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Selected Verse: Proverbs 21:11 - Strong Concordance
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Pr 21:11 |
Strong Concordance |
When the scorner [03887] is punished [06064], the simple [06612] is made wise [02449]: and when the wise [02450] is instructed [07919], he receiveth [03947] knowledge [01847]. |
|
King James |
When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge. |
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] |
(Compare Pro 19:25). That which the simple learn by the terrors of punishment, the wise learn by teaching. |
Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
11 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise;
And when insight is imparted to a wise man, he receives knowledge.
The thought is the same as at Pro 19:25. The mocker at religion and virtue is incorrigible, punishment avails him nothing, but yet it is not lost; for as a warning example it teaches the simple, who might otherwise be easily drawn into the same frivolity. On the other hand, the wise man needs no punishment, but only strengthening and furtherance: if "instruction" is imparted to him, he embraces it, makes it his own דּעת; for, being accessible to better insight, he gains more and more knowledge. De Dieu, Bertheau, and Zckler make "the simple" the subject also in 11b: and if a wise man prospers, he (the simple) gains knowledge. But השׂכּיל ל, used thus impersonally, is unheard of; wherefore Hitzig erases the ל before חכם erofeb ל eh: if a wise man has prosperity. But השׂכיל does not properly mean to have prosperity, but only mediately: to act with insight, and on that account with success. The thought that the simple, on the one side, by the merited punishment of the mocker; on the other, by the intelligent prosperous conduct of the wise, comes to reflection, to reason, may indeed be entertained, but the traditional form of the proverb does not need any correction. השׂכּיל may be used not only transitively: to gain insight, Gen 3:6; Psa 2:10, and elsewhere, but also causatively: to make intelligent, with the accus. following, Pro 16:23; Psa 32:8, or: to offer, present insight, as here with the dat.-obj. following (cf. Pro 17:26). Instead of בּענשׁ־, the Kametz of which is false, Codd. and good Edd. have, rightly, בּענשׁ־. Hitzig, making "the wise" the subject to בהשׂכיל (and accordingly "the scorner" would be the subject in 11a), as a correct consequence reads בּענשׁ = בּהענשׁ. For us, with that first correction, this second one also fails. "Both infinitivi constr.," Fleischer remarks, "are to be taken passively; for the Semitic infin., even of transitive form, as it has no designation of gender, time, and person, is an indeterminate modus, even in regard to the generis verbi (Act. and Pass.)."
(Note: The Arab. National Grammarians, it is true, view the matter otherwise. When ḳatlu zydn, the putting to death of Zeid, is used in the sense of Zeid's becoming dead, according to their view the fâ'l (the gen. subjecti) is omitted; the full expression would be ḳatlu 'amrn zaydnâ. Since now 'amrn is omitted, zaydn has in the gen. form taken the place of the fâ'l, but this gen. is the representative of the acc. objecti. Without thus going round about, we say: it is the gen. objecti.)
To this proverb with u-behaskil there is connected the one that follows, beginning with maskil. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
The wise - The simple learn wisdom, both from the punishment of wicked men, and from the prosperity of good men. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
When the scorner is punished - When those who mock at religion, blaspheme against its Author, and endeavor to poison society, and disturb the peace of the community by their false doctrine, meet with that degree of punishment which their crimes, as far as they affect the public peace, deserve; then the simple, who were either led away, or in danger of being led away, by their pernicious doctrines, are made wise. And when those thus made wise are instructed in the important truths which have been decried by those unprincipled men, then they receive knowledge; and one such public example is made a blessing to thousands. But only blasphemy against God and the Bible should be thus punished. Private opinion the state should not meddle with. |
25 Smite [05221] a scorner [03887], and the simple [06612] will beware [06191]: and reprove [03198] one that hath understanding [0995], and he will understand [0995] knowledge [01847].
26 Also to punish [06064] the just [06662] is not good [02896], nor to strike [05221] princes [05081] for equity [03476].
8 I will instruct [07919] thee and teach [03384] thee in the way [01870] which [02098] thou shalt go [03212]: I will guide [03289] thee with mine eye [05869].
23 The heart [03820] of the wise [02450] teacheth [07919] his mouth [06310], and addeth [03254] learning [03948] to his lips [08193].
10 Be wise [07919] now therefore, O ye kings [04428]: be instructed [03256], ye judges [08199] of the earth [0776].
6 And when the woman [0802] saw [07200] that the tree [06086] was good [02896] for food [03978], and that it [01931] was pleasant [08378] to the eyes [05869], and a tree [06086] to be desired [02530] to make one wise [07919], she took [03947] of the fruit thereof [06529], and did eat [0398], and gave [05414] also [01571] unto her husband [0376] with her; and he did eat [0398].
25 Smite [05221] a scorner [03887], and the simple [06612] will beware [06191]: and reprove [03198] one that hath understanding [0995], and he will understand [0995] knowledge [01847].