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Selected Verse: Proverbs 13:20 - Strong Concordance
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Pr 13:20 |
Strong Concordance |
He that walketh [01980] with wise [02450] men shall be wise [02449]: but a companion [07462] of fools [03684] shall be destroyed [07321]. |
|
King James |
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. |
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 benefits of good and evil of bad society are contrasted. |
Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
20 Whoever goes with wise men, becomes wise;
And whoever has intercourse with fools, becomes base.
Regarding the significance of this proverb in the history of the religion and worship of Israel, vid., p. 39. We have translated 20a after the Kerı̂; the translation according to the Chethı̂b is: "go with wise men and become wise" (cf. Pro 8:33), not הלוך, for the connection of the (meant imperatively) infin. absol. with an imper. (meant conclusively) is not tenable; but הלוך is an imper. form established by הלכוּ, Jer 51:50 (cf. הלוך = לכת, Num 22:14), and appears to have been used with such shades of conception as here as intercourse and companionship for לך. Regarding ירוע gnid, vid., at Pro 11:15; there it meant malo afficietur, here it means malus (pejor) fiet. The Venet. (contrary to Kimchi, who explains by frangetur) rightly has κακωθήσεται. There is here a play upon words; רעה means to tend (a flock), also in general to be considerate about anything (Pro 15:14; 44:20), to take care of anything with the accusative of the person (Pro 28:7; Pro 29:3), to hold intercourse with any one: he who by preference seeks the society of fools, himself becomes such (Jerome, similis efficietur), or rather, as ירוע expresses, he comes always morally lower down. "A wicked companion leads his associate into hell." |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise - To walk with a person implies love and attachment; and it is impossible not to imitate those we love. So we say, "Show me his company, and I'll tell you the man." Let me know the company he keeps, and I shall easily guess his moral character. |
3 Whoso [0376] loveth [0157] wisdom [02451] rejoiceth [08055] his father [01]: but he that keepeth company [07462] with harlots [02181] spendeth [06] his substance [01952].
7 Whoso keepeth [05341] the law [08451] is a wise [0995] son [01121]: but he that is a companion [07462] of riotous [02151] men shameth [03637] his father [01].
14 The heart [03820] of him that hath understanding [0995] seeketh [01245] knowledge [01847]: but the mouth [06310] [06440] of fools [03684] feedeth [07462] on foolishness [0200].
15 He that is surety [06148] for a stranger [02114] shall smart [07321] [07451] for it: and he that hateth [08130] suretiship [08628] is sure [0982].
14 And the princes [08269] of Moab [04124] rose up [06965], and they went [0935] unto Balak [01111], and said [0559], Balaam [01109] refuseth [03985] to come [01980] with us.
50 Ye that have escaped [06405] the sword [02719], go away [01980], stand not still [05975]: remember [02142] the LORD [03068] afar off [07350], and let Jerusalem [03389] come [05927] into your mind [03824].
33 Hear [08085] instruction [04148], and be wise [02449], and refuse [06544] it not.