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Selected Verse: Proverbs 24:5 - King James
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Pr 24:5 |
King James |
A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. |
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] |
The general statement (Ecc 9:16, Ecc 9:18) is specially illustrated (compare Pro 21:22; Psa 144:1). |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Is strong - literally, as in the margin; i. e., rooted and established in strength. |
Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
The praise of wisdom is continued: it brings blessings in the time of peace, and gives the victory in war.
5 A wise man is full of strength;
And a man of understanding showeth great power.
6 For with wise counsel shalt thou carry on successful war;
And safety is where counsellors are not wanting.
The ב of בּעוז (thus with Pathach in old impressions, Cod. 1294, Cod. Jaman., and elsewhere with the Masoretic note לית ומלא) introduces, as that of בכּח, Psa 24:4, the property in which a person or thing appears; the article (cf. העזבים, Pro 2:13, Gesen, 35, 2A) is that of gender. The parallel מאמץ כח, a Greek translates by ὑπὲρ κραταιὸν ἰσχύΐ = מאמּיץ כּח (Job 9:4; Isa 40:26). But after 5a it lies nearer that the poet means to express the power which lies in wisdom itself (Ecc 7:19), and its superiority to physical force (Pro 21:22); the lxx, Syr., and Targ. also, it is true, translate 5a as if מעז (prae potente) were the words used. אמּץ כּח means to strengthen the strength, and that is (Nah 2:2) equivalent to, to collect the strength (to take courage), here and at Amo 2:14, to show strong (superior) strength. The reason is gathered from Pro 20:18 and Pro 11:14. The לך here added, Hitzig is determined to read תּעשׂה: for with prudent counsel the war shall be carried out by thee. The construction of the passive with ל of the subject is correct in Heb. (vid., at Pro 14:20) as well as in Aram.,
(Note: Vid., Nldeke's Neusyrische Gram. p. 219, Anm., and p. 416.)
and עשׂה frequently means, in a pregnant sense: to complete, to carry out, to bring to an end; but the phrase עשׂה מלחמה means always to carry on war, and nothing further. לך is the dat. commod., as in נלחם ל, to wage war (to contend) for any one, e.g., Exo 14:14. Instead of ברב, the lxx reads בלב; regarding γεωργίου μεγάλου for מאמץ כח, without doubt a corrupt reading, vid., Lagarde. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
Is strong - Is courageous and resolute, and able by wisdom to do greater things than others can accomplish by strength. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
A wise man is strong - His wisdom enables him to construct a great variety of machines, by which, under his own influence, he can do the labor of a hundred or even a thousand men. But in all cases wisdom gives power and influence; and he who is wise to salvation can overcome even Satan himself. The Septuagint has: "The wise is better than the strong; and the man who has prudence, than a stout husbandman." |
1 A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.
16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
14 Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself:
2 For the LORD hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine branches.
22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?
13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.