Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 4:27

Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

27. At the end of this verse the LXX. add:

“For the ways on the right God knoweth,

But the ways on the left are crooked.

And He will make straight thy paths,

And thy goings will He conduct in peace.”

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

The ever-recurring image of the straight road on which no one ever loses his way represents here as elsewhere the onward course through life of the man who seeks and finds wisdom.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Pro 4:27

Turn not to the right hand nor to the left.

Religious and moral conduct

Whatever the belief of men be, they generally pride themselves on the possession of some good moral qualities. The sense of duty is deeply rooted in the human heart. But as there is a constant strife between the lower and higher parts of our nature, between inclination and principle, this produces much contradiction and inconsistency in conduct. Hence arise most of the extremes into which men run in their moral behaviour. One of the first and most common of those extremes is that of placing all virtue either in justice on the one hand or in generosity on the other. Both these classes of men run to a faulty extreme. The perfection of our social character consists in properly tempering the two with one another; in holding that middle course which admits of our being just without being rigid, and allows us to be generous without being unjust. We must next guard against either too great severity or too great facility of manners. He who leans to the side of severity is harsh in his censures and narrow in his opinions. The opposite extreme is more dangerous–that of too great facility and accommodation to the ways of others. Such a man views every character with an indulgent eye. Nothing, in moral conduct, is more difficult than to avoid turning here, either to the right hand or to the left; to preserve a just medium. True religion enjoins us to pursue the difficult but honourable aim of uniting good-nature with fixed religious principle, affable manners with untainted virtue. Further, we run to one extreme, when we contemn altogether the opinions of mankind; to another, when we court their praise too eagerly. The former discovers a high degree of pride and self-conceit. The latter betrays servility of spirit. He who extinguishes all regard to the sentiments of mankind suppresses one incentive to honourable deeds, and removes one of the strongest checks on vice. He who is actuated solely by the love of human praise encroaches on the higher respect which he owes to conscience and to God. Hence, virtue is often counterfeited, and religious truths have been disguised, or unfairly represented, in order to be suited to popular tastes. Then there is the danger of running to the extreme of anxiety about worldly interests on the one hand and of negligence on the other. We need also to be warned against the extreme of engaging in a course of life too busy and hurried, or of being devoted to one too retired and unemployed. We are formed for a mixture of action and retreat. Temper business with serious meditation, and enliven retreat by returns of action and industry. Let us study to attain a regular, uniform, consistent character, where nothing that is excessive or disproportioned shall come forward to view. Turning neither to the right hand nor to the left, we shall, as far as our frailty permits, approach to the perfection of the human character. (Hugh Blair, D. D.)

.

Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell

Verse 27. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left] Avoid all crooked ways. Be an upright, downright, and straight-forward man. Avoid tricks, wiles, and deceptions of this kind.

To this the Septuagint and Vulgate add the following verse: , . Ipse autem rectos faciet cursus tuos; itinera autem tua in pace producet. “For himself will make thy paths straight and thy journeyings will he conduct in prosperity.” The Arabic has also a clause to the same effect. But nothing like this is found in the Hebrew, Chaldee, or Syriac; nor in the Vulgate, as printed in the Complutensian Polyglot; nor in that of Antwerp or of Paris; but it is in the Greek text of those editions, in the editio princeps of the Vulgate, in five of my own MSS., and in the old MS. Bible. De Lyra rejects the clause as a gloss that stands on no authority. If an addition, it is certainly very ancient; and the promise it contains is true whether the clause be authentic or not.

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

Fly all extremes, and neither add to Gods commands, nor take from them.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

27. (Compare Pr4:25). Avoid all by-paths of evil (Deu 2:27;Deu 17:11). A life of integrityrequires attention to heart, speech, eyes, and conduct.

