Proverbs 18:2

Pro 18:2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

Ver. 2. A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.] Or, In discovering his own heart - i.e., in following his own humour, against all that can be said to the contrary. He is wilful, and so stands as a stake in the midst of a stream; lets all pass by him, but he stands where he was. It is easier to deal with twenty men’s reasons, than with one man’s will. He hath made his conclusion, you may as soon remove a rock as him. Quicquid vult valde vult, quicquid vult sanctum est. His will is his rule, and when a man hath said and done his utmost to convince him by force of reason, he shall find him like a mill horse, just there in the evening where he began his morning circuit. Some think that Solomon here taxeth, not so much the wilfulness, as the vain gloriousness and ostentation of fond fools, who seem to delight in wisdom; but it is only for a name, and that they may, by setting their good parts a-sunning, gain the applause and admiration of the world, for men singularly qualified. But why should any affect the vain praises of men, and not rest content with the euge of a good conscience? The blessed Virgin was troubled, when truly praised of an angel. Moses had more glory by his veil than by his face. Christ, beside the veil of his humanity, says, "See you tell no man," &c.

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.

That is, that he may talk licentiously of whatsoever cometh to mind.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

A fool may pretend to understanding, and to seek and intermeddle with the means of it, but, 1. He has no true delight in it; it is only to please his friends or save his credit; he does not love his book, nor his business, nor his Bible, nor his prayers; he would rather be playing the fool with his sports. Those who take no pleasure in learning or religion will make nothing to purpose of either. No progress is made in them if they are a task and a drudgery. 2. He has no good design in it, only that his heart may discover itself, that he may have something to make a show with, something wherewith to varnish his folly, that that may pass off the better, because he loves to hear himself talk.

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

that his heart . . . itself--that is, takes pleasure in revealing his folly (Pro 12:23; Pro 15:2).

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

Verse 2. But that his heart may discover itself.] It is a fact that most vain and foolish people are never satisfied in company, but in showing their own nonsense and emptiness. But this verse may be understood as confirming the view already given of the preceding, and may be translated thus: "But a fool doth not delight in understanding, though it should even manifest itself:" so I understand כי אם בהתגלות ki im behithgalloth. The separated person seeks understanding in every hidden thing, and feels his toil well repaid when he finds it, even after the most painful and expensive search: the other regards it not, though its secret springs should be laid open to him without toil or expense.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(2) But that his heart may discover itself—i.e., unless his cleverness can be displayed thereby; he does not prize understanding for itself, apart from his own interests.

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

2. but that] The added word in R.V., but only that, brings out the force of the Heb.; q.d. so far from having any delight in understanding, his only delight is in blurting out his own ideas and opinions. There is perhaps, as Speaker’s Comm. suggests, an implied contrast with the “other form of egotism,” condemned in the preceding verse.

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 hath no delight in understanding,.... In natural understanding, and in the improvement of his mind in it; he delights not in books, nor in the conversation of men of learning and sense: or in spiritual understanding, in the understanding of spiritual things; these are foolishness to a natural man; nor does he delight in reading the Scriptures, nor in hearing the word, and attendance on it in the house of God, but is weary of such exercises;

but that his heart may discover itself; and the folly that is in it: such men only desire to have some knowledge and understanding, to make a show of it, that they may be thought to be wise, and to be capable of talking of things as if they understood them, when it is only to the exposing of themselves and their ignorance; some persons attain to no more learning and knowledge than just to be capable to show that they are fools. Or, "but in the discovery of his heart" (k); he delights in discovering that; not the wisdom, but the folly that is in it.

(k) "sed in patefacere cor ejus", Vatablus; "sed in detectione cordis sui", Piscator; "sed sane ut enudet cor suum", Schultens.

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

Another form of egotism. In “understanding,” i. e., self-knowledge, the “fool” finds no pleasure; but self-assertion, talking about himself and his own opinions, is his highest joy.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Heart. Conformable to his passions. (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "unless to lay open his heart." He wishes to appear wise, and to justify his wicked designs. (Haydock)

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).

In understanding; in getting sound and saving knowledge, either by his own study, or by the instructions of wise and good men.

But that his heart may discover itself. Heb. but (his delight is) in the discovery of his own heart, i.e. in uttering that folly and wickedness which is in his heart; being more forward to speak than to hear, which is one badge of a fool.

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

2. May discover itself — בהתגלות, (behithgalloth,) he will take pleasure in uncovering his heart; his chief pleasure is to hear himself talk, in doing which he discloses his folly. Of course it is not his “desire” to make his folly apparent, but such is the result of his conduct. In Pro_20:19, the same word is rendered revealeth. Compare Pro_12:23; Pro_13:16; Pro_15:2.

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 hath no delight in understanding. This may mean that he takes no pleasure in the wisdom of others, is self-opinionated; or, it may be, does not care for understanding in itself, apart from the use which he can make of it. Vulgate, "The fool receives not the words of wisdom;" Septuagint, "A man of no sense has no need of wisdom." To try to teach a fool is to cast pearls before swine, and to give that which is holy unto dogs. But that his heart may discover itself; i.e. his only delight is in revealing his heart, displaying his un-wisdom and his foolish thoughts, as in Pro_12:28 Pro_13:16 Pro_15:2. He thinks that thus he is showing himself superior to others, and benefiting the world at large. The LXX gives the reason, "For rather by folly he is led.

HOMILIES BY W. CLARKSON Ver. 2. See homily on Pro_17:16, Pro_17:24. C.

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

Understanding - In getting sound and saving, knowledge. The discovery - In uttering that folly and wickedness which is in his heart.

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

2 The fool hath no delight in understanding;

But only that his heart may reveal itself therein.

The verb חפץ forms the fut. יחפּץ as well as יחפּץ; first the latter from חפץ, with the primary meaning, to bow, to bend down; then both forms as intransitive, to bend oneself to something, to be inclined to something, Arab. 'ṭf. (Fl.). תּבוּנה is here the intelligence which consists in the understanding of one's own deficiency, and of that which is necessary to meet it. The inclination of the fool goes not out after such intelligence, but (כּי אם־; according to Ben-Naphtali, כי־אם) only that his heart, i.e., the understanding which he thinks that he already possesses, may reveal itself, show itself publicly. He thinks thereby to show himself in his true greatness, and to render a weighty service to the world. This loquacity of the fool, proceeding from self-satisfaction, without self-knowledge, has already, Pro 12:23, and often, been reprimanded.

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.)

v. 2. A fool hath no delight in understanding, his pleasure not being set that way, but that his heart may discover itself, display the wisdom which he imagines to be there, for he believes it to be his duty to let the world know his greatness in this respect.

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

but in revealing his heart But in the revelation of his heart. He wishes to reveal what is in his heart.

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.