Proverbs 21:24

Pro 21:24 Proud [and] haughty scorner [is] his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

Ver. 24. Proud and haughty scorner is his name.] An ill name he gets him, and lies under the common reproach of a proud peevish person. He seeks renown by his rage and revenge, as Lamech that vaunted of his valour this way to his wives; Alexander Pheraeus, who consecrated the javelin wherewith he had slain Polyphron; Caelius, the lawyer, who gloried to be held the most froward and frample (brawler) Roman alive, &c. But God loadeth such a man with disgrace, as here, and gives him his due character. Men also will hate him and despise him for a "son of Belial," as Nabal’s servants said of him; for a mad frantic fellow, being once enraged, cares not what he says, as Jonas, what he doth, as Saul, who dealing in proud wrath, was so kindled by the devil, that he could not be quenched till he fell into the unquenchable lake. Besides the infamy that will never be washed off, the brand of reproach, like that of Dathan and Abiram, who rose up in proud wrath against Moses and Aaron, and are therefore worthily stigmatised with a "this is that Dathan," {Num 26:9} like that other, "this is that King Ahaz," {2Ch 28:22} and as we commonly say of such a one, that he is a proud fool.

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 21:24. Proud and haughty scorner is his name, &c. — Instead of that respect and glory, which he seeks by such a practice, he shall be branded with the title and imputation of an arrogant and scornful person; who dealeth in proud wrath — Who, in the conduct of his affairs and dealings in the world, is not governed by reason and justice, but by his own pride and passions.

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

CRITICAL NOTES.—

Pro_21:24. Proud wrath, literally “wrath of pride,” or overflowings of haughtiness.

MAIN HOMILETICS OF Pro_21:24

A NAME OF DEGREES

I. Many terms are needed to set forth the complete character of the wicked man. A complicated machine has many parts, each of which has a different action and performs a different work, and each of which has its distinctive name. But the whole make up one machine, the name of which includes all the parts. So is it with a wicked man. He is like a complicated and destructive piece of machinery—all that he does and is may be comprehended in the general term, godless, or wicked; but the various vices which go to make up his character have their distinctive name. In this proverb three degrees of wickedness seem to be set forth under different names, each one being an intensified form of the vice that has gone before. First there is pride; the man overrates his own worth, and by so doing underrates the worth of others. From pride of heart comes haughtiness of conduct—he is overbearing and insolent in his bearing towards those whom he looks upon as his inferiors. Then he becomes a scorner—he despises all, whether good or bad, and so fills up the measure of wickedness. For when all feelings of respect and reverence for even human worth have died out of a man he cannot fall much lower.

II. Such a man is a constant vendor of what is within him. He dealeth in it; he cannot keep his pride and scorn to himself, it overflows in his contemptuous carriage, in his haughty look, in his angry words, and in his oppressive deeds. He may deny the fidelity of the portrait which Solomon here draws of him, but he whose dealings with his fellow-creatures are marked by these characteristics must submit to be called by the odious names here given.

OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS

In the course of different proverbs this teacher will be found to have explained all his own use of terms. Piety as wisdom, and wickedness as folly—terms very characteristic of his books—he explains at the very first. Scorner is his favourite name for the impenitent. We were giving reasons for this under the eleventh verse.… The demurest sinner, who seems thoroughly respectful to the truth, would not push along so into the very jaws of death if he were not arrogantly trusting to himself, and if he felt not scornfully free from the necessities of the gospel.—Miller.

It is the nature of pride to show itself as losing the contentment of those things upon which it is placed, unless by showing of them it show itself in them. And yet so odious a vice is pride, and so shameful, as that it would fain hide itself also. But there is nothing that doth so manifest and make known the pride of anyone as his wrath doth; wherefore as the name of a man telleth who he is, so he who dealeth in wrath telleth his name.—Jermin.

The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary (gen. ed. Joseph S. Exell; Funk & Wagnalls, c. 1892) — public domain (pre-1929). A full-Bible homiletical/sermon-outline anthology covering 65 of 66 books (2 John is absent from the source module). Text from a community e-Sword module.

21:24 Mockers: See 1:25-27; 9:7-9. Also see study note on 1:22.