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

Turn not to the right hand nor to the left,…. Either into the road of immorality and profaneness, or into that of error, superstition, and false worship; but attend to the way of holiness and truth, directed to in the word of God; see Isa 30:21; nor be moved out of it by threatenings and menaces, nor by flatteries and promises; neither be cast down with adversity, nor be lifted up with prosperity; but keep on in an even way, attending to that which is just and right; leaving all events with God, as knowing you are in the way of your duty, and in which he would have you walk;

remove, by foot from evil; from walking in evil ways and along with evil men, and from doing evil things; abstain from all appearance of evil, keep at a distance from it; the evil of sin brings on the evil of punishment. There are two verses added in the Septuagint, Arabic, and Vulgate Latin versions, which are not in the Hebrew text;

“for the ways which are on the right hand God knoweth; but those that are on the left are perverse. He will make thy paths right, and promote thy goings in peace.”

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(27) Turn not aside . . .Comp. the direction of Jos. 1:7, and the praise accorded to David (1Ki. 15:5).

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

27. Turn not right hand nor to the left Let nothing turn thee aside from the path of virtue, honesty, and fair dealing; of morality and religion. Temptations will be many and various, but whenever the seemingly plausible, pleasurable, or profitable evil is presented to thy thought, instantly reject it and turn away from it. Some versions, as the Septuagint, add here the following: “For God knows the ways on the right hand, but those on the left are crooked. And he will make thy ways straight, and will guide thy steps in peace.” This is an ancient addition, and is correct in sentiment, but not authentic. The frequent use in this book of such terms as way, path, step, walk, etc., deserves a passing notice. Indeed, they are not peculiar to this book, but belong to human thought and expression in general. Such terms are so natural to express action of every kind, whether physical or moral, that we scarcely recognise them as tropical. They are applied not only to outward actions, but to internal operations, thoughts, purposes, feelings, states and character. The idea of succession involved in all mental operations, exercises, and even states, readily suggests a progress, of which walking is, perhaps, the most fitting emblem. Then, by association, come such things as are related to walking, as the way, the feet, the steps, etc. A man’s “way,” in Scripture, is his conduct and character; his action and life; his thoughts, purposes, and plans; and all these considered from a moral or religious point of view. “Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isa 55:8-9. The last clause may be considered exegetical of the preceding ones.

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

Pro 4:27. Turn not, &c. The LXX and Arabic read, “Do not decline to the right, nor to the left; remove thy foot from the evil way. For God knoweth the ways to the right, but those to the left are perverse ways: for he shall make thy paths straight, and shall conduct thy steps in peace.” The meaning of the verse seems to be, “Fly all extremes, and neither attempt to add to, nor diminish from, God’s commandments.”

REFLECTIONS.Nothing too great can be said in the commendation of divine wisdom.

1. Solomon earnestly exhorts his children, and all like them of a teachable spirit, to attend to the lessons of instruction that he was about to deliver. Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding; fathers are bound to use every method to inculcate on their children the knowledge of divine things, and they are in duty bound to pay all deference and attention to their advice; but whether they hear, or forbear, it will be a parent’s comfort to have done his best: for I give you good doctrine; which, if received, will make you both wise and holy; forsake ye not my law.

