Proverbs 15:14

Pro 15:14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

Ver. 14. The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge.] As a hungry man seeks meat, or a covetous man gold, the more he hath, the more he desires. Moses was no sooner off the mount where he had seen God face to face, but he cries, "Lord, shew me thy glory." David, that knew more than his teachers, cries ever and anon, "Teach me thy statutes." Job prefers knowledge before his necessary food. {Pro 23:12} Chrysippus was so studious that he would not take time to eat his food, but had perished with hunger if his maid Melissa had not put food into his mouth. John ate the book that the angel gave him. {Rev 10:9} Jacobus de Voragine and Petrus Comestor had their names from devouring the Bible. Let fools feed on foolishness, as swine do on swill, as flies do on blotches, as carrion kites do on stinking carcases, as Tartars do on dead camels, asses, dogs, cats, &c. The wise man finds no such sweetness in the most delicate and dainty dishes, as in the search after divine knowledge. {Psa 119:103} Even Aristotle saith that a little knowledge, though conjectural, about heavenly things, is to be preferred above knowledge, though certain, about earthly things. And Agur saith, it is to "ascend into heaven." {Pro 30:4}

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.

15:14 Whether we enjoy knowledge or trash reveals whether we are on the path of wisdom or of folly.

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

Here are two things to be wondered at: - 1. A wise man not satisfied with his wisdom, but still seeking the increase of it; the more he has the more he would have: The heart of him that has understanding, rejoices so in the knowledge it has attained to that it is still coveting more, and in the use of the means of knowledge is still labouring for more, growing in grace, and in the knowledge of Christ. Si dixisti, Sufficit, periisti - If you say, I have enough, you are undone. 2. A fool well satisfied with his folly and not seeking the cure of it. While a good man hungers after the solid satisfactions of grace, a carnal mind feasts on the gratifications of appetite and fancy. Vain mirth and sensual pleasures are its delight, and with these it can rest contented, flattering itself in these foolish ways.

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

(Compare Pro 10:21-22). The wise grow wiser, the fools more foolish (Pro 9:9).

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

14. seeketh … feedeth on] The one delights in the active pursuit of knowledge, which ever creates in those who find it a craving for more; the other lies down like a satiated animal, and feeds and ruminates on the folly, which quenches all high desire.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge,.... He that has in his heart an understanding of divine and spiritual things, of the Gospel and of the truths of it, will seek earnestly and diligently in the use of proper means after more knowledge; as he will desire to know more of Christ, his person, offices, and grace, he will follow on to know him, and not be content with the present degree of knowledge he has attained unto; he will hear and read the word, and pray and meditate, in order to come to a more perfect knowledge of the son of God, and of those things which relate to his spiritual peace and eternal welfare;

but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness; on foolish talking and jesting; on foolish and unlearned questions; on foolish and false doctrines; on foolish and hurtful lusts; on wind and ashes, a deceived heart having turned them aside: they take pleasure and satisfaction in those things; feed their fancy with them and feast upon them, which shows what fools they are; and such all unregenerate men be.

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

Their hearts are set upon wickedness, which is meat and drink to them.

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

14. Seeketh knowledge — As a hungry man does food. Feedeth on (or relishes) foolishness — Only frivolous, vain, and unprofitable discourse. Zockler renders, from the various readings, “face of fools feedeth.” etc.

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

The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge. (Pro_18:15) The wise man knows that he knows nothing, and is always seeking to learn more. Sofia gar esti kai mayein o mh noeiv. "To learn what thou hast never thought is wisdom.

The mouth of fools. Another reading, is "the face of fools;" but the former is more suitable to what follows. Feedeth on foolishness. So the Vulgate and Septuagint, "The mouth of the undisciplined knoweth evil." The fool is always gaping and devouring every silly, or slanderous, or wicked word that comes in his way, and in his turn utters and disseminates it.

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

Foolishness - Wickedness is meat and drink to them.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

Observe the man of natural understanding. Every apprehension quickens the thirst to seek knowledge. He is ready to learn from any quarter, even from a child. He is all eye, all ear, all heart, for his object. Much more will spiritual understanding stimulate the desire. (Pro 1:5 ; Pro 9:9 .) Repress the appetite to be "wise above what is written." But make vigorous effort to be wise to the full extent of the Revelation. David, with his high attainments, was ever crying for Divine Teaching.†1 His wise son sought knowledge upon his knees,†2 and not less in the diligent habit of application.†3 The Queen of Sheba, "coming from the utmost parts of the earth;"†4 Nicodemus and Mary, "sitting at the feet of Jesus;"†5 the Eunuch, journeying to Jerusalem;†6 Cornelius and his company, drinking in the precious message of salvation;†7 the Bereans, carefully "searching the Scriptures"†8 — all these shew the understanding heart, seeking a larger interest in the blessing.

Invaluable, indeed, is the gift. Warm affections need the discipline of knowledge to form Christian consistency and completeness (Php 1:9 . Psa 119:66 ): seeking for wholesome food, not intoxicating draughts; not deeming novelty the most desirable thing; but rather, with the wise Sir M. Hale, desiring ’to be impressed and affected, and to have old and known truths reduced to experience and practice.’

But while the man of understanding is never satisfied with knowledge, the fool is fully satisfied with folly. His brutish taste feeds upon foolishness, as his meat and his drink. His spirit "is of the earth, earthy." Young people! guard against this folly at every turn. Avoid trifling amusements, frivolous reading, profane merriment. In religion, beware of preferring empty speculations and disputings on matters indifferent, to the rich pasture of the children of God. (Pro 15:21 ; Act 17:21 .) Let us all ponder the responsibility of "going on to perfection; that, being of full age, we may have our senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Heb 6:1 ; Heb 5:14 .)

Footnotes:

†1 Psa 119:98-100, with Psa 119:33-34, &c.

†2 1Ki 3:5-10 .

†3 Ecc 12:9-10.

†4 1Ki 10:1 . Mat 12:42 .

†5 Joh 3:1-2. Luk 10:39 .

†6 Act 8:28.

†7 Act 10:33.

†8 Act 17:11.

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

v. 14. The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge, for he is anxious always to increase in true wisdom, as it applies to the various situations in life; but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness, literally, "the face of fools pastures on folly," delighting in it, as an animal eagerly feeds on grass in the pasture.

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