, and exorbitant demands made and cruelty, injustice, and arbitrary power exercised; and no man’s person and property safe; see Pr 10:11.
g “cum augentur”, Junius Tremellius “cum multiplicati fuerit, vel multiplicantur”, Vatablus, Baynus, Cocceius, Michaelis; “in multiplicari justos”, Montanus. h “gemet”, Pagninus, Montanus, V. L. “gemit”, Michaelis; “ingemiscit”, Schultens; so the Tugurine version, Mercerus; “suspirat”, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The general ethical proverb is here followed by one that is political:
2 When the righteous increase, the people rejoice;
And when a godless man ruleth, the people mourn.
Regarding ‘ (Aquila rightly, ), vid., at Pro 28:28. If the righteous form the majority, or are in such numbers that they are the party that give the tone, that form the predominant power among the people (Fleischer, cum incrementa capiunt justi ), then the condition of the people is a happy one, and their voice joyful (Pro 11:10); if, on the contrary, a godless man or (after Pro 28:1) godless men rule, the people are made to sigh ( , with the Gaja, according to rule). “There is reason,” as Hitzig remarks, “why should be placed first with, and then without, the article.” In the first case it denotes the people as those among whom there is such an increase of the righteous; in the second case, the article is wanting, because it is not generally used in poetry; and, besides, its absence makes the second line consist of nine syllables, like the first.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
This is what was said before, Pro 28:12; Pro 28:28. 1. The people will have cause to rejoice or mourn according as their rulers are righteous or wicked; for, if the righteous be in authority, sin will be punished and restrained, religion and virtue will be supported and kept in reputation; but, if the wicked get power in their hands, wickedness will abound, religion and religious people will be persecuted, and so the ends of government will be perverted. 2. The people will actually rejoice or mourn according as their rulers are righteous or wicked. Such a conviction are even the common people under of the excellency of virtue and religion that they will rejoice when they see them preferred and countenanced; and, on the contrary, let men have ever so much honour or power, if they be wicked and vicious, and use it ill, they make themselves contemptible and base before all the people (as those priests, Mal. ii. 9) and subjects will think themselves miserable under such a government.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Righteous Or Wicked Rule
Verse 2 repeats the substance of Pro 28:28; Pro 11:10 which contrast the fluctuating joy and apprehension as governmental authority shifts from wicked to righteous or. from righteous to wicked. See Ezr 3:11-13; Ezr 7:10; Ezr 8:1-2; Ezr 8:15.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
2. Righteous in authority Literally, in their becoming great. Some render, when they multiply, increase; but this is not accordant with the next clause.
Mourn Grieve, are oppressed. Compare Pro 11:10; Pro 28:12; Pro 28:28; Ecc 10:5.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Pro 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
Ver. 2. When the righteous are in authority. ] Or, Are increased, as Pro 28:28 ; See Trapp on “ Pro 28:28 “
The people mourn.
a Acts and Mon., fol. 1164.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the righteous = righteous ones.
in authority = increase, not necessarily in numbers, but in greatness. Compare Pro 29:16, and see note on Pro 4:10, and the next clause.
the wicked = a lawless one. Hebrew. rasha’. App-44.
beareth rule. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read the plural here: “bear rule”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Pro 29:2
Pro 29:2
“When the righteous increase, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man beareth rule, the people sigh.”
See discussion of this and related proverbs under Pro 28:28.
Pro 29:2. The contrast is between a righteous and a wicked ruler and between the peoples rejoicing under the righteous ruler and their sighing under the wicked. Previous contrasts involving the same in Proverbs: When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; And when the wicked perish, there is shouting (Pro 11:10); When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves (Pro 28:12); When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase (Pro 28:28).
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
the righteous: Pro 11:10, Pro 28:12, Pro 28:28, Est 8:15, Psa 72:1-7, Isa 32:1, Isa 32:2, Jer 23:5, Jer 23:6, Rev 11:15
in authority: or, increased
when the wicked: Est 3:15, Ecc 10:5, Mat 2:3, Mat 2:16
Reciprocal: 2Ki 11:14 – all the people 2Ki 11:20 – rejoiced 1Ch 12:40 – there was joy 2Ch 23:13 – all the people Job 29:11 – the ear Psa 101:6 – Mine Pro 29:16 – the wicked Rev 19:7 – be glad
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pro 29:2. When the righteous are in authority The Hebrew word here used signifies to increase, either in number, or in dignity and power, but it appears from the opposite clause that the latter is intended in this place. The people rejoice For the blessed effects of their good government; but when the wicked beareth rule When an ungodly man governs; the people mourn For the oppressions and mischiefs which they feel, and for the dreadful judgments of God, which they justly fear.