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

See here the mischief of pride and haughtiness. 1. It exposes men to sin; it makes them passionate, and kindles in them the fire of proud wrath. They are continually dealing in it, as if it were their trade to be angry, and they had nothing so much to do as to barter passions and exchange bitter words. Most of the wrath that inflames the spirits and societies of men is proud wrath. Men cannot bear the least slight, nor in any thing to be crossed or contradicted, but they are out of humour, nay, in a heat, immediately. It likewise makes them scornful when they are angry, very abusive with their tongues, insolent towards those above them and imperious towards all about them. Only by pride comes all this. 2. It exposes men to shame. They get a bad name by it, and every one calls them proud and haughty scorners, and therefore nobody cares for having any thing to do with them. If men would but consult their reputation a little and the credit of their profession, which suffers with it, they would not indulge their pride and passion as they do.

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

The reproachful name is deserved by those who treat others with anger and contempt.

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

(24) Proud and haughty scorner is his name.—See above on Pro_1:22.

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

24. Proud and haughty scorner] Rather with R.V., A proud and haughty man, scorner is his name; i.e. the name which aptly describes his character. θρασὺς καὶ αὐθάδης καὶ ἀλαζὼν λοιμὸς καλεῖται, LXX.

who dealeth &c.] Rather,

He worketh in the arrogance of pride, R.V.

The Heb. word here rendered arrogance is rendered over-flowings, Job_40:11, R.V., so that we might translate in unbridled pride.

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.

Proud and haughty scorner is his name,.... He shall be called a proud fool, a haughty fellow, a scornful blockhead; he shall get himself an ill name, and be treated with contempt;

who dealeth in proud wrath; whose pride shows itself in wrathful expressions and actions; who is proud and passionate in all his dealings with men, and who as it were makes a trade of pride and passion: to none is this character more applicable than to antichrist, the man of sin, that sits in the seat of the scornful; exalts himself above all that is called God, has a mouth speaking blasphemies, and a look more stout than his fellows, and deals in proud wrath against the saints of the most High.

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

Ignorant. Hebrew, "a scoffer." Septuagint, "pestilent." (Haydock) --- Such a one is always actuated by pride, when he attempts to turn good advice and religion to ridicule.

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).

Proud and haughty scorner is his name; instead of that respect and glory which he seeks by such courses, he shall be branded with the title and imputation of an arrogant and scornful person, which is most contemptible and hateful to mankind.

Who dealeth in proud wrath; who in the conduct of his affairs and dealings in the world is not governed by reason and justice, but by his own pride and passions.

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

24. Scorner… proud wrath — He that acts with overflowing arrogance might be called a scoffer, an inflated and proud man. “A bold, and self-willed, and insolent man is called a pest; and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor.” — Septuagint.

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

Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath. (For "scorner" (xl), the esprit fort, the freethinking sceptic of Solomon"s day, see notes on Pro_1:22 and Pro_14:6) The verse is better translated, A proud, arrogant man, scoffer is his name, who worketh in superfluity of pride hrb (ebrah), translated "wrath," denotes also want of moderation, excess, presumption. (see note on Pro_11:23) The proverb explains the meaning of the name, letz, given to these rationalists; their contempt of revealed religion proceeds from pride of intellect, which refuses instruction, and blinds the eyes to the truth. The warning comes home to us in these times, when the "higher criticism" too often runs into gross scepticism and infidelity. Septuagint, "A bold and self-willed and insolent man is called a pest (loimov ), and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor.

Vers. 24-26. The process of vice.

I VICES HANG TOGETHER LIKE THE LINKS OF A CHAIN. (Ver. 24) Contempt is born of pride, wrath of contempt, and from wrath scoffing and manifold injuries.

II IDLENESS LIES IN CLOSE AFFINITY TO MANY VICES. (Vers. 25, 26). We have here a brief anatomy of idleness. It is wishing without corresponding exertion. The idle man would rather sit still and starve than set his hand or head to painful toil. He would live by wishing. The effort to rise from the easy-chair, to take the hand from the bosom, is too great for him; hence he is consumed with vain desires. The hope of enjoyment is out of reach, though not out of sight, for want of exertion. In religion mere wishes, idle prayers, will not bring us good. The knocking and seeking must go with the asking. And again (ver. 26), in this analysis we are reminded of the selfishness which is at the root of this indolence. In contrast to a habit of coveting for self, we have the hand of the righteous man, who "gives and spares not." Willing labour, surrender of time and thought for others" good, this, indeed, enriches the soul, and the man who waters others waters himself, and is a "blessing in the land. J.

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

24 A proud and arrogant man is called mocker (free-spirit);

One who acteth in superfluity of haughtiness.

