Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 9:8
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
Reprove not a scorner; an obstinate and incorrigible sinner, who scornfully rejects and despiseth the means of amendment. Thus physicians deny physic to persons in desperate condition.
Lest he hate thee; whereby thou wilt not only expose thyself without necessity to his malice and rage, but also make thyself utterly uncapable of doing him that good which possibly thou mightest do by other more prudent and proper means.
Rebuke a wise man; who is opposed to the scorner, to intimate that scorners, howsoever they are thought by themselves or others to be witty or wise, yet in Gods account, and in truth, are fools.
He will love thee; both for that faithfulness and charity which he perceiveth in thee, and for that benefit which he receiveth from thee.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee,…. For wicked men are apt to hate those that publicly rebuke them, Am 5:10. Hence minister’s of the word are of all men most hated; though this also should be bore with, could it be thought, or there was any reason to believe, that the reproof would be of any service. The scorner here, and in the preceding verses, may not only design profane sinners, sensualists, and atheists, that despise all religion, and scoff at all that is good; but also proud scornful Pharisees, such who derided Christ himself, and trusted in themselves, and despised others, Christ and his apostles, and their ministrations, Lu 16:14; and such, as Christ came not to call them himself, so he bid his disciples let them alone, Mt 9:13;
rebuke a wise [man], and he will love thee; as David did Nathan; and who was determined to take kindly the reproof of any righteous man,
Ps 141:5. Such who are spiritually wise will be thankful for the reproof of Gospel ministers, and even of private Christians, and will love and esteem them for their faithfulness and uprightness, and for the good which they themselves receive hereby.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
8. Reprove not a scorner This is not to be understood as an imperative prohibition, to be observed in all cases; but as a strong way of stating the effects of reproof upon a scoffer: if thou reprove, etc. So the next clause, also.
Rebuke If thou admonish or advise a wise man, he will love thee, will appreciate thy fidelity, even though at first it may wound him.
Compare Psa 141:5. Zockler’s interpretation of the drift of thought here is, that it is an invitation to abandon intercourse with such persons, for you will gain nothing but contempt and insult by their association. Comp. Mat 7:6.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Pro 9:8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
Ver. 8. Reprove not a scorner. ] See my “Commonplace of Admonition.” Look how dogs prefer loathsome carrion before the sweetest odours, and would fly in the faces of such as would drive them from it: so is it here.
And he will love thee.
a Funcius.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Reprove not a scorner, &c. Illustrations: Joseph (Gen 37:2); the Prophet (2Ch 25:16); Jews (Isa 36:21); the Baptist (Mat 14:1-10).
hate thee. We condemn one who has wronged us, and he condemns us. God’s plan is to convict and make the sinner condemn himself.
he will love thee. Illustrations: Nathan (2Sa 12. Compare 1Ch 3:5 and 1Ki 1:32-34); the two disciples (Luk 24:25, Luk 24:29); Peter (Joh 21:17); Peter (Gal 1:2, Gal 1:11-14. Compare 2Pe 3:15).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Reprove: Pro 23:9, Pro 29:1, Num 14:6-10, 1Ki 22:8, Mat 7:6, Mat 15:14, Heb 6:4-8
rebuke: Pro 13:18, Pro 28:23, Lev 19:17, 2Sa 12:7-14, 1Ki 1:23, 1Ki 1:32, Psa 141:5, Gal 2:11-14, 2Pe 3:15, 2Pe 3:16
Reciprocal: Gen 19:9 – Stand Gen 20:16 – thus 2Ch 18:7 – I hate him 2Ch 25:16 – forbear Pro 3:34 – he scorneth Pro 12:1 – he that Pro 15:12 – scorner Pro 15:24 – that Pro 15:31 – ear Pro 17:10 – General Pro 25:12 – a wise Ecc 7:5 – better Amo 5:10 – hate Mar 8:33 – he rebuked Luk 3:19 – General Luk 9:55 – and rebuked Luk 17:3 – rebuke Joh 7:7 – because Joh 7:52 – Art Joh 9:34 – and dost Act 7:27 – he that 2Co 7:7 – when Gal 4:16 – become Eph 5:11 – but 1Jo 2:21 – because ye know not
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pro 9:8-9. Reprove not a scorner An incorrigible sinner, who despises and scornfully rejects the means of amendment. Thus physicians deny physic to persons in a desperate condition; lest he hate thee Whereby thou wilt not only expose thyself, without necessity, to his malice and rage, but also make thyself utterly incapable of doing that good, which, possibly, thou mightest do by other more prudent and proper means. Rebuke a wise man Who is opposed to the scorner, to intimate that scorners, however they are thought by themselves or others to be witty or wise, yet, in Gods account, and in truth, are fools; and he will love thee Both for that faithfulness and charity which he perceives in thee, and for that benefit which he receives from thee. Give instruction to a wise man In the Hebrew it is only give; for, as receiving is put for learning, (Pro 1:3,) so giving is put for teaching. And he will be yet wiser This is an undoubted maxim, that a man disposed to learn, who and has already hearkened to the instructions of wisdom, will grow wiser by reprehension; and the advice given to a just, or righteous man, one truly desirous of knowing and practising his duty, will make him yet better, and much improve him in every branch of piety and virtue.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
9:8 Reprove not a {h} scorner, lest he shall hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
(h) Meaning them who are incorrigible, which Christ calls dogs and swine: or he speaks this in comparison, not that the wicked should not be rebuked, but he shows their malice, and the small hope of the profit.