Proverbs 15:5

Pro 15:5 A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

Ver. 5. A fool despiseth his father’s instruction.] Heb., Entertains it with contumelious and opprobrious language; as a madman doth a potion offered him for his health. Jerome oft renders the word, "to blaspheme"; and indeed to reject good counsel, of a father especially, with scorn and reproach, is blasphemy in the second table.

But he that regardeth reproof, is prudent.] Wise he is, and wiser he will be. This made David prize and pray for a reprover. {Psa 141:5} And it is said of Gerson, that great and wise chancellor of Paris, that he took pleasure in nothing more, quam si ab aliquo fraterne et charitative redargueretur, {a} than in a friendly reproof. The like is reported of Sir Anthony Cope, by Dr Harris, who preached his funeral; {b} and of that famous man of God, Mr William Wheatly, by Mr Scudder, who writes his life. He was glad, saith he, when any of the righteous smote him, and would take it well, not from his superiors only, but from his equals, and far inferiors. {c}

{a} In vita Gers.

{b} Samuel’s Fun. Epist.

{c} Mr Wheatly’s Archetyp., Pref.

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 15:5. A fool despiseth — Doth not regard nor obey; (which is an evidence of contempt;) his father’s instruction — Who hath both love to him and authority over him, which greatly aggravates his folly; but he that regardeth reproof — That is, is willing to receive, and duly regard the reproof of any person whatsoever, and much more of a father; is prudent — Hath already attained a great degree of wisdom, and prudently consults his own welfare and happiness.

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

15:5 Wisdom requires learning from correction.

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

Hence, 1. Let superiors be admonished to give instruction and reproof to those that are under their charge, as they will answer it in the day of account. They must not only instruct with the light of knowledge, but reprove with the heat of zeal; and both these must be done with the authority and affection of a father, and must be continued, though the desired effect be not immediately perceived. If the instruction be despised, give reproof, and rebuke sharply. It is indeed against the grain with good-humoured men to find fault, and make those about them uneasy; but better so than to suffer them to go on undisturbed in the way to ruin. 2. Let inferiors be admonished, not only to submit to instruction and reproof (even hardships must be submitted to), but to value them as favours and not despise them, to make use of them for their direction, and always to have a regard to them; this will be an evidence that they are wise and a means of making them so; whereas he that slights his good education is a fool and is likely to live and die one.

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

(Compare Pro 4:1; Pro 10:17; Pro. 13:1-18).

is prudent--acts discreetly.

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

(5) A fool (’evîl).—See above, on Pro_1:7.

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

5. is prudent] Rather, becometh prudent, by “regarding reproof.”

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.

A fool despiseth his father's instruction,.... They are fools that despise any instruction that is wise, good, and profitable; and especially a father's instruction, whose love, tender affection, and care, will not suffer him, knowingly, to give any but what is good and wholesome: wherefore to despise it is not only a contempt of his authority, but a slight of his love; which are both very aggravating, and sufficiently demonstrate his folly; and of which he may be himself convinced when it is too late, and say, "how have I hated instruction and despised reproof?" Pro 5:12. He is a fool that despises the instruction of anyone superior to him in years and experience; of ministers of the word; and especially of our Father which is in heaven, declared in the sacred Scriptures, which are written for instruction in righteousness;

but he that regardeth reproof is prudent; the reproof of a father, whose corrections are to be submitted to, and received with reverence; and especially of the Father of spirits, whose rebukes are in love, and for profit and advantage; yea, he is a wise man that regards the reproof of the word of God, and the ministers of it; and indeed of any Christian, whether his superior, equal, or inferior, as David did, Psa 141:5.

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

In abundant, &c. Is omitted in Hebrew, Chaldean, and many Greek and Latin copies. The same idea is expressed in the following verse.

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 fool despiseth, doth not regard nor obey, which is an evidence of contempt,

his father’s instruction; who hath both love to him, and authority over him; which greatly aggravates his folly.