We have thus translated (vol. i. p. 39): the proverb defines almost in a formal way an idea current from the time of Solomon: לץ (properly, the distorter, vid., Pro 1:7) is an old word; but as with us in the west since the last century, the names of free-thinkers and esprits forts (cf. Isa 46:12) have become current for such as subject the faith of the Church to destructive criticism, so then they were called לצים, who mockingly, as men of full age, set themselves above revealed religion and prophecy (Isa 28:9); and the above proverb gives the meaning of this name, for it describes in his moral character such a man. Thus we call one זד, haughty, and זד יהיר dna ,, i.e., destroying himself, and thus thoughtlessly haughty, who בּעברת זדון acts in superfluity or arrogance (vid., at Pro 11:23) of haughtiness; for not only does he inwardly raise himself above all that is worthy of recognition as true, of faith as certain, of respect as holy; but acting as well as judging frivolously, he shows reverence for nothing, scornfully passing sentence against everything. Abulwald (vid., Gesen. Thes.) takes יהיר in the sense of obstinate; for he compares the Arab. jahr (jahar), which is equivalent to lijâj, constancy, stubbornness. But in the Targ. and Talm. (vid., at Hab 2:5, Levy's Chald. Wrterb. under יהיר) יהר in all its offshoots and derivations has the sense of pride; we have then rather to compare the Arab. istaihara, to be insane (= dhahb 'aḳlh, mens ejus alienata est), perhaps also to hajjir, mutahawwir, being overthrown, praeceps, so that יהיר denotes one who by his ὑπερφρονεῖν is carried beyond all σωφρονεῖν (vid., Rom 12:3), one who is altogether mad from pride. The Syr. madocho (Targ. מריחא), by which יהיר (Targ. יהיר) is rendered here and at Hab 2:5, is its synonym; this word also combines in itself the ideas foolhardy, and of one acting in a presumptuous, mad way; in a word, of one who is arrogant. Schultens is in the right way; but when he translates by tumidus mole cava ruens, he puts, as it is his custom to do, too much into the word; tumidus, puffed up, presents an idea which, etymologically at least, does not lie in it. The Venet.: ἀκρατὴς θρασὺς βωμολόχος τοὔνομά οἱ, which may be translated: an untractable reckless person we call a fool [homo ineptus], is not bad.

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.)

And who gave him this name? Even he, who "will destroy the tongue that speaketh proud things, who hath said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is Lord over us?" (Psa 12:4 .) See how God loads him with disgrace. Man’s rebukes may be "the curse causeless, that will not come." (Pro 26:2 .) But God’s stamp is indelible. Proud and haughty scorner! Such is his name. He may pride himself upon his scorning. But contrast him with "the man, to whom God looks, him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my word." (Isa 66:2 .)

Look at this vivid picture in Pharaoh — that haughty scorner bursting out in his proud wrath — "Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice?" (Exo 5:2 ), in Sennacherib, "reproaching and blaspheming the Holy One of Israel."†1 Haman meets with an affront. His proud wrath kindles. He cares neither for God, nor man. The ruin of his single enemy will not suffice. He must glut himself with the blood of a whole unoffending nation.†2

Scorner is his name. Not an empty name. Never let us separate the name which God hath given, from the doom which he hath denounced. "The day of the LORD of Hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low. Behold! the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud shall be as stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." (Isa 2:12 . Mal 4:1 .) "Now we call the proud happy. But how shall they abide the day of his coming?" (Mal 3:15, with Mal 3:2 .) Oh! with such a manifestation of the mind of God, never think lightly of a proud thought, or a scornful feeling or expression.

It may be, that this hateful abomination†3 is indulged in God’s own children. Yet he will not wink at this sin, nor spare his rod. The glory of their name shall be darkened. His frown shall be made visible. If "Asa’s heart was" in the main "perfect with God all his days," yet for the sin of haughtiness and proud wrath, his sun went down in a cloud.†4 "For our God is a consuming fire."†5

Footnotes:

†1 2Ki 18:35 ; 2Ki 19:21-22, 2Ki 19:28 .

†2 Est 3:5-6; Est 5:9 .

†3 Pro 6:16-17; Pro 8:13 ; Pro 16:5 . Compare Sir 10:12-13 .

†4 1Ki 15:14 . 2Ch 16:10-13 .

†5 Heb 12:28-29.

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

v. 24. Proud and haughty scorner, a puffed-up jackanapes, is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath, in an excess of insolence, with mockery of everything that is holy.

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

haughty Heb. יהיר, one who is haughty; he will ultimately become a scorner, for he does not care to hear reproof.

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.