Proverbs 12:8

Pro 12:8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

Ver. 8. A man shall be commended according to his wisdom.] And all wisdom consists in this, Ut Deum quis cognoscat et colat, saith Lactantius; - That a man rightly know and worship God. This did not Apollonius, whom yet Philostratus commendeth, that he was non doctus, sed natus sapiens, not instructed, but born wise. See the contrary, Job 11:12. Nor Archimedes, who yet had the name and note, saith Plutarch, of a divine, and not human wisdom; {a} nor Aristotle, whom yet Averroes admires, as the very rule and copy that nature invented, wherein to set forth the utmost of human perfection; and further saith, that his doctrine was the chiefest truth, and his understanding the utmost extent of human wisdom. These were wise, I confess, in their generations, and so accounted; but by whom? Not by St Paul; he had another opinion of them. See Rom 1:22-23 1Co 2:6. Not by our Saviour. See Mat 11:25. Not by any that are rightly instructed to the kingdom of heaven, and have their senses exercised to discern good and evil. The Italians arrogate to themselves the monopoly of wisdom in that proverb of theirs, Italus sapit ante factum, Hispanus in facto, Germanus post factum. Italians, say they, both seem and are wise; whereas Spaniards seem wise, and are fools; Frenchmen seem fools, and are wise; Portuguese neither are wise, nor so much as seem so. Thus the Jesuits - those great clerks, politicians, and wizards of the world - do vaunt that the Church is the soul of the world, the clergy of the Church, and they of the clergy. But what saith that great apostle that knew more than twenty of them? "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord"; {1Co 1:31} for "not he that commendeth himself is approved," - no, nor he whom the world cries up for a wise man - "but he whom the Lord commendeth." {2Co 10:18}

But he that is of a perverse heart.] As all are that are not heavenly wise, and that show not "out of a good conversation their works with meekness of wisdom." {Jas 3:13; Jas 3:17} But so did none of those heathen sages, whom God, for their unthankfulness, "gave up unto vile affections" {Rom 1:20} and vicious conversation; and so set a noverint universi, as it were, upon them. Know all men that these men know nothing aright, and as they ought to know; "professing themselves to be wise, they proclaim themselves fools." {Rom 1:22}

{a} εκ ανθρωπινες αλλα δαιμονιου τινος συνεσεως. - Plut.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Pro_12:8

A man shall be commended according to his wisdom.

Appreciation better than praise

There are persons in this world--and the pity is that there are not more of them--who care less for praise than for appreciation. They have an ideal after which they are striving, but of which they consciously fall short, as every one who has a lofty ideal is sure to do. When that ideal is recognised by another, and they are praised or commended for something--let that something be important or not--in its direction, they are grateful, not for the praise, but for appreciation. An element of sympathy enters into that recognition, and they feel that they have something in common with the observer who admires what they admire, and praises what they think is most worthy of praise. (Alliance News.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Pro 12:8. A man shall be commended — Namely, by wise and good men; according to his wisdom — More or less, according to the degree of wisdom, which his discourses and actions discover to be in him; but he that is of a perverse heart — Which he shows by his wicked words and actions; shall be despised — By God, and all wise men.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

12:8 To be sensible means to act only after reflecting on the consequences. A warped mind acts on impulse.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

We are here told whence to expect a good name. Reputation is what most have a high regard to and stand much upon. Now it is certain, 1. The best reputation is that which attends virtue and serious piety, and the prudent conduct of life: A man shall be commended by all that are wise and good, in conformity to the judgment of God himself, which we are sure is according to truth, not according to his riches or preferments, his craft and subtlety, but according to his wisdom, the honesty of his designs and the prudent choice of means to compass them. 2. The worst reproach is that which follows wickedness and an opposition to that which is good: He that is of a perverse heart, that turns aside to crooked ways, and goes on frowardly in them, shall be despised. Providence will bring him to poverty and contempt, and all that have a true sense of honour will despise him as unworthy to be dealt with and unfit to be trusted, as a blemish and scandal to mankind.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

despised--as opposed to commended (Pro 11:12).

perverse heart--or, "wicked principles," as opposed to one of wisdom.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(8) According to his wisdom—i.e., intelligent observance of the ends to be pursued in life, and the best means of attaining to them; in other words, finding out the will of God and how to fulfil it.

Shall be despised.—Comp. 1Sa_2:30.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

A man shall be commended according to his wisdom,.... Not according to his birth and pedigree; not according to his riches and wealth; not according to the places of honour and trust he may be in; but according to his wisdom, which he discovers in his words and actions, in his life and conversation: not according to the wisdom that is earthly, sensual, and devilish; not according to the wisdom of the world, which comes to nought, either natural or civil; especially that which lies in sophistry and subtlety, in wicked craft and cunning, whereby men trick, overreach, and defraud one another; but according to that which is spiritual and evangelical; which lies in the knowledge of Christ, and of God in Christ, and of those things which belong to salvation; the beginning of which is the fear of the Lord, and which comes from above, and is pure and peaceable. A man possessed of this is commended by all wise and good men, and by the Lord himself; as the wise man is by Christ, Mat 7:24; who builds his house on a rock; for which reason it stands, as in the preceding verse;

but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised; and which appears by the perverse words he speaks against God and Christ; against his people, ways, and worship, as antichrist and his followers do; and by his perverse actions, which are contrary to the light of nature, to the law of God, and Gospel of Christ: and such vile persons are contemned in the eyes of all good men, and are had in abhorrence by the Lord himself; for such who despise him are lightly esteemed; see Pro 18:3.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Learning. We apply to those things which we love, and those who study sacred (Calmet) or useful sciences, shall receive praise.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

A man shall be commended, to wit, by wise and good men, according to his wisdom; more or less according to the degree of wisdom which his discourses and actions discover to be in him.