2. He communicated to them what he had received from his father, and by experience had proved to be excellent. For I was my father’ son, tender and only-beloved in the sight of my mother; the darling son, Jedediah, beloved of the Lord, and therefore beloved of them. He taught me also; though a king, not too great to be a teacher; and said unto me, let thine heart retain my words, treasure them up in thy memory, as the most invaluable riches; keep my commandments, and live: his obedience to them would, according to the promise, prolong his days on earth; or his fidelity to the inspired instructions of his father would lead him to life eternal. For his psalms are full of Christ, whom to know is everlasting life. Get wisdom, Christ the sum and substance of it, and the knowledge of his grace, revealed in the word of truth; get understanding, in the diligent use of all instituted means; for, though it is the gift of God, this does not make our diligence the less needful, but rather engages us to exert it, in confidence of success from God: forget it not, whatever measure is attained, neither decline from the words of my mouth; for when once we deviate but a step from the paths of righteousness, we know not where we shall stop. Principiis obsta; refrain the first wanderings, is the grand maxim and only security. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee from the snares and temptations which surround us; love her, as the most desirable object, and she shall keep thee from sin, from sorrow, from every evil way. Wisdom is the principal thing; either Christ, who is the head of all principalities and powers, and the prince of the kings of the earth; or his word, the knowledge of which is the highest wisdom; and with all thy getting, get understanding; for this, of all gain, will most amply recompense our toils: an interest in Christ, and acquaintance with his truth, are the grand acquisitions. Exalt her, ascribe to Jesus the honour due unto his excellent name, and highly value and esteem the glorious truths of God; and she shall promote thee, she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her, the highest honour and promotion, even that of being sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty, to which all, who by faith apprehend Christ, shall be advanced. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace, a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee; not like earth’s fading ornaments, or corruptible crowns, but ornaments which age will never tarnish, and crowns of glory incorruptible, eternal in the heavens.

3. Solomon himself seconds the instructions that his father had given him, with his own. Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of thy life shall be many; often here, at least hereafter, life eternal will be the reward. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom, I have led thee in right paths; and, therefore, if he turned aside from them, he would be inexcusable: sins against light and conscience are doubly sinful. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened, but in the glorious liberty of the sons of God thine heart shall be enlarged with love, and every obstruction removed; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble, through any snares laid by the enemy of souls. Take fast hold of instruction, let her not go, hang upon her as thy guide and support, and let nothing separate thee from Christ and his ways; keep her, by faith maintain a sure interest in him, for she is thy life, the author of the life of grace now, and the bestower of the eternal life of glory, which all who are faithful to him will shortly enjoy with him.

For the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day; their character is the just or justified, and also holy, who, by faith in Christ Jesus, are righteous before God. Their path is Christ himself, they walk in him, supported by his grace, and led by his word and Spirit, their shining light; and as the beams of day first break through the darkness, then in the horizon deep the rising sun appears, till at the last, ascending his meridian height, his brightest glories are displayed; so, increasing with the increase of God, the faithful soul grows more and more enlightened with divine truth, enlivened with divine warmth, till perfected in holiness, the full blaze of glory comes; and in eternity, without a cloud, we shall enjoy the transforming and beatific vision of our God. Blessed, therefore, and happy are they who walk in this way.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

REELECTIONS.

How delightful is it to see the beautiful similitude the wise man adopts in this book of Proverbs, by way of recommending attention to this great subject of getting Wisdom and understanding. Beholding Christ as the pearl of great price, everyone engaged in the pursuit of getting him, may be justly compared to the wise merchant-man. The treasure is hidden in the field of the scripture and must be sought for, if obtained, with suited diligence, and earnestness of inquiry. And though it is without money and without price, freely given, and as freely to be enjoyed; yet like the merchant-man, there must be an early search, a daily enquiry, and a constant pursuit. Happy the souls that so search as to obtain and so seek as to find. In possessing him they possess all things, and find treasure that fadeth not away. Reader! have you found Christ? Is he the pearl of great price in your esteem? Oh! the blessedness of such a discovery! Jesus will be, as this sweet chapter expresseth it, an ornament of grace to the head, and a crown of glory will he deliver to them that love him. He saith himself, hold fast that which thou host; let no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out.

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

Pro 4:27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Ver. 27. Turn not to the right. ] Keep the king’s highway; keep within God’s precincts, and ye keep under his protection. The heathen orator a could say, A recta conscientia ne latum quidem unguem discedendum; A man may not depart a hair’s breadth all his life long from the dictates of a good conscience.

Remove thy foot from evil. ] Bestir thee no otherwise than if thou hadst trod upon a snake. “Abhor that which is evil”; Rom 12:9 “abstain from all appearance,” all shows and shadows of it. 1Th 5:22 Run from the occasions of it; “come not near the doors of her house.” Pro 5:8

a Cic. in Offic.

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