Reproof; the reproof of any person whatsoever, and much more of a father.

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

5. A fool despiseth… instruction — The sense is: He that rejects the restraint placed upon him by his father, who loves him, is a fool.

But he that regardeth reproof is prudent — Acts discreetly. Comp. Pro_10:1.

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

A fool despiseth his father"s instruction: (Pro_10:1) but he that regardeth reproof is prudent. (Pro_19:25) The son who attends to his father"s reproof dealeth prudently, or becomes wiser. Astutior fiet, Vulgate; panourgoterov , Septuagint. The Vulgate has here a distich which is not in the Hebrew, but a similar paragraph is found in the Septuagint. Thus Vulgate, "In the abundance of righteousness virtue is greatest; but the imaginations of the wicked shall be rooted up;" Septuagint, "In the abundance of righteousness is much strength; but the impious shall be destroyed from the very root." The addition seems to have been an explanation of the following verse, which has been foisted into the text here.

Contempt and respect for instruction.

The fool is as a "wild ass"s colt", (Job_11:12) recalcitrant, stubborn; while he who early shows a willingness to listen to good advice has the germ of prudence, the prophecy of a safe career.

I A MURMURING TEMPER, A RELUCTANCE TO SUBMIT TO NECESSITY AND THE COURSE OF LIFE, IS IN REALITY A CONTEMPT OF GOD.

II SUBMISSION TO THE INEVITABLE, COMPLIANCE TO THE LAWS OF LIVING, IS DOCILITY TO GOD. J.

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

Alas! we cannot wonder at this folly. Remember the birth of the fool, "as a wild ass’s colt" (Job 11:12 ), despising discipline and restraint. Yet subjection to parents is the law of nature, recognized by the most uncivilized nations. Much more is it the law of God.†1 The authority of parents is the authority of God. ’The wayward resistance of the ungodly will be fearfully scourged.’ (1Sa 2:22-25 .) And even the Christian penitent has felt the smart of the rod to the end of life.†2 If example would put this folly to shame, do we not read of One child, able to teach, yea to command, his parents, who yet exhibited the lovely pattern of filial subjection?†3 But pride must be broken down, and the "clothing of humility" worn (1Pe 5:5 ), before the child will see that his parents know better than himself, and that to count their word law, — to "bear the yoke in his youth" (Lam 3:27 ), — and to regard reproof, is the path of prudence (Pro 15:31-32 ; Pro 19:20 ), no less than of honour. (Pro 13:18 .) Solomon’s wisdom, though the special gift of God, was doubtless connected with is filial regard to his father’s instruction. (1Ch 22:11-13 ; 1Ch 28:9, 1Ch 28:20 .) Will those, who despise their earthly father’s instruction, listen to their Heavenly Father? How surely therefore will this untractable spirit exclude from the Kingdom of God! (Mat 18:3-4 .)

Footnotes:

†1 Exo 20:12. Eph 6:1-2 . Compare Deu 21:18-21 . Greek words here. Arist. Eth. ix. 12. Pro 8:14 . Plato De Leg. Lib. iv.

†2 See Memoirs of Mrs. Hawkes, p. 524. — A most instructive biography.

†3 Luk 2:49-51. ’Who was subject? And to whom? God to men.’ Bernard, Homily i.

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

v. 5. A fool despiseth his father’s instruction, he reveals his folly by refusing to be corrected; but he that regardeth reproof, always willing to accept correction, is prudent, shows the proper discretion. cf Pro 19:25; 1Sa 23:22.

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

he who learns from correction

The word "correction" can be translated as a verb. AT: "he who learns when someone corrects him" (See: Abstract Nouns)

is prudent

"is wise"

the earnings of the wicked person give

The word "earnings" can be translated as a verbal phrase. AT: "the wealth that a wicked person earns gives" (See: Abstract Nouns)

translationWords

fool

contempt

discipline

house

evil

trouble

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.