He that is of a perverse heart, which he showeth by his wicked words and conversation, shall be despised by God and all wise men.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

8. According to his wisdom — Shrewdness or prudence. In proportion to it shall he be applauded.

Perverse — Crooked of heart.

Shall be despised — Literally, it shall be for contempt.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

According to his wisdom. A man who gives practical proof of wisdom by life and character, whose words and actions show that he is actuated by high views, is praised and acknowledged by all (see on Pro_27:21). Thus we read of David, that he behaved himself wisely, "and he was acceptable in the sight of all the people". (1Sa_18:5) The Septuagint, taking lephi differently, renders, "The mouth of the prudent is commended by men." He that is of a perverse heart; Vulgate, "a vain and senseless man;" Septuagint, "one slow of heart (nwyrokardiov )." One who takes distorted views of things, judges unfairly, has no sympathy for others, shall be despised.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

8 According to the measure of his intelligence is a man praised,

And whoever is of a perverse mind is despised.

Everywhere in the Mishle שׂכל has no other meaning than intellectus. The praise which is given to a man measures itself לפי שׂכלו (punctuate לפי־שׂכלו, according to Torath Emeth, p. 41, Accentssystem, xx. 1), i.e., according to the measure (so לפי is used in the oldest form of the language) of his intelligence, or as we may also say, of his culture; for in these proverbs, which make the fear of God the highest principle, שׂכל means also understanding of moral excellence, not merely the intellectual superiority of natural gifts. הלּל is here a relative conception of manifold gradations, but it does not mean renown in general, but good renown. Parallel with שׂכלו, לב refers to the understanding (νοῦς); the rendering of Lwenstein, "who is of false heart," is defective. נעוה (synon. of נפתּל and עקּשׁ, but nowhere else interchanging with it) means here a vero et recto detortus et aversus (Fl.). Such a man who has not a good understanding, nor any certain rule of judgment, falls under contempt (Graec. Venet. τῷ ὀντωτῇ εἰς μυσαγμόν, after the false reading of יהוה instead of יהיה), i.e., he defames himself by his crooked judgment of men, of things and their relations, and is on this account in no position rightly to make use of them.

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

The ordinary judgment of this world is to "put darkness for light" (Isa 5:20 ), and therefore to commend according to folly, rather than according to wisdom. And yet even hated wisdom often caries its voice of conviction both to conscience and judgment; and a man is commended according to it. Hence the elevation of Joseph and Daniel; the honour paid to David in private life; and the universal respect shewn to his wise son.†1 Our Lord’s wisdom was also commended, not only by the popular voice (Mat 7:28-29 ), but even by the testimony of his enemies. (Joh 7:46 ). The wisdom of Stephen, "making his face to shine," overpowered his beholders with solemn awe. (Act 6:10, Act 6:15 .) How thrilling will be the commendation of wisdom before the assembled universe! (Luk 12:42-44 .) Who will not then acknowledge the wise choice of an earthly cross with an heavenly crown? (Mat 5:11-12 .) Wisdom (2Sa 20:18-22 ) then — not dignity, riches, or talent — brings honour. This is the Lord’s commendation. It must be right. (2Co 10:18 .) It will stand for eternity.

What then makes a man despised? Not his poverty, obscure circumstances, or misfortune; but perverseness of spirit (1Ki 12:16 . Mal 2:8-9 ), too proud to be taught: following a mad course to ruin. Perverse Nabal was despised by his own family (1Sa 25:17, 1Sa 25:25 ); the prodigal by his former companions. (Luk 15:15-16 .) And of all such, shame will be their present promotion (Pro 3:35 ; Pro 11:2 ; Pro 18:3 ), their eternal doom. (Dan 12:2 .)

Footnotes:

†1 Gen 41:39. Dan 1:19-20 ; Dan 2:46 . 1Sa 16:18 ; 1Sa 18:30 . 1Ki 3:28 ; 1Ki 4:29-34 .

Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (1846) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

v. 8. A man shall be commended according to (literally, "in the presence of") his wisdom, in proportion to the insight he shows in all matters of life; but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised, his crooked and malicious dealings meeting with the contempt and condemnation which they deserve.

Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

According to his intelligence a man is praised Whether he possesses little or much intelligence, he will receive his reward according to his intelligence.

but he whose heart has turned away He who moved his heart completely away from the Torah will be despised.

Heb. נעוה, as in (Isa. 21:3): “I have become confused (נעויתי) from hearing,” and similarly (I Sam. 20:30): “the son of a straying (נעות) woman deserving of punishment.” And it is possible to say that נעוה means one whose heart has strayed, from the expression נע ונד, moving and wandering, and as one says זעוה, horror, from the root זע, stirred.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.