Proverbs 2:8

Pro 2:8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

Ver. 8. He keepeth the paths of judgment.] Well may they walk uprightly that are so strongly supported. God’s hand is ever under his; they cannot fall beneath it. "He keepeth the feet of his saints." {1Sa 2:9}

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 2:8-9. He keepeth the paths of judgment — Hebrew, לנצר ארחות, To keep the paths, &c. It seems to be spoken of those who walk uprightly, mentioned in the preceding verse, and it would be better translated, That they, namely, the upright, may keep the paths of judgment: that is, God is a buckler, or defence, to the upright, to protect and keep them from those temptations and snares which would seduce them from, or prevent their continuance in, the paths of judgment; as it is further explained in the following clause. Then — When thou hast done thy part, as expressed Pro 2:1-3, and God, in answer to thy desires, hath given thee wisdom, Pro 2:6. Shalt thou understand righteousness, &c. — All the parts of thy duty to man, as well as the fear of God; every good path — The practice of all virtues and graces.

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

keepeth . . . way--God defends the right way, and those in it.

saints--objects of favor (compare Psa 4:3, &c.). He guides and guards them.

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) He keepeth the paths of judgment—i.e., protects those who walk in them.

His saints.—Or rather, His ardent worshippers (chasîdîm), a term used in the Pentateuch (Deu_33:8) of the tribe of Levi, for their zeal in God’s service (Exodus 32), and of very frequent occurrence in the Psalter. The word “saint” rather implies dedication to God, as Israel was a “holy nation (Exo_19:6) to God, and Christians (Php_1:1) are now in the same position. The term châsîd, at the time of the Maccabees, was assumed by such “as were voluntarily devoted to the law” (1Ma_2:42), in opposition to those who favoured the Greek religion and culture.

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

8. He keepeth] Lit. to keep, which may mean, for them (those that walk in integrity) to keep, that they may keep, R.V. marg. But it is better to retain God as the subject still, and at the same time to preserve the parallelism with the 2nd clause of the verse. The two verses (7, 8) will then read, with R.V. text,

He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright,

He is a shield to them that walk in integrity;

That he may guard the paths of judgement,

And preserve the way of His saints.

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.

He keepeth the paths of judgment,.... That is, the Lord keeps them; he does that which is just and right himself, in the course of his providence, and in the methods of his grace; and as he guides the feet of his people in the ways of righteousness and holiness, he keeps them there from turning out of them. The words may be rendered, "to keep the paths of judgment" (q); and so expresses the end, fruit, and effect of the Lord's being a buckler to them, as he is said to be in Pro 2:7, he is their shield and protection, so as either to keep them in the right ways in which they should go; or that they might studiously observe them, and keep walking therein, without stumbling in them, or declining from them;

and preserveth the way of his saints; to whom he has been kind and bountiful; or who have been merciful, liberal, and generous to others; who having partook of the grace of God themselves, are useful to men: the Targum calls them "righteous ones". These the Lord preserves by his power and grace, in the way in which he has led them, and which is his own way, safe to his kingdom and glory: for none of his saints, his holy and righteous ones, shall ever perish; the way in which he directs them, and in which he keeps them, leads to everlasting life; see Sa1 2:9.

(q) "ad custodiendum", Pagninus, Montanus; "ad servandum", Baynus, Schultens.

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

saints - The devout and God-fearing. Compare Psa 85:8 etc. The occurrence of the word here, in a book that became more and more prominent as prophetic utterances ceased, probably helped to determine its application in the period of the Maccabean struggles to those who especially claimed for themselves the title of “devout” (Chasidim, the ̓Ασιδαῖοι Asidaioi of 1 Macc. 7:13).

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

Justice. In his servants. (Calmet) --- God gives them grace to follow virtue, (Haydock) and protects them from every danger. (Calmet)

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).

He keepeth the paths of judgment; he guardeth and guideth the paths or ways, i.e. the counsels and actions, of good men, as the next clause explains this, which are called

paths of judgment, or righteous paths; judgment being here put for righteousness, as it is in Psa 99:4, and oft elsewhere. And keeping of paths may be put for keeping them in their paths, so as they shall neither swerve from them, nor stumble and fall in them. And preserve the way of his saints; the same thing repeated in other words.

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

8. He keepeth the paths of judgment — He watches over the paths of justice; that is, to guard those who walk in them. This verse is an enlargement of the idea of the preceding one, especially of the defensive conception of the latter clause of Pro_2:7.

The way of his saints — His pious, devout, or zealous ones. That is, he superintends them in all their walks and ways. The word חסידים, (hhasadhim,) saints, occurs also in Psa_85:8; Psa_148:14; Psa_149:9.

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

He keepeth the paths of judgment. This verse is explanatory of the latter hemistich of ver. 7, and points out more fully in what way God is a Protector of his saints. Some connect the Hebrew infinitive dxOnli (lin tsor), "to watch or keep," with "them that walk uprightly," and translate, "them that walk uprightly by keeping the paths of judgment;" but this is to transfer the idea of protection from God to such persons. The verb signifies specially "to defend, to preserve from danger," as in Pro_22:12, "The eyes of the Lind preserve knowledge; i.e. defend or protect it from danger." It is God who "keepeth the paths of judgment," as he alone has the power to do so. He watches over all that walk therein, guides, superintends, and protects them. The paths of judgment; or rather, justice, fpvmi twOhra (atkhoth mishpat). The abstract is here used for the concrete, and the phrase means "the paths of the just," i.e. the paths in which the just walk, or "those who walk justly" (Mercerus). This expression corresponds with "the way of his saints," just as "keep" and "preserve" are synonymous verbs, both meaning "to guard, keep safe, or protect." He preserveth the way of his saints. God does this

(1) by his preventing grace, as in Psa_66:9, "He suffereth not our feet to slip." Cf. Hannah"s song, "He will keep the feet of his saints"; (1Sa_2:9)

(2) by angelic agency, as in Psa_91:11, "He shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways." The saints are ever under the watchful care and mighty protection of Jehovah. His saints (wdysij, khasidav); i.e. the pious towards God, the godly, those in whose hearts the principles of sanctity have been implanted, and who cherish earnest inward love to God, and "walk righteously" and "speak uprightly". (Isa_33:15) It is remarkable that the word saints only occurs once (in this passage) in the Proverbs. During the period of the Maccabaean Wars, a party or sect, which aimed at ceremonial purity, claimed for themselves the title of Chasidim or Asidaeans (Asidaioi ), as expressive of their piety or devotion. They are those whom Moses called "men of holiness," Exo_22:31 (vdqoAyvenaw, vanshev-kodesh); cf. Psa_89:5 Psa_149:1 Psa_89:8 Deu_33:3 Dan_7:18, Dan_7:22, Dan_7:22, Dan_7:25. Under the Christian dispensation, the saints are those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, (1Co_1:2 1Jn_5:1) and who are holy in all manner of conversation; (1Pe_1:25 RAPC 1Ma 2:42 7:13 2Ma 14:6) see Bishop Lightfoot, "Colossians and Philemon," diss. 2, p. 355.

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

Path of judgment - Righteous paths, judgment being here put for righteousness. And keeping of paths may be put for keeping them in their paths.

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

to keep the paths of justice For through it, they will keep the paths of justice, and He will guard the way of His pious so that they do not stumble.

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.