Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 3:2

For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

2. long life ] Rather, with A.V. marg. and R.V. text, years of life. There is perhaps a climax; not only length of days, prolonged existence, but years of life truly so-called, life worth living. The distinction is at least suggested by the use of in the first clause and in the second by the LXX. , : not alone vita quam vivimus, but vita qu vivimus.

peace ] This word, meaning literally wholeness, completeness, contains implicitly and is gradually developed into its full Biblical sense: “the greatest blessing, even peace, a blessing which no man is able to afford,” Philo quoted by Bp Westcott on St Joh 14:17. Comp. Php 4:7.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Three words carry on the chain of blessings:

(1) Length of days (see the Psa 91:16 note);

(2) Years of life, i. e., of a life worth living (compare Psa 30:5; Psa 42:8);

(3) Peace, tranquility inward and outward, the serenity of life continuing through old age until death. Compare 1Ti 4:8.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Pro 3:2

Long life and peace shall they add to thee.

The philosophy of health and peace

I. Obedience to moral law is a condition of physical health. Heart-obedience is required. The connection is clear from three facts.

1. That physical health requires obedience to the Divine laws of our being.

2. That obedience to the Divine laws of our being involves the study of them.

3. That a hearty agreement with the Divine will is essential to secure the study of His laws.

II. Obedience to moral law is a condition of spiritual peace. Peace of soul requires two things.

1. The inward harmony of its powers.

2. The sense of the Divine favour. The feeling, or even the fear, that the Lord is against it, gives it the throb of perpetual restlessness or torture. Obedience to moral law secures the two conditions of this peace. (D. Thomas, D. D.)

Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell

Verse 2. For length of days] THREE eminent blessings are promised here:

1. orech yamim, long days;

2. shenoth chaiyim, years of lives;

3. shalom, prosperity; i.e. health, long life, and abundance.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

God will add these blessings which he hath promised to the obedient, Deu 8:18; 30:20; 1Ti 4:8.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

2. length . . . lifeoftenpromised as blessings (Psa 21:4;Psa 91:16).

peaceincludesprosperity (Ps 125:5).

addabound to thee.

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

For length of days, and long life,…. Or, “years of life”, or “lives” f; a long life of usefulness and comfort here, and eternal life hereafter: the law of Moses promised a long life to the observers of it; but the Gospel of Christ brings an immortal life to light and promises to all believers in him that they shall not perish, but shall have everlasting life. “Length of days for ever and ever” was asked by Christ of his Father, Ps 21:4, and given him, and is in his right hand, Pr 3:16; it is in his power to give, and he does give it to all his children, people, and followers, Ps 21:4;

and peace shall they add to thee; the Gospel is the Gospel of peace, which not only proclaims peace by the blood of Christ; but the doctrines of it, such as justification by the righteousness of Christ, pardon by his blood, and atonement by his sacrifice, are the means of giving and increasing spiritual peace in the hearts of believers; and so are the ordinances of Christ, which in Pr 3:17; are called, for that reason, “paths of peace”; see Ro 5:1.

f “annos vitarum”, Montanus.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

III.

(d) Fourth Discourse:Exhortation to Various Virtues (Pro iii 1-18).

(2) Long life.That is, a life worth living, fit to be called life; whereas length of days only implies extension of life, the reward promised for obedience to parents.

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

2. Length of days Piety and morality tend to longevity and prosperity. Some suppose that the verb is used impersonally shall be added. But Miller renders, “For length of days and years of life and prosperity shall make thee greater.”

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

Pro 3:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Ver. 2. For length of days. ] A sweet mercy, and generally desired. Psa 34:12 Short life is reckoned as a curse, Psa 89:47 yet in some cases it is a blessing. 1Ki 14:13 Isa 57:1 W – God taketh away his from the evil to come, a as, when there is a fire in a house or town, men carry out their jewels; but then God makes them up in his cabinet. “They do enter into peace”; their souls go to heaven; “they rest in their beds”; Isa 57:2 their bodies rest sweetly and safely in the grave till the resurrection of the just. And is not this far better than the longest life here? Length of days may prove a curse, when it brings shame, sorrow, &c., as it did to Cain, Ham, &c.

And peace shall they add to thee. ] Without which to live is nothing else but to lie dying. Rebecca, for want of this, was weary of her life; so was Elijah when he sat under the juniper tree. “All the days of the afflicted are evil.” Pro 15:15 S, ; they dwell together; they do not live together, said Themistocles of married folk that agree not. Non ille diu vixit, sed diu fuit, said Seneca of one. And again, Non multum navigavit, sed multum iactatus est; He was tossed much up and down, but sailed not far, as being driven about by contrary winds.

Shall they add to thee. ] Multiplicem pacem significat, saith one. “Peace, peace,” as in Isa 26:3 ; that is, a multiplied peace; with God, with one’s self, with others; or a renewed continued peace, today, tomorrow, and every day; or a perfect, sheer, pure peace.

a O , . – Dion. Prus. Orat. 28.

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

they. Not the “law” and “commandments” of Pro 3:1, for they are feminine, but the “days” of Pro 3:2 (which are masculine, agreeing with the verb “add”, which is masculine also). See App-74.

add to thee. This, in the Hiphil = make increase for thee, or cause thee to increase or grow [in wisdom]: i.e. as the days and years lengthen and increase they will add to thy wisdom if thou forget not, &c. So in other passages where wisdom is supposed to promise long life, which it does not. See notes on Pro 3:16; Pro 4:10; Pro 9:11; Pro 10:27.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

length: Pro 3:16, Pro 4:10, Pro 9:11, Job 5:26, Psa 34:11-14, Psa 91:16, Psa 128:6, Eph 6:1-3, 1Ti 4:8

long life: Heb. years of life, Psa 21:4

and peace: Pro 3:17, Psa 119:165, Isa 32:17, Isa 57:19-21, Rom 5:1, Rom 14:17, Rom 15:13

Reciprocal: Deu 6:2 – thy days Deu 11:9 – prolong Deu 11:21 – your days Deu 32:47 – General 1Ki 3:14 – I will lengthen Pro 10:17 – the way Pro 10:27 – fear 1Pe 3:10 – love

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

3:2 For length of {a} days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

(a) Long life is the blessing of God which he gives to his, so far as it is expedient for them.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes