Click
here to show/hide instructions.
Instructions on how to use the page:
The commentary for the selected verse is is displayed below.
All commentary was produced against the King James, so the same verse from that translation may appear as well. Hovering your mouse over a commentary's scripture reference attempts to show those verses.
Use the browser's back button to return to the previous page.
Or you can also select a feature from the Just Verses menu appearing at the top of the page.
Selected Verse: Proverbs 22:1 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Pr 22:1 |
King James |
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
(Pro. 22:1-29)
A good name-- (Job 30:8, Hebrew); "good" is supplied here from Ecc 7:1.
loving favour--kind regard, that is, of the wise and good. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
| Omit "good." The word is an insertion. To the Hebrew, "name" by itself conveyed the idea of good repute, just as "men without a name" (compare Job 30:8 margin) are those sunk in ignominy. The margin gives a preferable rendering of the second clause of this verse. |
| Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
Pro 21:1
1 A good name has the preference above great riches;
For more than silver and gold is grace.
The proverb is constructed chiastically; the commencing word נבחר (cf. Pro 21:3), and the concluding word טוב, are the parallel predicates; rightly, none of the old translators have been misled to take together חן טוב, after the analogy of שׂכל טוב, Pro 3:14; Pro 13:15. שׁם also does not need טוב for nearer determination; the more modern idiom uses שׁם טוב,
(Note: e.g., Aboth iv. 17: there are three crowns: the crown of the Tra, the crown of the priesthood, and the crown of royalty; but כתר שׁם טוב, the crown of a good name, excels them all.)
the more ancient uses שׁם alone (e.g., Ecc 7:1), in the sense of ὄνομα καλόν (thus here lxx); for being well known (renowned) is equivalent to a name, and the contrary to being nameless (Job 30:8); to make oneself a name, is equivalent to build a monument in honour of oneself; possibly the derivation of the word from שׁמה, to be high, prominent, known, may have contributed to this meaning of the word sensu eximio, for שׁם has the same root word as שׁמים. Luther translates שׁם by Das Gercht [rumour, fame], in the same pregnant sense; even to the present day, renom, recomme, riputazione, and the like, are thus used. The parallel חן signifies grace and favour (being beloved); grace, which brings favour (Pro 11:16); and favour, which is the consequence of a graceful appearance, courtesy, and demeanour (e.g., Est 2:15).
Pro 22:2
2 The rich and the poor meet together;
The creator of them all is Jahve.
From this, that God made them all, i.e., rich and poor in the totality of their individuals, it follows that the meeting together is His will and His ordinance; they shall in life push one against another, and for what other purpose than that this relationship of mutual intercourse should be a school of virtue: the poor shall not envy the rich (Pro 3:31), and the rich shall not despise the poor, who has the same God and Father as himself (Pro 14:31; Pro 17:5; Pro 31:15); they shall remain conscious of this, that the intermingling of the diversities of station is for this end, that the lowly should serve the exalted, and the exalted should serve the lowly. Pro 29:13 is a variation; there also for both, but particularly for the rich, lies in the proverb a solemn warning. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Favour - A good report among men, especially good men, and that hearty kindness which attends it. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
A good name - שם shem, a name, put for reputation, credit, fame. Used nearly in the same way that we use it: "He has got a name;" "his name stands high;" for "He is a man of credit and reputation." טבא toba, καλον, hamood, and bonum, are added by the Chaldee, Septuagint, Arabiac, and Vulgate, all signifying good or excellent.
Is rather to be chosen than great riches - Because character will support a man in many circumstances; and there are many rich men that have no name: but the word of the man of character will go farther than all their riches. |
1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
8 They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.
8 They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.
13 The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
16 A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.
8 They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.
1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.
14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.